Helping others helps me to maintain my own mental health. I try to be aware of how full my own tank is and realize when I need to recharge. If I have nothing left to give, it’s hard to help others. I make time for regular self-care and healthy activities. I love dancing, walking outside, cooking, crafting, and just relaxing. Sometimes I love a good down day where nothing gets done around the house and we just watch shows, play games, and order delivery! Good sleep is very important. When life gets chaotic I buckle down, make a plan, set achievable small goals, and get things done!

I love to spend time with my family and friends. I enjoy taking trips—because is it really a vacation with young kids? I like to cook and try new recipes, and enjoy decorating cookies and cupcakes.

My philosophy is that it’s okay to ask for help. The bar needs to be lowered on the stigma of mental health. Life can be hard, and everyone needs some help at times. I want to encourage people to not be afraid or ashamed to reach out for help and to be open and honest with their treatment team. I am here to help anyone who is ready. I believe in getting to know people, finding out their individual stories, and their needs, and creating a treatment and medication plan together. We will spend time investigating the root cause of the issues and can look into laboratory testing to rule out organic causes of symptoms. I am here to provide encouragement, support, and education. If the treatment plan or medication is not working, we will work closely together to revise it. We are a team and when we work together, we are not alone.