About Me

“Connection is the energy that is created between people when they feel seen, heard and valued.” —Brene Brown

My mission statement:

I support people in rediscovering and engaging in the activities they find meaningful to live a life filled with more joy, balance, and wholeness.

My passion

I am passionate about art and creativity, as well as how to support people in their dreams and life goals. I believe that we are all healthier, happier, and even more productive, when we are able to engage in those activities that bring meaning and purpose to our lives. One of my special talents is listening, and as an occupational therapist I enjoyed helping people find the right balance between their current skills and the right challenge to help them grow and learn. When something is too difficult or when there is an imbalance between your current abilities and the expectations or demands placed on you, it can lead to stress, frustration, shutdown, or even burnout. I can observe, support and adapt activities, and guide individuals or organizations to find the sweet spot where a task or an opportunity for growth feels engaging but doable, stretching but supportive, or even meaningful or fulfilling. When it’s too easy, it may feel unmotivating or unfulfilling-and this can also lead to burnout. Over the course of my career, I have found deep satisfaction, meaning and purpose in what I do in my work with children and families as I have practiced supporting children and adults with the “just right challenge”. Participating in activities that matter to us and match our skills with the right level of challenge increases our sense of purpose, joy, and well-being.

Just Right Fit Meets Arts and Crafts

While working in the field of occupational therapy, and noticing the symptoms of burnout creeping in, I decided it was time for me to reassess and rediscover my own “just right fit”. I felt an internal pull for something “more” or different for myself, not knowing what exactly that was. I have come to believe that just because we can stay in a place or environment that is comfortable because it’s what's familiar and a “safe”, doesn’t always mean we should. I was lucky enough to be able to finally take some time for myself. I began to rediscover my love for participating in visual art activities as I took some time to “play” again—with all kinds of paints, inks, stamps, stencils, and textiles. Healing doesn’t always look like rest—sometimes it looks like painting, planting, baking, creating, or playing.

Humans were not always constantly on computers, on our phones, driving in cars, and worrying about constant productivity. It wasn’t until more recently in our modern history that we began to spend less time engaged in tasks that involved using our minds and our hands together, building, creating, problem solving and making. The field of occupational therapy actually began out of a movement (the Arts and Crafts movement) to counter the Industrial Revolution, and a desire to return to a simpler life that had become too complicated by the bureaucracy and industrialization of the time (read more here). Early occupational therapy combined arts and crafts with medical and therapeutic healing practices, a method still used today, especially in the field of pediatrics. It is unfortunate, that in our modern society, the use of arts and crafts are often seen as a more appropriate modality for children, than for adults. I believe this is changing, however, and that there is a renewed interest in the benefits of the arts to heal (read Your Brain On Art: How the Arts Transform Us), an awareness that we are spiraling into an unhealthy preoccupation with our technology and social media, and a desire by many to counter the unhealthy demands and work-life imbalance of corporate and bureaucratic cultures. Amie McNee, in her Ted Talk, The Case For Making Art When The World Is On Fire, speaks about reclaiming our attention away from our phones and other technology, and advocates for less consumption, more creation. Watch her fiery and eye-opening 15 min Ted Talk here.

Curiosity, Play and Intuition—Where the Magic Happens

As I worked through my fear of the blank page, experimenting and exploring with a sense of curiosity rather than having a goal to create something specific, I noticed how I lost track of time, and everything faded away around me. It was a feeling of contentment, excitement, and intense satisfaction and joy all at once. I was not beholden to anyone, nor did I confine myself to fitting within a certain style or method. I simply followed my inspiration and my heart. I had no rules! I gave myself permission to play. I noticed that any stress and worries were gone in those moments of complete engagement, and I felt immense freedom and my spirit felt lighter. I rediscovered a joy in being immersed in open ended activities that were filled with color, texture and infinite possibility—and they were highly engaging and meaningful. I woke up every day and couldn’t wait to start the day! Including a play-based and intuitive creative process became a vital part of my recovery from burnout, a new means of self-expression, recovery of my personal confidence and joy in life. It’s not just about getting through the day—it’s about doing something in the day that feels like you and fills you up.

