Note on lived experience:
My writing and speaking includes stories of my experiences of having Bipolar Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury, as well as having a brother with Schizophrenia, and losing family members and friends to suicide. As a professional, I struggled for years with whether to disclose my diagnosis publicly. I now feel that if one person benefits, it is worth it. That said, boundaries and ethics are central to my practice and I only offer what is necessary and relevant for the situation. I am much more interested in hearing the stories of others than telling ones I have heard before.
Approach:
As a clinician I draw from multiple modalities but typically use evidence-based behavioral psychology interventions, primarily from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). My studies of this approach have had a profound effect on my personal and work life. For me, Psychological Flexibility isn’t a concept, it’s a lifestyle.
This isn’t my first rodeo. I’ve been yelled at, I’ve been punched, I’ve been told that good ideas aren’t going to happen. Despite best efforts, patients have died on my watch. I’ve led teams through impossible challenges. I’ve sat with many people in their darkest moments and together we have found a path forward. Thousands of patients have trusted me with their stories. I have struggled to make sense of broken systems and have championed change when I had the opportunity.
I have seen the inside of hospitals as a provider and patient. I have grappled with moral injury, burnout, and depression. Despite these challenges, I am grateful to be part of the amazing profession that is healthcare. I have great respect for anyone who endeavors to serve others, whether in their work or personal life. I love helping people who help people.
I know, deep in my soul, that it really is darkest before the dawn. My lived experience has grounded me and gives me hope in the power of the human spirit to overcome adversity and find balance.