My Story
When people ask me how I ended up doing what I do, I usually tell them "It's my wonderful midlife crisis!"
It all began with the tragic loss of a dear friend, trying to cope, and feeling the need to gain more comfort with the topic of death & dying. After reading several books, I decided to become a hospice volunteer and signed up for the required training. Not long after that I found myself sitting at the bedside of a hospice patient when a harpist showed up to play, completely transforming the dynamic and energy from chaos to a beautiful sacred space. This powerful experience left a profound impact on me and was the catalyst to a new, wonderful, and very rewarding life and career journey.
Intrigued by the healing power of music and its role in healthcare settings, I hired a harp teacher and eventually enrolled into the International Harp Therapy Program (IHTP), where I graduated in 2011 as a Certified Therapeutic Harp Practitioner (CTHP). After providing Therapeutic Harp Music at local nursing homes and in hospice settings, in 2014 I was invited to join the Therapeutic Musician team at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula (CHOMP). Ever since, I have been making regular hospital rounds playing for patients at the bedside from childbirth to end of life transition settings. Spending time and playing my harp for hospital patients is not just a great honor, it has been one of the most enriching experiences in my life. The harp has a way of touching people deeply, opening their hearts, and offering a glimpse into their soul.
In 2018 I was introduced to Healing Touch and attended a class which was offered to hospital staff. Given my harp background of intention based and intuitive work, Healing Touch was a natural fit for me, and I realized right away that it was the perfect companion modality to Therapeutic Music. I enrolled into the Healing Beyond Borders (HBB) training program and graduated in 2021 as a Certified Healing Touch Practitioner (CHTP). As part of my internship requirement, I joined Healing Partners of the Central Coast (HPCC), a local non-profit organization that provides Healing Touch sessions to oncologist referred cancer patients who are actively undergoing treatment along with regular sessions at my local hospital. It is deeply gratifying to be present and support these patients during their difficult health journey as well as an ongoing source of inspiration.
In 2022 I joined Heal Together, a time-limited local community initiative and non-profit organization that sponsors providers to reach out to the community to address various levels of grief during the aftermath of the pandemic. This wonderful opportunity has enabled me to reach out to isolated residents in various nursing homes, bringing both Therapeutic Music & Healing Touch into their lives to help them heal and improve their quality of life.
As a Certified Practitioner of these Healing Arts modalities, I am immensely grateful for the privilege to serve my local community. The feedback, reactions and smiling faces of the people I work with are a testament of the impact both Therapeutic Music & Healing Touch have on their well-being and quality of life. I feel blessed to be able to do work I love, the wonderful people I meet along the way, and the ability to constantly learn and grow from these meaningful connections.
It all began with the tragic loss of a dear friend, trying to cope, and feeling the need to gain more comfort with the topic of death & dying. After reading several books, I decided to become a hospice volunteer and signed up for the required training. Not long after that I found myself sitting at the bedside of a hospice patient when a harpist showed up to play, completely transforming the dynamic and energy from chaos to a beautiful sacred space. This powerful experience left a profound impact on me and was the catalyst to a new, wonderful, and very rewarding life and career journey.
Intrigued by the healing power of music and its role in healthcare settings, I hired a harp teacher and eventually enrolled into the International Harp Therapy Program (IHTP), where I graduated in 2011 as a Certified Therapeutic Harp Practitioner (CTHP). After providing Therapeutic Harp Music at local nursing homes and in hospice settings, in 2014 I was invited to join the Therapeutic Musician team at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula (CHOMP). Ever since, I have been making regular hospital rounds playing for patients at the bedside from childbirth to end of life transition settings. Spending time and playing my harp for hospital patients is not just a great honor, it has been one of the most enriching experiences in my life. The harp has a way of touching people deeply, opening their hearts, and offering a glimpse into their soul.
In 2018 I was introduced to Healing Touch and attended a class which was offered to hospital staff. Given my harp background of intention based and intuitive work, Healing Touch was a natural fit for me, and I realized right away that it was the perfect companion modality to Therapeutic Music. I enrolled into the Healing Beyond Borders (HBB) training program and graduated in 2021 as a Certified Healing Touch Practitioner (CHTP). As part of my internship requirement, I joined Healing Partners of the Central Coast (HPCC), a local non-profit organization that provides Healing Touch sessions to oncologist referred cancer patients who are actively undergoing treatment along with regular sessions at my local hospital. It is deeply gratifying to be present and support these patients during their difficult health journey as well as an ongoing source of inspiration.
In 2022 I joined Heal Together, a time-limited local community initiative and non-profit organization that sponsors providers to reach out to the community to address various levels of grief during the aftermath of the pandemic. This wonderful opportunity has enabled me to reach out to isolated residents in various nursing homes, bringing both Therapeutic Music & Healing Touch into their lives to help them heal and improve their quality of life.
As a Certified Practitioner of these Healing Arts modalities, I am immensely grateful for the privilege to serve my local community. The feedback, reactions and smiling faces of the people I work with are a testament of the impact both Therapeutic Music & Healing Touch have on their well-being and quality of life. I feel blessed to be able to do work I love, the wonderful people I meet along the way, and the ability to constantly learn and grow from these meaningful connections.