Who am I

I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and Art Therapist Provisional (ATR-P) specialized in working with members of the adoption community including parents, birth parents, children, and adults.

As a transracial adoptee myself, I understand the distinct personal experiences of adoptees. I strive to provide a safe space for parents, children, and adults to explore their feelings, foster healthy communication, and address any behavioral or emotional issues related to adoption. I utilize a combination of talk and; Art Therapy to explore each client’s adoption story with compassion, understanding, and empathy. In this process, the client is the expert, and the role of the therapist is to support the client.

As an adoption competent therapist, I recognize the unique challenges and experiences faced by adoptive families and individuals. I help people navigate the complexities of attachment, abandonment, identity, and grief that can arise in the adoption process. By utilizing trauma-informed practices and culturally sensitive approaches, I seek to empower families to build strong, resilient lifelong relationships and promote healing.

Additionally I offer Art Therapy to people seeking a non-verbal and accessible way to express feelings regarding current life events that could be difficult to articulate using words. Clients can utilize Art Therapy from the comfort of their home using materials readily available to them. Art Therapy can be beneficial to people dealing with anxiety, depression, and trauma as it fosters self-awareness, emotional release, and personal growth.

I earned my Masters in Counseling and Art Therapy from Antioch University as well as a Bachelor's in Art Education at Academy of Art University. I have previously volunteered at Mary's Place providing Art Therapy to families in shelters. I also worked in community mental health at Navos in their Child Youth and Family department.

Throughout my work, I have gained experience working with diverse populations with various mental health diagnoses. I have completed extensive adoption competent training through the National Adoption Competency Mental Health Training Initiative. I am passionate about the adoption population dedicating my education and career to helping other adoptees, learning, training, and providing quality care for all adoptees.

In my free time, I enjoy playing with my dog (Phoebe), knitting/crocheting, traveling, skiing, reading, and spending time with family/friends.

Licensed by the state of Washington: LH 61539673

Art Therapist Provisional License: # 24-603, Supervised by:

Amelia Upton MA, LMFT, ATR-BC, MHP

Tori Force, MA, LMHC, ATR-BC

Nicole Piggott, MHP, LMHC, ATR-BC

Continuing Education Training I have completed

  • Health at every size, body liberation, body trust, self-care

  • Nuance in Suicide Assessment: Improve therapist assessment skills and increase confidence supporting youth and adults who experience suicidal ideation and/or self-harm.

    Social Media: Hopes and fears about the suicide prevention fields scalable future

    Life Under Pressure: The social roots of youth suicide and what to do about them

    Beyond the Spectrum: Suicide prevention and mental health in black children and adolescents

  • Read and participated in a discussion about the graphic novel Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe.

  • “Ethical decision making when working with youth and key parties.”

General Mental Health

  • “Training enables professionals to better address the mental health and developmental needs of children in foster, adoptive, or kinship families. “

  • “Trains professionals to help foster, kinship, and adoptive families prepare for their parenting journey with a child who has experienced trauma, separation, and loss.”

  • “Emphasized the importance of making informed adoption permanency decisions that reflect a child’s unique needs and cultural background. Equipped participants with strategies to promote culturally responsive practices in adoption permanency planning.”

  • “Birth parent reflections on contact with their children. Provided tangible strategies and recommendations for working with expectant or birth parents, particularly related to post-adoption contact with their children and how that can evolve over the years.”

  • “Focused on tangible strategies that adoption professionals can use with adoptees and their families particularly related to supporting identity exploration and feelings of belonging within adoptees’ homes and communities.”

  • “Explored the complexities of birth family relationships. Through real-life examples and research-backed insights, participants gained a valuable understanding of the unique dynamics and challenges that arise in maintaining these connections. Actionable strategies to help participants navigate and strengthen birth family ties, fostering meaningful and resilient connections with families they serve and support. Equipped adoption professionals with the tools to support lasting, positive relationships between birth and adoptive families.”

Adoption

Why Dovetale?

Dovetail is a type of joint used to join two pieces of wood together to make it stronger. Similarly, adoptees often have 2 identities to integrate their adoptive and biological identities. Which can be difficult potentially leading to anxiety, depression, grief/loss, relationship issues, and identity confusion.

Adoption competent therapy is acutely aware that adoption is a trauma and those who seek therapeutic services need help to work though this significant life event. I changed the last part of the word from "tail" to tale because every adoptee has their own unique adoption story that deserves to be heard with understanding and compassion.

Past Events

  • BIPOC Adoptee Voices Conference 2026

    Oregon July 24, 2026-July 26, 2026

    Tabler and Container of Care Team Member

  • National Adoptee Awareness Month Storytelling Event

    Oregon November 23, 2025

    Facilitator of Art Therapy workshop

    “Storytelling and community gathering centering the lived experiences of BIPOC adoptees. Through powerful stories, a community art workshop, and local resource sharing, this event explores the non-linear journey of growth, identity, and healing.”

  • BIPOC Adoptee Voices Conference 2025

    Oregon July 24, 2025-July 27, 2025

    Facilitator of Healing Through Art Therapy Workshop

    “Multi-day event for adult 18+ who identify as BIPOC adoptees, descendants of BIPOC adoptees, and BIPOC former or current foster youth in the child welfare system or living with a legal guardian. Movement building through connection, hope and healing. Rooted in adoptee-led justice challenging dominant narratives centering race, identity, and healing.”

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