In the summer of 2001, I relocated to Portland, Oregon. I worked briefly for Marion County Children’s Mental Health Department providing individual therapy for children and adolescents.
After this position I worked for Morrison Center, providing individual, family and group therapy. At Morrison Center I specialized in group therapy, providing support groups specifically for children living in foster care.
After working in community mental health agencies for many years, I decided to make a shift and follow an interest I have always had, working in a medical setting. I began working for Oregon Health & Sciences University (OHSU) as a medical social worker providing social work services to the Labor, Delivery & Recovery Unit. In this position, I addressed postpartum depression, teenage parenthood, domestic violence, drug affected newborns, and stillbirth or neonatal death.
Shortly after this position, I was hired within OHSU to be the Adult Oncology Social Worker and truly found a heart connection to this work. I provided resources and supportive counseling/interventions in the hospital and the clinic to patients and families throughout all phases of the cancer continuum (diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, terminal care, and bereavement). I would often receive referrals from nurses and doctors who needed extra support in coping with the physical, emotional, spiritual impacts when dealing a life-threatening illness. In working with the full spectrum of cancer treatment, I became drawn to the patients where all treatment options had been exhausted and it was time shift to comfort care while approaching end of life.
The depth of this work led me to hospice work. I resigned from my OHSU position after 2 ½ years to pursue my dream of starting a private practice and simultaneously began working for Providence Hospice. I was hired to be an “on-call” hospice social worker, however, given my strong background in working with children/teens in grief and loss, shortly thereafter I was hired to be the Children’s Social Worker and Clinical Coordinator for Camp Erin. As the Children’s Social Worker I provided supportive services to children/teenagers in their home as they anticipated the impending death of their parent or grandparent. In this role, I also facilitated a teen group for the program Me, Too & Company, an 8-week bereavement support group for children and families grieving the death of a loved one.
Camp Erin is a program of Providence Hospice and is the first overnight camp for children and teenagers grieving the loss after a death offered in the Portland community. I was the Clinical Coordinator for the first two years (2005 & 2006), responsible for starting the clinical aspects to the implementation of this program, making sure that all camp activities were clinically sound. This involved hiring and training all camp staff, planning rituals and activities for campers to express their grief and provided clinical support to campers and staff.
Other Professional Endeavors……..
Volunteerism
I volunteered as a group facilitator for The Dougy Center for grieving children and families for almost 5 years. I helped in the teen group and found this experience to be very enlightening. I am still very connected to the Dougy Center, as a strong supporter of their programs.
I volunteered as a group facilitator for a year for the Providence Family Cancer Support Group, which services children who have a family member diagnosed with cancer.
Contractual Work
In the past, I was occasionally contracted to coordinate a group at The Dougy Center when staff took vacations etc.
I planned and facilitated a group for Sibshop, a peer support group for children ages 7-13 who have a sibling with Autism or special health needs. Sibshop is a collaboration of the Autism Society of Oregon and the United Cerebral Palsy Association.
I planned and facilitated a bereavement workshop, “Nurturing Hope in the Garden of Grief”, a collaboration of Candlelighters-Children With Cancer and Legacy Health System. This program served families who have experienced the death of a child due to cancer.
I planned and facilitated an all day training, “A Family Member With a Serious Illness: What Children Need” to the Adult Oncology Social Workers of the Providence Cancer Center.
I planned and gave a two hour presentation “How to Talk to Children About Death and Dying” to a group of adults from the Congregation of Havurah Shalom.
Professional Presentations
Doernbecher Pediatric Palliative Care Conference at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital
I presented “Play Therapy with Grieving Children” to 35 adults, primarily pediatric social workers and nurses.
Foster Family Care Network
I presented “Addressing Grief and Loss After Removal From Biological Family” to 30 adults, primarily foster parents and social workers.
Providence Hospice
I presented “Sandtray Therapy: A Creative Expressive Therapy for Children and Adults” to social workers, nurses and chaplains.
American Mental Health Alliance
I presented “Sandtray Therapy: A Creative Expressive Therapy for Children and Adults”a healing approach to working with grieving children” to the American Mental Health Alliance members of the Portland, Oregon Chapter.
Professional Association Membership:
National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
Oregon Association of Play Therapy (ORAPT)
Northwest Association for Death Education and Bereavement Support (NWADEBS) Formerly-Association for Death Education & Counseling (ADEC)
*Previous Board Member for the Northwest Chapter
*Co-Chair for the Northwest ADEC Chapter’s Fall 2006 and 2008 Conference
American Mental Health Alliance (AMHA)
