The Heart Behind Pasture

Pasture Counseling was inspired by Psalm 23—a metaphor for a life that is secure, soul-nourishing, and sustaining. Throughout our lives, there are times when health, crisis, or limited capacity still us to rest and reflect. There are seasons of peace and restoration, and seasons that bring suffering and darkness, but always with the hope of coming home to our true self. I invite you to bring this image of a pasture into our work together: a place to notice, be present, and journey forward with self-compassion and openness.

I believe that meaningful transformation occurs through the power of presence, true human connection, and the sacred practice of with-ness. You do not have to navigate life's heaviest seasons, transitions, or pain in isolation. Rather than applying a one-size-fits-all model, I offer distinct, specialized paths tailored specifically to where you are—whether you are seeking clinical healing, deep soul care, or a communal space to rest.

Clinical Approach & Practice

I approach counseling through an attachment lens and a client-centered posture, holding the firm belief that you are the expert of your own life. You already possess inner gifts, tools, and resilience; my role is to help you mine those strengths, make meaning, and empower you toward lasting change.

I look at the whole person—mind, body, heart, and spirit—within the context of relationships and culture. My clinical training is enriched by trauma-informed modalities, boundary work, mindfulness, and somatic integration. I am particularly passionate about supporting natural caretakers, empaths, fixers, and Highly Sensitive Persons (HSPs) who are ready to unburden themselves from constant over-functioning and safely step out of survival mode.

My Journey & Story

My path to becoming a therapist was sparked by my own midlife awakening—a season that began with profound grief and slowly unraveled years of over-functioning and under-awareness. Having walked through church ministry, event planning, hospice care, authoring and speaking, a cross-country move, personal losses, and raising two sons into adulthood, I understand the multi-faceted complexities of life. Learning how to continually come home to myself has been my life's work, and I consider it sacred privilege to companion you on yours.

Originally from Southern California, my husband and I spent years living along the CA coast before moving to Tennessee in 2017 for the green hills, barns, and room to breathe. I’ve been married for over 20 years, and together we have two teenage boys, two dogs, and a porch cat. Our long-term dream is to steward a holistic retreat property in the country—complete with space for counseling and spiritual direction, a poetry barn, guest cottages, and a donkey rescue farm.

When I’m not in the therapy room or hosting retreats, I value honest conversations on the porch, adventuring in new towns, offering hospitality, writing, foraging for beauty, and thrifting. A perfect day for me includes brunch, a long walk, picking wildflowers, reading Henri Nouwen, and sitting around a bonfire with family and friends.

My office door is open for warmth, tea, and light. Let's move forward together, one brave step at a time.

Specialties & Modalities

• Relational, Spiritual, and Emotional Trauma

• Women’s and Men’s Issues

• Grief & Loss (Death, divorce, health diagnoses, end of a dream)

• Life Transitions & Midlife (Identity shifts, career pivots, empty nesting)

• Codependency & Over-Functioning (Empaths, caretakers, HSP support)

• Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) — Externship & Level 1

• Grief Recovery Method® — Certified Specialist

• Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapy (SIP)

• Somatic Integration & Mindfulness

• Anxiety, Depression, & Women's Issues

Education, Credentials & Affiliations

• M.A. in Marriage & Family Therapy — Trevecca Nazarene University (Nashville, TN)

• B.A. in Liberal Studies, Minor in Leadership — Azusa Pacific University (Southern CA)

• Associate Marriage & Family Therapist (AMFT) — Pursuing licensure in TN under the clinical supervision of Patricia Winn Thomas Simmons, LMFT (#1590)

• Certified Spiritual Director — Sustainable Faith School of Spiritual Direction

• Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapy (SIP) Trained — ACPE

• Founder — Pasture Experience (Contemplative spaces & soul-care retreats)

• Member — American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT)

• Member — Tennessee Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (TNAMFT)