About Me and My Background
I’ve always been fascinated by what helps people thrive—how we grow, adapt, and find meaning, even in challenging circumstances. That curiosity has shaped every step of my path as a psychologist and educator. My work blends evidence-based methods with a person-centered approach, and I’m especially passionate about Self-Determination Theory (SDT) as a framework for helping people create lives that feel authentic, connected, and purposeful.
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I began my professional journey with an M.S. in Exercise and Wellness from Arizona State University in 2006, which deepened my understanding of the mind–body connection and the role of lifestyle in well-being. Wanting to work more directly with psychological and emotional aspects of health, I earned my Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Kentucky in 2014.
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My clinical training included an APA-accredited internship at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University, where I specialized in Behavioral Medicine, followed by a two-year postdoctoral fellowship at Brown in Integrated Primary Care Psychology. These experiences gave me a front-row seat to the ways physical and mental health intertwine, and how meaningful change happens when care addresses the whole person.
In 2016, I joined the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Washington as an Assistant Professor. There, I taught family medicine residents, worked with patients in primary care clinics, and served as Assistant Program Director of the Family Medicine Residency. This period strengthened my skills in working within interdisciplinary teams and supporting both patient and clinician well-being. For more about my academic background, see my CV.
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It wasn’t until late in graduate school that I encountered Self-Determination Theory, but when I did, something clicked. SDT resonated deeply with my values, my personal and professional experiences, and my hopes for how psychology can help people. I was drawn to its person-centered and organismic perspective, its strong scientific foundation, and its power to explain when and why people thrive—or struggle. Since then, it has become the organizing framework for my clinical work and teaching. It has also become a touchstone in my personal life—a guide for making choices, building relationships, and aligning my daily actions with what matters most. I do my best to live in an SDT-consistent way in all areas of my life. My hope is that clients can sense that I’m doing my best to apply these same principles in my own journey.​
In 2020, I relocated to San Diego to be closer to family and enjoy the sunshine year-round. My current work includes a private therapy practice, consultation and training for organizations, and ongoing involvement in NIH-funded research as a Visiting Researcher at the University of California, Irvine.
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Outside of work, I enjoy tennis, hiking, strength and conditioning training, meditation, reading, and walks by the ocean with my big, fluffy dog, Amako. Before graduate school, I lived in Kawasaki, Japan for three years as part of the JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching) Program—a formative time that deepened my appreciation for Japanese art and culture, Zen philosophy and meditation, martial arts, and holistic approaches to well-being.
Amako, my sweet Great Pyrenees mix