Through my most memorable life experiences, both the joys and the sorrows, I have determined my own definition of the word “family” – it’s something that goes far beyond blood and bones.

While at 7 years old my parents divorced, they remained good friends which modeled for me early in life that family is more than who we are born to or married to. Their relationship taught me so much of what it means to be loyal and forgiving even when you choose to not be together in the same home. Later, my father would be diagnosed with terminal brain cancer while my mother, myself, and my immediate family stood by his side as he surrendered to his illness. These early experiences would be the foundation of my values and who I am today.

As I went on to start my own family, much to my disappointment, I suffered a number of miscarriages and found myself at a crossroads between continuing to try assisted IVF pregnancy, or adoption. My husband and I made the most conscious and most organic choice to adopt.

We adopted our daughter, Lexi at birth. Little did I know at the time that our daughter would face similar experiences to my own: growing up with divorced parents. Lexi would experience the true meaning of “it takes a village” seeing my husband and I work together despite our differences to show her love, transparency, and continuity – she could always count on us to be there for her. We also set up an open adoption for Lexi, where she could choose whether or not to pursue a relationship with her birth mother. Both my daughter and I would come to understand the diverse spectrum of what family looks like.

It is through my first-hand experiences of the sorrows and joys of family life that has brought me to the world of coaching and counseling. Today I extend this passion for lending a helping hand to others on their life’s journey by working with a diverse range of clients from families who are looking to adopt, counseling teenagers, and most recently, becoming certified through the Martha Beck Institute as a Life Coach. I am thrilled you are here and I look forward to learning how I can support you.