Holistic Hand Health

I am a Portland-born, outdoorsy, bird-loving, Oregonian. I had a collection of bird-shirts and bird-art way before Portlandia hyped it.

I am grateful for growing up in the beautiful Pacific Northwest and have fond memories of hiking, camping and water-skiing. My love for water and speed evolved into surfing, windsurfing, kite-boarding and paddle-boarding. I also enjoy slowing down for yoga, meditation, playing the piano, savoring warm tea and good conversation.

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I was drawn to become an OT because of the focus on function. I appreciate how OTs can use purposeful activities, like getting dressed, playing cards, and building a birdhouse, as therapy for improving strength and coordination as well as mental attention and sequencing. I specialized in hand therapy because of how amazing and critical our hands are in daily life, plus I enjoy creating customized orthoses.

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My interest in Nutritional Therapy began after I suffered an episode of food poisoning. My digestive system never recovered and over the next year I became very ill. I was eventually diagnosed with SIBO (Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth). After seeing numerous doctors and undergoing multiple treatments, I was desperate to figure out how to heal myself. The wealth of knowledge and hands-on assessment experience that I gained through the Nutritional Therapy Practitioner program was life-changing. It inspired me to create ways to integrate nutritional therapy into the traditional health care that I provide to patients/clients.  

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I have practiced yoga and meditation for 20+ years. I endeavor to weave these practices into my work, not only because I have experienced profound personal enrichment, but because modern research is proving they provide a myriad of health benefits on all levels of being: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. I like to begin and end client sessions with a couple minutes of mindfulness and centering. Some clients have shared that this is their favorite part!

Within my yoga studies, I became intrigued with hand mudras, which are a synthesis of hand yoga and mindful intention = a perfect fit for a hand therapist who loves yoga! I've learned that placing the hands and fingers in specific postures activates acupuncture meridians (energy lines) which stimulate different areas of the brain and create an energy circuit in the body. I am fascinated by how mudras can be used therapeutically to direct the flow of energy and balance the elements within the body.

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I am passionate about blending these holistic therapies into tailored programs to nurture the innate healing wisdom within each person.