Hello all, and welcome. I am Meghan, I use she/her pronouns, and I am a biologist, counselor, auntie, partner, and lover of all kids, animals, and nature. I am the primary therapist at Life Works Therapy, and who you will likely interact with in your sessions. I’ll include a little personal info below so you can understand the life context I bring into my work, and why I persued a career in counseling during a pandemic!
I am a newly Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate (LMHCA) and Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC) with an expertise in life transitions, adults healing from abusive childhoods, trauma, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. I’m currently being trained in EMDR therapy, and am excited to add this modality to my toolbox for addressing current and past life stressors.
My career shift into mental health followed a PhD in Integrative Biology from the University of Wisconsin Madison, where I studied the social (and cannabalistic) behavior of groups of tropical spiders. You can read one of my papers about spiders here (though it is a little dry and sciency!) to see a bit more about that academic work. After finishing graduate school, I spent several years teaching Human Anatomy & Physiology, and various other Biological Science Courses to college students in Yakima, WA.
It may seem as though these areas of expertise are disparate and unrelated. However: the Anatomy & Physiology of the Brain are the basis of behavior and animal behavior always includes human animals. Understanding the group dynamics of spiders requires understanding the dance that individuals in groups of any species do in order to meet their needs. An understanding of research, the importance of data and evidential guidance, and a love of teaching and learning fills in some of the remaining gaps. My lived expertise in childhood trauma, the impacts of mental and behavioral health conditions on relationships and families, and watching inequity change the trajectory of lives similar to hers fills in the rest. I am passionate about equity, making people feel as though they can be their true selves and find peace in that process.
In the grand story I like to jokingly call my “Life Works” I have meandered and learned. Its part of what makes my life work (get it? Its punny 😉 ).
Some final things about my therapy practice that I am incredibly dedicated to:
I will never make you feel like you do not belong because of your past experiences, your gender identity, culture, religion, race, or sexual needs. If there is anywhere to feel free of judgement, the therapy space should be it!
Life Works Therapy 