Athletics became a steady thread throughout my childhood and adolescence. I began playing basketball in elementary school and continued through high school. I ran track from elementary through high school as well, and later developed an interest in volleyball. Sports taught me discipline, teamwork, resilience, and how to push through discomfort toward a goal. Those lessons followed me far beyond the court and the track.

Education and the Long Road

My involvement in academics and athletics opened doors to higher education through scholarships, allowing me to continue my academic journey. When I first entered college, my interest was in nursing. Over the years, my aspirations had shifted many times, from wanting to be a surgeon, to an anesthesiologist, to a teacher, before finally enrolling with the goal of becoming a nurse.

During my undergraduate studies, I took an Intro to Psychology course that changed everything. I became deeply fascinated with the human mind, how thoughts are formed, how experiences shape behavior, and how unseen influences affect the way people show up in the world. I found myself torn between continuing my path in nursing and leaning fully into psychology.

After graduating, I accepted my first professional role with the Arkansas Department of Human Services, working with foster children in the child welfare system. At the time, I had very little understanding of what child welfare truly involved and initially believed I was applying for something entirely different. Once immersed in the work, I witnessed firsthand how unresolved childhood trauma impacts parenting, relationships, and family systems.

That experience changed me. Seeing the generational effects of trauma ignited a desire to be proactive rather than reactive, to support individuals and families before they ever reached the point of crisis or system involvement. That is where my heart for counseling truly began to take shape.

It would be several years before I was able to formally pursue that calling through graduate education. The journey to earning my master’s degree required patience, sacrifice, and perseverance, especially while navigating life’s many responsibilities. More of that story is shared in my book, Whatever It Takes, where I reflect on what it meant to keep going even when the path was not straightforward.

My academic journey wasn’t about collecting credentials. It was about learning how to hold people’s stories with care and competence. I pursued my education with intention, committing to the long road that led to earning my master’s degree. That process required discipline, sacrifice, and persistence, especially while balancing real-life responsibilities.

What I gained wasn’t just knowledge. It was discernment. Structure. Language for things people often feel but struggle to name. My education sharpened my ability to support others in ways that are ethical, informed, and grounded.

The Work and the Growth

Along the way, there were milestones that mattered. Not as trophies, but as evidence of commitment. I stayed when it was hard. I finished what I started. I kept choosing growth over comfort.

Every accomplishment represents a season of learning, stretching, and becoming more equipped to serve people well. My work is rooted in integrity, consistency, and a deep respect for the responsibility that comes with walking alongside others.

Life Beyond the Title

Along the way, I met my husband, fell in love, and began building a family. Our story includes seasons of joy, difficulty, divorce, and remarriage. While not perfect or easy, one thing remained constant: our commitment to being loving, present parents to our three incredible children.

They keep us busy, challenge us, and continually remind us of what matters most. While they are not perfect, we are deeply proud of who they are and who they are becoming. Parenting has refined my patience, expanded my empathy, and grounded my understanding of balance in real life, not theory.

In addition to being a wife and mother, I am also a pastor’s wife. Ministry life has offered a front-row seat to faith, leadership, pressure, service, and the unseen emotional labor that often accompanies caring for others. These roles are not separate from my professional work. They inform it, deepen it, and keep it honest.

Why This Matters

None of this would be possible without God’s covering, guidance, and grace. I am deeply aware of the people He has placed in my life to encourage me, challenge me, and speak life into me along the way. I am grateful for a praying mother whose faith continues to inspire me, and I acknowledge my father’s absence as a formative part of my story that shaped my resilience and strength.

Every experience, whether joyful, painful, or complicated, has contributed to who I am today. While no one seeks hardship, I understand that the difficult seasons are often where depth, compassion, and purpose are formed.

My life and work are a testament to the belief that God is good, even when circumstances are not. The hard parts gave me substance, perspective, and a story worth sharing. They equipped me to write, to serve, and to walk alongside others with authenticity, faith, and understanding.

If you are here, know that you are welcome. This space exists because growth, healing, and hope are possible, and because stories, including yours, matter.

I do this work because people matter. Stories matter. Healing matters.

Everything I offer is shaped by lived experience, professional training, and a commitment to showing up with both competence and compassion. This space exists to support growth, clarity, and forward movement.

If you’re here, you’re not here by accident. You’re welcome to take your time, explore, and decide if this space feels right for you.