I reclaimed my voice. Now I help others find theirs.
I am an artist, singer-songwriter, writer, and mental health professional. My work lives at the meeting point of lived experience and professional expertise — and it all began with a single sentence that nearly silenced me forever.
The journey
As a child I was told that my voice hurt my mother's ears, that I should stop singing. So I became quiet and fearful, certain that my own expression was something to hide. For years I believed it.
Songwriting changed everything. Putting words and melody to my pain, I reclaimed the voice I had been told to bury. From there I defied every expectation — becoming both a doctor and an artist, refusing to choose between healing minds and making art.
Today I draw on my private practice, my own healed childhood trauma, and my professional training to walk alongside others. I founded Central Florida Mental Health because I believe creative resilience is not a luxury — it is how we survive and how we become whole.
““If we start by looking in the mirror and improving ourselves, we can change the world.””
Credentials
- Ph.D. in Counseling
- MFA in Creative Writing for Children & Young Adults — Vermont College of Fine Arts
- Art Mastery Program — Milan Art Institute
- Founder & President — Central Florida Mental Health
- Represented by Joyce Sweeney, The Seymour Agency
Awards & recognition
Gold Award for Excellence, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, among other honors for original painting.
Off the page
I take weekly guitar lessons, keep a sketchbook within reach, and stay endlessly curious about the transformative power of the arts. I'm still learning — and that's the point.
Ready to begin your own transformation?
Explore the art, the music, and the writing — or simply reach out.