Love
is to know The Child Within
Jesus said unto
them, "Let the children come to
me; do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs
to such as these"-- Mark 10:14 New
American Bible
Regent University provides me the opportunity to integrate
those life elements that I hold dear: my faith, relationships,
teaching, and learning.
I held several positions in the juvenile justice arena prior
to earning my doctorate of psychology degree from Regent
University. Many of the youth that I came in contact with
were classified as incoercible or delinquent. However,
upon examination it was always discovered that these youth
each had a story of neglect, abuse, abandonment, or trauma
that had caused them to be wounded.
It was while working with these youngsters that my curiosity
was peaked to learn more about the roots of their “woundedness”. It
seemed that many of the parents and other adults that these
youngsters interacted with were also wounded! Thus began
my relationship with Regent and psychology. The years
I spent as a student provided me the opportunity for a practicum
in a homeless facility, a clinical experience in a child & adolescent
residential facility and an internship in a community-based,
comprehensive system of care for children & families.
These experiences developed a source of empathy within me
for all children.
Upon completion of my internship in 2003, I was granted
a Post-Doctoral/Clinical Instructor position in the Psychological
Services Center (PSC). In this role I was able to reconnect
with my juvenile justice and community-based roots. This
position also exposed me to a new opportunity, to teach at
the graduate level to both Psy. D. and Master level students. In
2005, I became an Assistant Professor in the Counseling Program,
teaching primarily Counseling Skills/Practicum, Family Systems
and Child & Adolescent courses.
My belief is that each one of us is in a variety of relationships
throughout our lifespan beginning with God and our family.
The academic environment is one of those relationships: between
professor and student, student to student, and with the academic
community at large. Learning to accept one’s
inner child provides for healing which permits a person to
extend him or herself and develop healthy relationships:
Love. My research interests are in the areas of attachment
theory, relationships, clinical child and adolescent, the
father role and family concepts.
In my spare time, I enjoy participating in church activities,
cooking, interior decorating, photography and walks on the
beach with my husband. My favorite colors are turquoise and
purple; however, my students would say it’s green! |