The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.” —Pablo Picasso

Occupational Therapy and Positive Psychology Meet

I became curious about what I was experiencing and soon uncovered a mountain of research and therapeutic use of the arts and crafts both in the history of occupational therapy, and in research conducted in other fields of practice that confirmed what I was experiencing—engaging in flow experiences, or in meaningful activities, such as those involving play, are not only highly intrinsically rewarding and fulfilling, they also have multiple documented health and wellness benefits. I started asking myself a series of questions: What if I could support other people in experiencing this? What if businesses acknowledged the power of meaningful “play”, mindfulness, and creative experiences for their employees? Would people feel freer to be inventive and creative in their work? Would they “work” harder be more productive because they are naturally and intrinsically motivated by the tasks? Would we be happier and more productive at work and home when we experience a more balanced life that includes activities that are creative and meaningful? Finally, as the news in the world started changing quickly and I spoke to friends, family and neighbors hearing both new and old fears and anxieties creeping in, as well as unhealed trauma from the global pandemic we all survived, I asked—could I make a difference in some way by sharing not only how art and creativity can heal and increase joy, but also how it can bring change to the world by reconnecting us more deeply to ourselves and to each other? "Be the change you wish to see in the world" is a quote commonly attributed to Mahatma Gandhi, and it has always been a subtle call to action in how I wanted to live my life.

After working for many years in the field of pediatrics, and helping children learn and develop through play, I came to realized that perhaps adults are needing to rediscover the power of play and the arts to heal, connect, provide rest and retreat, and support the engagement in fulfilling and meaningful experiences—and I knew, in my heart, soul and in the fibers of my being, that I wanted to be a part of making that happen.

The symbolism of the Bee

The bee is associated with the cycles of nature, wisdom, creativity, values of perseverance, balance, harmony, and abundance.

Bee’s must be part of a hive to thrive. They remind us of the need for and importance of community and the value of nurturing relationships. In life, the bee can remind us how collaboration can lead to more success, and that we can accomplish more than when working alone.

Their role in nature’s reproductive, life cycle and ecological balance can remind us to reflect on our own process of growth and transformation, a need for a work-life balance in our own lives, and our own creative power.

I'm interested!

The Power of Regulation

When working with children, learning how to self-regulate their nervous system, and building a connection, are often the initial goal. This needs to happen before we can ask a child to attend, focus or be successful in higher level activities that involve problem solving and learning new skills. In this context, connection implies a sense of understanding and safety with another person, that is not always expressed with words. In fact, we all start out with learning how to regulate our nervous system as babies, through co-regulating with our parents. Adults need to be in a calm well-regulated state, just like children, to effectively learn, solve problems, connect with others, and take in new information. With this in mind, I wanted to create a meaningful, restful, restorative, yet also playful space and experience, and one that also fostered connection, so people could then go back out into the world feeling more rested and able to engage in the tasks of their daily life. By engaging in more mindfulness, meaningful and creative activities, we can build the capacity in our nervous system to be more present, focused and happier in our everyday life, as well as more connected to others.

I aim to support people in their goals of rest and recovery, through the playful, intuitive and spontaneous experience of creative process, as well as the deeply focused and joyful immersion of the flow experience, where effort feels effortless, and our mind and body are fully aligned with the moment. Losing oneself in the colors, textures or movements of the creative process of the visual arts can be calming , energizing, nourishing and deeply satisfying. It reconnects us with ourselves, our sense of curiosity and our inner intuitive spark. Though any method of creativity really can be an antidote to the worry, stress, mental and emotional fatigue and burnout, and lack of connection within ourselves as well as with others that many of us are experiencing.

