About Dawn

I am a cisgender woman and white european-descendant who is passionate about personal growth and is actively working on decolonizing my mind. I was born with a nonjudgmental curiosity about why people are who they are and a desire to connect with those who are focused on personal growth. I believe my role as a counselor is to support people in living their authentic life. Core values of mine that impact my work include connection, authenticity, and curiosity.

I am part of GenX and grew up a military brat who lived in several European countries. I earned my undergraduate degree (Bachelor of Arts in History from George Mason University, Virginia) because of my desire to understand how things fit together and impact each other. It took me awhile to figure out “what I wanted to be when I grow up.” I have spent time managing bookstores, as a human resources recruiter in the technology industry, and as a stay at home parent. A lot changed for me when I went to counseling to address areas where I was stuck in generational trauma patterns. One important result of my counseling experience was a new awareness of the barriers I was putting on myself. I had a renewed sense of self and I went back to school to become a counselor. I received my Master of Arts - Clinical Mental Health from Adams State University, Colorado. While in graduate school, I worked at CAC (Capital Area Counseling) for providing individual therapy and leading therapy groups. While at CAC, I was chosen as an Ambassador and found that I really enjoy supporting my peers and the process of consultation to improve myself as a therapist. I opened my private practice soon after graduation. I also worked for over a year as a program therapist at the Trauma Recovery Institute.

When I'm not geeking out about neurobiology, I can be found snuggling with my pets (two cats & a dog), having deep conversations with friends, traveling, facilitating spiritual retreats, singing loudly in the car (i.e. Depeche Mode, K.Flay, yacht rock), binge watching British detective shows, or reading the latest Brandon Sanderson book.