I am a neurodivergent mother of four children under the age of 11, one of whom is neurodivergent himself. There is nothing I enjoy more than learning from my children what their world means to them.

There is also nothing I have found to be more challenging. Raising children in the day of instantaneous gratification, astounding technological advancement, and unmatched societal pressures. I have had to remain flexible, considerate, and remember to take care of myself.

I have lived in Kitsap County my entire life and having worked on Bainbridge Island since I was 16 years old, I have the unique position of knowing both communities intimately. I have my children enrolled in sports leagues, libraries, and schools on Bainbridge, in Kingston, and Poulsbo. My husband grew up and went through the public and private school systems on the Island. I was raised in Poulsbo and graduated from North Kitsap High School.

I have served people with intellectual and developmental disabilities throughout the two communities for 20 years as a personal trainer, an athletic director, with a focus on nutrition and routine hygiene. I am neurodivergent myself living with ADHD and dyslexia, as they often play together. I have had to learn how to make a busy brain work for me. I have had the privilege of time and created an avenue of growth where my differences have become superpowers. I approach obstacles with curiosity and a toolbox full of strategies. I move through life with an open mind and a growth mindset.

Through my Masters Degree I found what challenged me and leaned in. Boundaries, attachment, and sexual assault have been among the most rewarding areas in my work. Being trusted to hold the inner-workings of people’s most delicate intricacies has been transformative.

I have served adolescents experiencing PTSD symptoms post COVID-19 on-line through the University of Washington’s Youth Behavioral Health Response Team Stepped-Care Clinic.

I currently work in Port Hadlock with incarcerated individuals struggling with addiction and homelessness. This is often an area where I encounter co-occurring disorders. Grief and loss, trauma, PTSD, anxiety, stress, and abandonment have been prevalent in this space. I appreciate people’s willingness to do the hard work of explaining their point of view to someone new because this can be so vulnerable.