How did you become interested in this line of work? (tell us a little bit about your background)

During college, I worked on a psychiatric unit for adolescent kids as an aid, and I could see that the approach they were using wasn’t working for those kids. I thought that maybe there was a better way and began to work toward a solution.

Please share a wellness tip or word of advice that relates to the workshop you will be presenting.

We all have parts of us that we don’t like, but if you are able to get curious about those parts and begin an inner dialogue, you will learn that they are there to help you. And even though their attempts are often misguided and come from the past, by staying curious, it will lead you to compassion for them which will change much of your inner dialog.

What or who inspires you? (This could be anything from your mentor to your favorite quote)

“Then it was as if I suddenly saw the secret beauty of their hearts, the depth of their hearts where neither sin nor desire nor self-knowledge can reach, the core of their reality, the person that each one is in God’s eyes. If only they could all see themselves as they really are. If only we could see each other that way all the time. There would be no more war, no more hatred, no more cruelty, no more greed . . . I suppose the big problem would be that we would fall down and worship each other.” – THOMAS MERTON

What personal or professional accomplishments are you most proud of?

Persisting in bring this work in the face of much skepticism and attack over the years.