I believe my position as a social worker is to assist those who cross my path by meeting them where they are at, to listen, and guide clients/patients to the treatment they seek. When possible I may bring some of my yoga teacher training into my work as well, as we can all benefit from breathing deeper and moving more in order to feel more alive & well. My career started out working with children and families in foster care & adoption, which enhanced my empathy for children and the challenges many disenfranchised minorities face. I was able to connect with a wide variety of children and parents due to my innate ability to find common ground, gain trust, through play therapy or outings. Moving forward in any clinical arena one must find where people can relate in order to foster a relationship. Currently, I manage an ED Crisis Behavioral Health team where we have grown in the last year, from the ground up, as we took over from an outside consultant team. It has been a journey of learning as a clinician and offering several types of outpatient services to the population or assisting in referrals to inpatient hospitalizations. Additionally, creating relationships with community partners in order to support patients in connecting with services. One of the most meaningful positions I ever held was interviewing 9/11 family members who had recently lost a loved one. Being in that intimate space with a grieving family member for close to a 100 separate stories & interviews was emotionally trying however also felt important at the time. It seemed as if I was an integral part of aiding these families move forward while also serving my desire to support my community both micro and macro. I enjoy connecting to others and providing guidance to those who may be struggling in some capacity, as it creates more meaning in my life.