About
I have been where you are.
In the span of three years, my father died, I lost my mother to dementia, and my teenage daughter experienced the onset of a serious mental health disorder. My husband suffered a traumatic brain injury during that time frame, developed PTSD from resurfaced memories of childhood abuse, and eventually transitioned to female. Our 28-year marriage ended with a difficult divorce.
My life as I knew it was over.
And yet, even in the midst of the storm, I glimpsed the potential for life-changing transformation. I could sense an inner core of strength beneath the pain and feel how the tools of yoga, meditation, and art kept me afloat.
I became fascinated with the concept of resilience–where it comes from, how to nourish it, and its role in helping us move through crisis and into post-traumatic growth. From this investigation, alongside my lived experience, the Center for Resiliency Arts was born.
Re•sil•ience noun
The capacity of a person to maintain their core purpose and integrity in the face of difficulty and dramatic change. The ability not only to overcome setbacks but also to grow from them and move forward with greater strength and self-knowledge.
Humans are wired to be resilient.
The Center for Resiliency Arts is dedicated to helping you remember and cultivate your resilience. We provide arts-based healing practices and resiliency coaching for individuals and families experiencing stress, transition, or grief.
Our work is informed by the latest developments in neurobiology, the wisdom of mindfulness teachings, and sensitivity to the intergenerational aspects of trauma.
Together, we will:
- Challenge your assumptions and beliefs to ensure they truly serve you.
- Find avenues through which to discern and engage your innate wisdom.
- Harness the power of imagery to imagine a future solidly rooted in your core desires.
- Coach you through the process of turning that vision into reality.
About Me
The Center for Resiliency Arts is the latest incarnation of a rich and varied career in education and the arts.
I’ve taught English in Eastern Europe, archived oral histories for the Smithsonian Institution, and created educational resources for the Minneapolis Institute of Art.
I’ve run a reading mentorship program and taught middle schoolers how to find their inner artist at Nova Classical Academy in Saint Paul.
In my free time, I relax with my two young adult daughters and our dog and cat, write poetry, practice SoulCollage® with friends, and stay balanced with yoga, meditation, and dream journaling.
Certifications & Trainings
❖ ICF Trauma-Informed Coaching Certification (Moving the Human Spirit)
❖ Grief Support Certificate (UW Madison)
❖ Polyvagal Foundations (Polyvagal Institute)
❖ SoulCollage® Facilitator Training (SoulCollage Inc.)
❖ 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Certification (Big River Yoga)
❖ MA, Art History (Williams College)
❖ BA, Fine Arts (Amherst College)