About me
I am a masters level social worker who is passionate about working with international communities to help them flourish and grow. To me, this means ensuring children are protected, adults are supported and everyone has an opportunity to reflect on what brings meaning to their lives.
I combine my 20 years of counselling and management work with my life experience to guide my practice.
Throughout my career, I have had a number of roles. I have worked in community health centers, schools and in developing countries. Regardless of the actual position I hold, I have maintained a focus on:
- child protection and well-being
- the richness of cultural diversity
- the ways in which identity develops, changes and grows
- the importance of connection and relationships
- the value of collaboration and shared goals
I am a US citizen but currently live in Croatia with my husband and children. This is our third international move as a family and my fourth overseas move. My first experience living outside the US was as a US Peace Corps volunteer in Togo, West Africa. It was there that I met my husband and felt the immediate connection to other people who share my passion for experiencing new countries and cultures.
This first experience of “jumping off the bridge” and moving to an unknown land gave me the courage and confidence to do it again, first to Switzerland then to Singapore and Croatia. These moves have not always been easy but they have brought a richness and fullness to my life. I hope some of my experiences resonate with you and help you know that, whatever your current experience as an expat, you are not alone.