Welcome to my practice, Kia Ora Wellness!
I carefully chose this name after living and working in New Zealand for a number of years. Kia Ora (pronounced Key-oh-ra) translates to "be well" or "be healthy," and is used in New Zealand as an informal greeting equivalent to "hi" or "hello." Most of us desire to be as emotionally and physically healthy while moving through challenges, and it is my goal to help you achieve that.
I am a Chicago suburb native, and cherish Midwestern values. I enjoy trail running, traveling to parts of the world I haven't yet explored, and scrapbooking.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with a Master of Arts degree in Counseling Psychology and Counselor Education from the University of Colorado Denver. I also earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Advertising from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
I have been involved both personally and professionally in the reproductive world for 14+ years. I was a patient of a few Denver based reproductive centers, and I worked on the counseling staff at a world renowned Colorado facility for a number of years.
I have counseled individuals and couples, completed third-party psychoeducadtional counseling sessions (donor recipients and intended parents), evaluated egg donors and gestational carriers, led support groups, provided workshops, and presented fertility related in-services to employees and colleagues.
HOW I WORK WITH CLIENTS
During counseling sessions, I listen closely to your concerns, and together we work on ways to improve your thought processes, stress and anxiety levels, decision making, relationships, and anything else that may arise. I utilize Cognitive Behavior Therapy (cognitive restructuring), as well as Mind Body Stress Reduction techniques and coping skills.
During donor recipient and intended parent sessions, I provide you with a wealth of information about moving forward with these wonderful options. You have a safe place to have your questions answered, and your concerns addressed.
Although I have not experienced exactly what you have, I can relate, and I have a vast understanding of the medical terminology and the emotional roller coaster that reproductive and loss issues can cause. I am passionate about important and crucial aspects of life that can often be overlooked and misunderstood by the general population, and more importantly by well-meaning friends and family. I strive to meet you where you are at, in a non-judgmental and unconditionally acceptable way. Nothing you share and we process together will surprise or shock me. I welcome and accept your vulnerability.
I carefully chose this name after living and working in New Zealand for a number of years. Kia Ora (pronounced Key-oh-ra) translates to "be well" or "be healthy," and is used in New Zealand as an informal greeting equivalent to "hi" or "hello." Most of us desire to be as emotionally and physically healthy while moving through challenges, and it is my goal to help you achieve that.
I am a Chicago suburb native, and cherish Midwestern values. I enjoy trail running, traveling to parts of the world I haven't yet explored, and scrapbooking.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with a Master of Arts degree in Counseling Psychology and Counselor Education from the University of Colorado Denver. I also earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Advertising from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
I have been involved both personally and professionally in the reproductive world for 14+ years. I was a patient of a few Denver based reproductive centers, and I worked on the counseling staff at a world renowned Colorado facility for a number of years.
I have counseled individuals and couples, completed third-party psychoeducadtional counseling sessions (donor recipients and intended parents), evaluated egg donors and gestational carriers, led support groups, provided workshops, and presented fertility related in-services to employees and colleagues.
HOW I WORK WITH CLIENTS
During counseling sessions, I listen closely to your concerns, and together we work on ways to improve your thought processes, stress and anxiety levels, decision making, relationships, and anything else that may arise. I utilize Cognitive Behavior Therapy (cognitive restructuring), as well as Mind Body Stress Reduction techniques and coping skills.
During donor recipient and intended parent sessions, I provide you with a wealth of information about moving forward with these wonderful options. You have a safe place to have your questions answered, and your concerns addressed.
Although I have not experienced exactly what you have, I can relate, and I have a vast understanding of the medical terminology and the emotional roller coaster that reproductive and loss issues can cause. I am passionate about important and crucial aspects of life that can often be overlooked and misunderstood by the general population, and more importantly by well-meaning friends and family. I strive to meet you where you are at, in a non-judgmental and unconditionally acceptable way. Nothing you share and we process together will surprise or shock me. I welcome and accept your vulnerability.
In Due Time can be purchased directly. Please email kiaorawellness @ gmail.com with number of copies, your address, and your phone number.
I am the author of the infertility and loss memoir
In Due Time: A Journey Through Infertility, Loss, and Embracing the Unknown.
This heartfelt memoir chronicles a physically and emotionally demanding time as I attempt to add to my family of three, after receiving medical assistance to initially conceive. I divulge intimate details of infertility testing and medication, miscarriages, intrauterine inseminations, chemical pregnancies, comprehensive chromosomal screening, in vitro fertilization, and frozen embryo transfers. An emotional mixture of hope, defeat, success, and loss, this honest and raw memoir depicts my tedious challenge to embrace the unknown.
I am an active member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), as well as the Mental Health Professionals Group (MHPG) within ASRM where I have volunteered on the Educational Resources committee. I completed the Professional Training Program through the Family Equality Council, and welcome LGBTQ people to my practice.
