Perhaps like you, I’ve found over the years that seeking ways to live in alignment with something greater than myself, a larger meaning, source of love and grace, has led me to a more fulfilling, useful and ultimately purposeful life. Living this way has become my greatest passion.
Over the last 25 years, I have been devoted to my own spiritual growth, healing and inner work as well as the growth and healing of others. In 2007, I completed a two year seminary program to become an ordained Interfaith Minister through the New Seminary for Interfaith Studies in New York City. Since then I have created spiritual community, facilitated spiritual practice groups, served in faith based communities, run spiritually based book groups, and presided over weddings, baby blessings, memorial services and other ceremonies.
In 2015, I graduated with a Masters degree in Social Work and have worked in both community mental health and private clinical practice as a spiritually based psychotherapist. I specialize in using Internal Family Systems therapy and spiritual practices to support healing from trauma, attachment wounds and the challenges of being human in a sometimes painful and difficult world.
Fundamentally, I believe that all legitimate spiritual paths share universal wisdom about our human purpose, centering love, compassion, service and divine right action. As Jesuit Priest, Father Gregory Boyle says, “We belong to each other.” Yet we often lose touch with our common humanity and our desire to live meaningful and connected lives of service to each other and the Divine. My deepest wish is to develop my unique connection to Divine love, inspiration and action so that I may be, as Christine M. Bush states, “an activist for love.” Root and Branch is a space to support us all as we grow more deeply connected to our own Divine leading.
The Conversations with God series and the work of Neale Donald Walsch
Understanding Your Soul and the work of Christine M. Bush, channel for Jesus
The Freedom Transmissions and the work of Carissa Schumacher, channel for Yeshua
The Whole Language and the work of Father Gregory Boyle
The Internal Family Systems model for healing
The Insight Meditation Society and the work of numerous IMS teachers, most notably, Joseph Goldstein, Sharon Salzberg and Jack Kornfield
A Course in Miracles and the book, Love is Letting Go of Fear, by Gerald Jampolsky
Richard Rohr and the work of the Center for Action and Contemplation
I am profoundly grateful for the influence of numerous spiritual traditions, especially Christian Mysticism, Judaism, Buddhism, and New Thought/Metaphysical teachings. The following books and their writers/teachers shape how I live, work with my own difficulties and support others.