I  was born and raised in the Southeast.  My family moved to Atlanta in 1969.  My father  had  a  career in transportation, and my mother worked at home.  After completing high school, I attended Jacksonville State University in Alabama.  While I was in college, I was befriended by women professors who showed me that I could make a valuable contribution to my community.  These women were mothers, wives, and professional people who encouraged me to continue my education beyond college.  My focal studies in college was Social Work and Sociology.  As a young 21 year old woman, I found myself passionate about working with children and families.                  

Throughout my studies, one thing was always evident to me, I loved working with families and children.  I enjoyed asking many questions about the world around me.   Through my educational experience, my mentors, teachers and friends have taught be to honor and respect diversity.  I developed an appreciation for all the ways in which people seek answers.  In my twenties, I began my own personal journey of discovering meaningful relationships and learning how to cope with all the adjustments I faced as a young adult.  I discovered that support from friends, my community, and chosen family were essential in facing difficult times.

For the past fifteen years, I have worked in the field of Child and Adolescent Mental Health.  I have worked in Residential Treatment, Community Mental Health, Grady Hospital, and the school system.  I believe that the richest professional training I have had was at Grady Hospital.  For three years, I worked as Therapist in their public clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.  During those years, I was first introduced to Play Therapy and was mentored by Emory University faculty members who supervised the Psychiatric Medical Residents.  I began a clinic that provided evaluations for Juvenile Offenders.  And - I sat and listened to horrifying stories  from the street.  

 Most importantly, I have been a mother for thirteen years, and a wife for fifteen.  These relationships have provided me a place to learn the most about life, healthy relationships, parenting, patience, values, listening, and commitment.  Hopefully through my own journey and the path I continue to take, I can provide a safe and nurturing place for others who need some light along the way.