Current Environment:

Medical Services

Programs & Services

Education

Undergraduate School

University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh

Oshkosh, WI

Graduate School

University of Wisconsin

2007, Milwaukee, WI

Graduate School

PhD, Education & Counseling Psychology

University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee

2012, Milwaukee, WI

Internship

Children's Hospital of Orange County/UCI Medical School

2012, Orange County, CA

Fellowship

Children's Hospital of Los Angeles/USC Medical School

2014, Los Angeles, CA

Professional History

While working with clients, I found consistency, warmth, structure and a focus on positive coping skills essential in their care. More importantly, all these experiences reinforced my belief in the practice of a strength based treatment approach. My clinical interests evolved from treating children with co-morbid medical and mental health conditions and their families. I found adjustment to illness/injury to be an important factor in finding treatments that balance psychosocial and medical well-being. Furthermore, I gained an appreciation for the multidisciplinary team approach, learning the importance of utilizing all members’ knowledge and skills through collaboration and communication for the comprehensive management of children with medical problems. These experiences further shaped me as a pediatric psychologist working in a hospital setting.

Publications

My approach to case conceptualization, evaluation, and treatment planning is primarily based on cognitive-behavioral and behavioral theory, as well as, strength based approaches. As an adolescent, I always had an appreciation for different cultures and therefore, immersing myself in travel. I chose graduate training that would expand my multicultural competencies and prepare me to work in an urban context with diverse populations. I gained a key understanding of how contextual factors influence a person’s experience and illness expression. I sought experiences working with clients with a vast array of medical and mental health issues. My approach to case conceptualization, evaluation, and treatment planning is primarily based on cognitive-behavioral and behavioral theory, as well as, strength based approaches. These theories have allowed me to integrate a cultural and developmental framework developed through my worldview, training, and working with children and their families from various backgrounds. Furthermore, I believe that an active systems intervention is needed when the problem resides not only within the individual, but also from a problem of societal forces. When choosing interventions, I examine the relevant literature to identify empirically supported treatments that can be appropriately modified both culturally and developmentally.