I was first drawn to this work in undergrad, while studying both psychology and Eastern religion, particularly Buddhism and Taoism. I became fascinated with the ways these traditions intersect and what they reveal about the mind, suffering, and the human experience. During graduate school, I continued following this curiosity by researching how mindfulness could be integrated into the therapeutic setting.

I began my career as a therapist working in hospital emergency mental health settings and later helped develop a behavioral health program for a new community clinic. Over time, especially during the pandemic, the cumulative demands of this work began to take a serious toll. My occupational burnout eventually reached a tipping point, and I stepped down from my director position and started my own private practice.

But my nervous system did not bounce back simply because my career had changed. I was still deeply dysregulated and struggled with my health and well-being long after leaving the healthcare system. Many mornings I woke up in a body that felt like it was being hunted for sport, with a pervasive sense that I had somehow lost myself along the way.

About a year after starting my private practice, and still very much in the midst of this struggle, I decided to pursue a long-held dream of becoming a yoga teacher. This training not only reignited my passion for bridging psychology and Eastern contemplative traditions, but also helped me develop a personal practice that supported the healing of my nervous system. In 2025, I furthered my training as a mind-body practitioner and became certified in 5NP auricular acupuncture.

In many ways this work feels full circle. It brings together my academic and professional backgrounds with my own healing journey and the practices that helped me find my way back to myself. I am deeply grateful for the path that led me here and for the opportunity to share these practices with others.