Meet Our Team

We go through life trying to make sense of it all; the good, the bad, and the ugly cries in between.  You do not have to do this alone. Whatever life throws at us, it is important that we stay balanced, healthy, and true to ourselves. I believe we all have the ability to find the power within ourselves to overcome any of life’s obstacles.

As a person who grew up in rural Illinois (right here in the Illinois Valley), I know exactly what it is like to try to find resources and support in a small town. Which is why I love that I am a part of the TGC team because we make it easier for you to get the help you may want, right here on campus!  I have worked in many different positions and many different environments in the mental health field. I have experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and older adults. 

I am also trained in crisis and suicide prevention, which includes working with people struggling with suicidal thoughts and self-harming behaviors. I understand this topic is seen as “taboo” but I believe that talking about these thoughts openly with a professional can help with managing these symptoms.

I am also bilingual (English and Spanish). I come from a family of Mexican immigrants, and I am a first generation American and first-generation college graduate. This is important to my identity as it helped me understand my roots, my culture, my lifestyle, and all the confusion that comes with it. I am currently a graduate student at Adler University, in process of completing the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. Fun things about me: I love horror movies, collecting records, quoting SpongeBob, and talking about astrology (Virgo sun, here).

Let’s tackle life’s obstacles by taking one step at time. If that first step is to make an appointment to start therapy, just know that I know it takes a lot of courage doing so!  You got this!