Partially my interested in psychology came many years ago when I was given this wonderful poem by Virginia Satir, Ph.D.
I AM ME
In all the world, there is no one else exactly like me
Everything that comes out of me is authentically me
Because I alone chose it - I own everything about me
My body, my feelings, my mouth, my voice, all my actions,
Whether they be to others or to myself - I own my fantasies,
My dreams, my hopes, my fears - I own all my triumphs and
Successes, all my failures and mistakes Because I own all of
Me, I can become intimately acquainted with me - by so doing
I can love me and be friendly with me in all my parts - I know
There are aspects about myself that puzzle me, and other
Aspects that I do not know - but as long as I am
Friendly and loving to myself, I can courageously
And hopefully look for solutions to the puzzles
And for ways to find out more about me - However I
Look and sound, whatever I say and do, and whatever
I think and feel at a given moment in time is authentically
Me - If later some parts of how I looked, sounded, thought
And felt turn out to be unfitting, I can discard that which is
Unfitting, keep the rest, and invent something new for that
Which I discarded - I can see, hear, feel, think, say, and do
I have the tools to survive, to be close to others, to be
Productive to make sense and order out of the world of
People and things outside of me - I own me, and
therefore I can engineer me - I am me and
I AM OKAY
My professional background has been spent working within the medical field. I worked at Queen of the Valley Medical Hospital in Napa, CA for four years as a Patient Counselor. I was assigned to the Transitional Care Unit, Obstetrics/Gynecology, Pediatrics, the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and the Emergency Department. While employed with the hospital I received the Justice Award for my work towards making health care more accessible for all community members.
I worked with an Organ Procurement Organization for four years, my role as a Patient Care Counselor was to evaluate potential organ/tissue donors and educate families about the option of donation. This was an extremely tough yet rewarding position. I was able to support families during a sudden and traumatic loss. My dissertation related the grief process to the option of organ donation and the outcomes of the option.
My employment with the ALS Association was as a Counselor. I supported families and individuals who were suffering with Lou Gehrig's Disease. This disease affected my mother and I, unfortunately, learned the role of being a caregiver for a loved one who was suffering with chronic pain and the loss of her independence.
I was also part of Kaiser Hospice and Palliative Care unit as a Bereavement Counselor. Hospice programs have a special place in my heart and I supported individuals and families through an extremely emotional time.
I have been honored to hold such wonderful positions.
On a personal note, I have two wonderful boy's who are very active in soccer, track, hanging out with friends and Yo-Yo's. In my free time I do Yoga to relax and rejuvenate, read and spend time with my friends.
