Independent Education in the arts through studio work, direct work with clients and freelance work.
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Moravian College
Certified Early Childhood Education Teacher through State of Colorado
Paid Internship at Reggio Emilia School- Boulder Journey School, Boulder, Colorado-working with young children
EXPERIENCE / SKILLS
Freelance painter, illustrator and photographer- 20+years
Founder and Educational Therapist for Creative Aid LLC, Art Centered Educational Therapy
Denver University Prison Arts Initiative- Responder to Art and Reflection of Incarcerated Individuals in Colorado
Creative Director, Sunflower Art Studio 2018-2021
Individualized creative support for children at Sunflower Art Studio 3+years
Founder of Educational Cooperative Costa Rica
Educational Therapy and support for children and families at Costa Rica International Academy in Brasalito, Costa Rica.
Senior Educational Therapist at SAGE Center for Gifted-4+years
Planning and support for children and adolescents with needs including gifted, twice-exceptional, mental health disorders, processing disorders, learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, grief and social-emotional development.
Youth Counselor at Attention Homes-2.5 years
Counseling and mentorship for girls in a group home environment working towards independent living or reintegration into the home or alternative care.
Volunteer Facilitator at Groundwork Psychotherapy and Learning
Equine assisted therapy to support at-risk adolescents including gifted and twice-exceptional.
ART SHOWS AND PRESENTATIONS
2006 Boulder, Colorado. Burnt Toast Restaurant. Personal Art show- the use of collage and illustration to express interpersonal and intrapersonal relationships.
2012 Denver, Colorado. Designed a Power Point Caregiver Training for Spanish speaking domestic workers to improve working conditions, living wages and inform them regarding labor rights. Translated into Spanish and presented by El Centro Humanitario.
2015 Boulder, Colorado. Walnut Café. Student Art Show, SAGE Center for Gifted- students aged 3-19 years.
2015 Boulder, Colorado. Walnut Café. Personal Art Show- The use of dolls in sculpture as an expression of identity.
2017 Boulder, Colorado. Walnut Café. Personal Art Show- The use of photography from my travels to the West of Ireland and collage to express grief and loss, specifically related to the Great Famine and intergenerational trauma. *see Personal Portfolio
2017 Boulder, Colorado. Designed and presented a Power Point in the home for caregivers and parents regarding the complex needs of a highly gifted child with Sensory Processing Disorder and anxiety.
2017 Brasilito, Costa Rica. Designed and presented a Teacher Training to Spanish/English speaking teachers at Costa Rica International Academy regarding the cognitive, affective and regulatory strengths and needs of gifted/twice exceptional students.
2017 Dingle, Ireland Arts Festival Other Voices, inspired by cassette tapes. Photograph entry.
2018 Gunbarrel, Colorado. Revolutionary- Personal Art Show- Portraits of famous and inspiring revolutionaries. including Colin Kaepernick, Anthony Bourdain and Che Guevara.
2019 Live-Painting at The Morning Table Restaurant in Gunbarrel, CO. Completed pieces were displayed weekly in the restaurant lobby.
2022 Long Range Group show at The Fire House Art Center, Longmont Colorado. Wild Way Tapestry Weavings.
2023 West Kerry Art Show at Tig Bhric, West Kerry Brewing Company, Ballyferriter, Co. Kerry, Ireland. Watercolor and ink paintings for sale.
2024 Collaborative Exhibition with Áine Ní Chíobháin at Tig Bhric, Ballyferriter, Ireland.
3.5 Week Collaborative Artist’s Residency in Annascaul, Co. Kerry, Ireland, ending in an exhibition at Tig Bhric in Ballyferriter.
Making Art About Death: A Six Week Class with Artist and Educator Jill Littlewood through Morbid Anatomy
Trauma-Informed Art Therapy and Trauma -Informed Expressive Arts Therapy through the Trauma-Informed Practices and Expressive Arts Therapy Institute Program, 12 clock hours.
Resilience, Posttraumatic Growth and Trauma-Informed Expressive Arts Therapy Practice through the Trauma-Informed Practices and Expressive Arts Therapy Institute Program, 6 clock hours.
Working with the Pain of Abandonment and How to Work with the Patterns that Sustain Depression through NICABM.
How to Work with a Client’s Perfectionism through NICABM.
How to Target the Limbic System to Reverse Trauma’s Physiological Imprint through NICABM.
Expert Strategies to Help Clients Develop Distress Tolerance for Emotional Distress through NICABM