Water has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. As a lifelong swimmer, former state champion, and world-ranked Masters athlete, I have always understood, both intuitively and personally, the peace, clarity, and restoration that water can provide. Long before I became a therapist, water was my place of reflection, resilience, and renewal.

Professionally, I have spent more than two decades helping individuals, couples, and families heal from trauma, navigate life transitions, and rediscover their strengths. I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), and Certified EMDR therapist. But some of the most important lessons I have learned about healing did not only come from textbooks or training programs, they also came from my own life experiences.

In 2010, my family experienced a devastating house fire. Like many people who experience trauma, I found that even after the crisis had passed, the effects remained. During my own healing journey, I discovered EMDR therapy as a client. The experience was so profound and transformative that it changed the course of my professional life. I later became certified in EMDR and have had the privilege of helping countless others find healing through this approach.

Years later, another unexpected event deepened my understanding of how the body carries trauma. While swimming with my lake group, I experienced a pulmonary embolism when a blood clot traveled to my lungs. Suddenly, I could not breathe. With assistance, I made it safely back to shore. What began as an ordinary swim became a life-altering event that deepened my understanding of vulnerability, resilience, and healing.

After a year of recovery, I returned to the water I had always loved. Yet I noticed something surprising: every time I swam past the location where the medical emergency had occurred, my body reacted before my mind did. My breathing would tighten, and feelings of fear would arise seemingly out of nowhere. It was a powerful reminder that the body remembers.

This experience led me to explore the Flash Technique, an innovative approach to trauma treatment developed by Dr. Philip Manfield. In a full-circle moment, I had the opportunity to experience Flash therapy personally during one of Dr. Manfield’s demonstrations. Once again, I witnessed firsthand the remarkable capacity of the mind and body to heal when given the right conditions.

These experiences strengthened my belief that healing is not only cognitive, it is embodied, relational, and deeply intertwined with our past. Overcoming adversity is what builds resilience, and healing often occurs when we create environments that foster safety, connection, and curiosity.

Today, I integrate EMDR, Flash, Blue Mind principles, nervous system regulation, somatic awareness, and experiential therapies into what has become Aquatic Psychotherapy®. While some experiences occur in or around water, Aquatic Psychotherapy is not limited to the water itself. Blue Mind principles allow us to harness the healing qualities of water both inside and outside the therapy office. Whether in a traditional clinical setting, beside water, or immersed within it, the goal remains the same: to create conditions that support insight, regulation, healing, and growth.

Over the years, this work has expanded beyond individual therapy sessions to include retreats, workshops, river experiences, couples programs, speaking engagements, corporate wellness presentations, and professional trainings. I have had the privilege of presenting nationally and educating clinicians on how to thoughtfully integrate aquatic principles into their own practices.

My vision for Aquatic Psychotherapy extends beyond my own work. I am passionate about helping other therapists, coaches, and helping professionals learn how to safely and ethically incorporate water-based and Blue Mind principles into their practices. Through consultation, continuing education, and future certification opportunities, I hope to foster a growing community of professionals who share research, ideas, innovation, and a commitment to advancing this emerging field.

I believe healing happens when we create the conditions where safety, evidence-based practices, and insight come together. Water has a remarkable way of helping us do exactly that.

Whether I am working with an individual client, leading a retreat, speaking to an organization, or training fellow clinicians, my mission remains the same: to help people reconnect with themselves, each other, and the natural world through the restorative power of water while advancing the growing field of Aquatic Psychotherapy.