This method to support people in the play and flow experience is being developed with many of the following benefits that participating in play-filled, meaning-filled and art based activities can provide, including (see resource page for references):

supporting the “feel good” emotions by reducing anxiety, and releasing dopamine.
engaging in intrinsically motivating activities helps us to take more risks, think outside the box, build resilience, enjoy deeper focus and flow, feel more fulfilled, and improve well-being.
decreases in anxiety and negative mood, some of the effects of stress.
reduces cortisol levels.
participating in art activities can assist in expressing ourselves, including our personal story, experience or emotions, which can help with emotional regulation. In some cases, art can better express what we feel than verbal communication.
supports engagement in a meaningful occupation, which enhances a sense of belonging, connection and contribution to others.
art and being in the state of “flow” can enhancing your ability to focus and be present.
Participating in playful activities, as well as art based activities, can improve overall quality of life for a longer, healthier life.
Improvement of cognitive abilities, such as sharpens mental acuity, problem solving, decision making, cognitive flexibility, memory and stimulates creativity.
For older adults, regular participation in leisure activities (play) correlates with slower rates of memory loss and a reduced risk of dementia.
Engaging in playful activities can be a powerful tool for enhancing or creating social connectedness, a sense of belonging and intimacy, which aids in stress management and can reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness.
supports mental and emotional resilience and helps people cope with stress.
Can increase life satisfaction and overall well being.
Participation in playful activities such as art can increased creativity, excitement for life and increase a sense of hope.

“It’s not enough to give a patient something to do with their hands, you must reach for the heart as well as the hands. It’s the heart that really does the healing”

—Ora Ruggles, a reconstruction aid, who helped distraught soldiers during WWII was reported as saying this (AOTA 2017)

The humble bee, as well Mahatma Gandhi, reminds us that we can BEE the change we want to see in the world…

Occupational Therapy versus Life Coaching…

what is right for you?

What is the difference between Occupational Therapy and Life Coaching?

Both occupational therapy and life coaching help you create meaningful change, explore your goals, and reconnect with your strengths to move forward. The difference lies in the framework, scope of practice, and intent of each approach.

Occupational Therapy: because life isn’t just about tasks—it’s about living with purpose (and maybe a little glitter)

Led by a licensed occupational therapist, these sessions support emotional, mental and functional well-being through meaningful activity and therapeutic engagement. Occupational therapy is inherently embodied—meaning that it supports healing and growth through the integration of the mind, body and environment. Occupational therapists engage clients through real-life activities (work or leisure focused), sensory experiences, movement or meaningful routines. This hands-on, whole-person approach helps people reconnect with themselves in tangible ways—through creative expression, mindful action and purposeful engagement. It supports not only cognitive and emotional growth, but also nervous system regulation, movement, and a deeper awareness of one’s body and inner experience. By working through the body, not just the mind, occupational therapists support the WHOLE person, and help people feel more grounded, empowered and more capable in participating in their daily lives and routines. The profession of occupational therapy has its beginnings in the arts and crafts movement (which began in the late 1800’s), and continued to develop into a profession to support soldiers returning from WWI, when it was officially founded in 1917. It grew out of the belief that participation in meaningful, purposeful and creative activities could help to heal the body, mind and spirit.

Occupational therapy is rooted in evidence-based, and strengths focused practices and helps you regain or maintain balance in your life, navigate life transitions, and re-engage in the things that matter most to you. The American Occupational Therapy Association—AOTA describes our profession as including “the art and science of helping people do the day-to-day activities that are important and meaningful to their health and well-being.” These services are appropriate when challenges are impacting daily routines, roles or participation in life. When I provide Occupational Therapy services, there includes a specific agreement between myself and my client to provide assessment and intervention.

Examples include:

Re-engaging in meaningful leisure after burnout or illness
Supporting emotional or sensory regulation
Creating sustainable routines for daily life
Finding balance during life transitions.
Using specific activities to support health, healing and well-being in daily life.

Life Coaching and Creative Wellness

Life coaching is a non-clinical, forward-looking process focused on growth, clarity, and self-discovery. Through reflection, creative exploration, and intentional goal-setting, coaching can empower you to connect to your values, cultivate balance, and move forward with confidence. Coaching is not therapy but is a powerful resource for personal development and wellness. Where as occupational therapy involves an individualized assessment, development of goals and a plan of treatment, is regulated, has government oversight and a formal practice framework (see above), life coaching is not regulated and there is no formal licensure required. When I provide services as a life or creativity coach, they are for wellness and personal enrichment, and are not considered treatment or therapy, though there will likely be some inherent therapeutic benefit to my creative wellness services.

Please reach out to me with any questions or clarifications. Thank you!