My background includes a unique (!) combination of experience: 20 years on air and producing TV News, weather and public affairs including helping the greater Charleston SC area through Hurricane Hugo In 1989; 30+ years in Mental Health as a Licensed Counselor and Consultant in private practice and as a school counselor/program director in the SC Public Schools; writing weekly and monthly mental health advice columns; leading workshops on varied topics to International audiences at professional conferences; serving as Director of Disaster Services for the American Red Cross and in Disaster Mental Health on the national team; developing a program at the Institute of Psychiatry at the Medical University of SC; 11 years as a school counselor in SC Public a Schools, teaching graduate courses to teachers as an adjunct; teaching Martial Arts for 20 years; (note -- a lot of this is concurrent of course!) and most importantly, being a wife, mother and now grandmother. I am very involved with my church, hold teaching and leadership positions as part of voluntary service.