Two things to know about me:

1. I’m a lifelong performer.

As a kid and teenager, I trained professionally at Boston Ballet and José Mateo Ballet Theatre. I quickly moved into singing and acting, graduating with a B.A. in theatre studies from Emerson College. I worked alongside some of the top dancers and choreographers in the industry and even landed a few roles in Hollywood feature films and commercials. Now, I bring that pizzazz to the Self-Care Cabaret!

2. Education is my passion.

I’ve spent over 15 years in education and by day, am a special education district administrator. My master’s of education (M.Ed.) in school counseling from Salem State University focused on developmental psychology, a basis I draw upon both at school to support students and in my presentations. Nothing beats those lightbulb moments when something clicks.

One throughline connects these experiences. Neglecting my self-care. 

Looking around, my former and current colleagues were facing the same challenges. Those of us in people-first professions are eager to care for others. Yet we struggle to prioritize our self-care and well-being. 

As a trauma survivor and individual in eating disorder recovery, I recognized it was critical and all the more important to build a self-care practice. Drs. Deepak Chopra, Jon Kabat-Zinn, and Wayne Dyer provided a solid foundation. Later, I earned Mental Health First Aid, crisis prevention intervention credentials, and Reiki Levels I and II certifications. 

My curiosity led me to pursue my doctorate in self-care and renewal for educators and other helping professionals. I graduated with my PhD in educational leadership from Lesley University.

Since then, I’ve delivered 200+ programs to groups, businesses, and organizations of all sizes. The impact is transformative. Committing to sustainable self-care helps us become happier, healthier, and more productive humans. 

In helping ourselves, we can pass along these skills to the communities we serve.