My decision to pursue a career in healthcare was rooted in personal experience and deepened by professional purpose. I grew up in a home shaped by trauma, addiction, and emotional volatility. Mental illness and chronic stress were ever-present but rarely acknowledged. As a result, I developed symptoms of complex PTSD and anxiety that persisted into adulthood. For years, I managed these experiences in silence, unaware that my body, mind, and nervous system were carrying an invisible burden that required more than traditional coping strategies. Becoming a mother at twenty-eight changed everything. I was determined not to pass down the same emotional patterns that had shaped my childhood. I began therapy, enrolled in parenting classes, and started to heal. In the process, I became deeply curious about the connection between trauma, physical health, and mental well-being. I realized that the body and mind could not be treated in isolation. Healing had to be integrated. That realization called me into the field of healthcare. I returned to school in my forties, earned my GED, completed pre-college coursework, and went on to earn both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees summa cum laude. I am now a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a Certified Integrative Mental Health Professional. My clinical work focuses on trauma recovery, nervous system regulation, and mind-body integration. I support individuals—particularly women—who often feel dismissed, misunderstood, or misdiagnosed within traditional medical systems. They arrive in therapy carrying symptoms like fatigue, insomnia, chronic pain, anxiety, and depression. Many have been told their symptoms are "just stress" or are "all in their head." I know this narrative well. I also know how dangerous it is. As a woman in healthcare, I believe my greatest contribution is to provide care that validates lived experience while offering evidence-based strategies for healing. I use Internal Family Systems, somatic therapies, nutritional education, and nervous system-informed practices to support whole-person recovery. I teach clients how to listen to their bodies, stabilize their energy, and trust their intuition. I work to create a space where their pain is not pathologized but understood. I am now preparing to begin a Ph.D. in Mind-Body Medicine. Through this advanced degree, I hope to expand my impact by contributing to research on the physiological effects of trauma, particularly in women. I plan to create community-based healing programs that integrate mental health, nutrition, and somatic education. I also intend to train other clinicians in integrative care models so that more individuals can access holistic and respectful treatment. My long-term goal is to contribute to a cultural shift in healthcare—one that moves beyond symptom management and toward prevention, embodiment, and sustained well-being. As a woman in this field, I understand the systemic challenges that exist within healthcare, including gender bias, limited representation, and the historical dismissal of women’s health concerns. I have experienced these challenges personally, and I witness them daily in the lives of my clients. I believe that women bring essential strengths to healthcare—compassion, intuition, innovation, and a deep commitment to connection. I want to be part of building a system that honors those qualities, removes barriers to care, and treats every individual with dignity. This scholarship would provide critical support as I pursue the next phase of my education. More importantly, it would affirm the values I hold most dear: integrity, accessibility, and empowerment. I did not take a traditional path into healthcare. I believe my journey gives me a unique ability to see, support, and advocate for others. I plan to use that perspective to make a meaningful difference in the field and in the lives of those I serve.

My decision to continue my education was born from a quiet but persistent desire to heal, grow, and ultimately rewrite the story I had inherited. I did not follow a traditional academic path. I earned my GED after leaving high school, then stepped away from any formal education for years while I raised my son and worked to stabilize my life. What inspired me to return was a combination of personal transformation and maternal instinct. I knew that if I wanted to create lasting change—for myself, for my child, and for the families I hoped to serve—I would need to go back to school. Before becoming a mother, I experienced the long-term effects of trauma, instability, and untreated mental health issues within my family system. I carried anxiety, fear, and deep feelings of inadequacy. When I became pregnant at twenty-eight, everything shifted. I was determined to break the generational cycles that had shaped me. I enrolled in therapy, completed parenting classes, and began the long process of self-inquiry. Over time, I discovered not only healing but a profound desire to support others through their own journeys. That realization led me back to school to study psychology and mental health. Returning to college as a mother in her forties was not simple. I faced both logistical and emotional obstacles. Logistically, I needed to relearn how to be a student while managing childcare, working, and maintaining a household. Emotionally, I carried shame about my educational gaps and doubted whether I belonged in academic spaces. I kept my GED and pre-college coursework a secret from nearly everyone, confiding only in my son. I feared that revealing my starting point would confirm every internal narrative I had about not being good enough. I waited to share that part of my story until I completed those initial classes and knew I was ready. Balancing my roles as a student and a mother requires discipline, intention, and flexibility. I wake up at 4:30 each morning to study in silence before my son wakes up. I structure my days around both of our academic schedules, maintaining a routine that allows me to show up fully for him while staying accountable to my own goals. We often study side by side, share what we are learning, and encourage one another. Our mutual love of knowledge has become a unique bond, one that reinforces the value of education within our family. Since returning to school, I have earned both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees summa cum laude. I am now preparing to begin a Ph.D. in Mind-Body Medicine with the goal of advancing trauma-informed, integrative mental health care. My education has empowered me not only to change my own life but also to guide others through theirs. My son has seen this journey unfold in real time, and I know he will carry forward the lessons of discipline, resilience, and hope. This scholarship would allow me to continue that journey with stability and focus. More importantly, it would affirm what I have come to believe with certainty: that education can change the course of a life—and that mothers can lead the way.

I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, a Certified Integrative Mental Health Professional, and a mother. I returned to school in my forties after earning a GED and completing pre-college courses in order to qualify for academic programs. I did so not because I lacked purpose, but because I had spent much of my life prioritizing survival, caregiving, and healing. My path has not been linear. It has been shaped by trauma, resilience, and the belief that transformation is possible at any age. I grew up in a home defined by instability. My mother struggled with untreated post-traumatic stress disorder and addiction. Her emotional volatility and eventual abandonment created a lasting impact on my nervous system and sense of self. I developed chronic anxiety, perfectionism, and self-doubt. These challenges were not immediately visible to the outside world. I appeared high-functioning, capable, and composed. Internally, however, I struggled with feelings of shame, fear, and not belonging. I became a mother at twenty-eight. That experience altered the trajectory of my life. I knew I could not pass down what I had inherited. I began therapy, enrolled in parenting classes, and committed to healing the patterns that had shaped my childhood. That decision opened a door. I realized that I wanted to not only heal myself, but also help others. I wanted to become the kind of therapist I had once needed. Returning to school alongside my son during the COVID-19 pandemic was a formative experience. We attended school together—he at the kitchen table, I on the couch with textbooks and research articles. We supported each other’s dreams, shared what we were learning, and developed an even deeper connection through our shared love of knowledge. My son believes in me without hesitation, and that belief has fueled my own. Today, I support women who are navigating midlife transitions, trauma recovery, and chronic stress. Many of my clients feel dismissed or misunderstood in traditional medical or therapeutic environments. They often arrive in my office with unresolved pain, hormonal imbalances, and a history of being talked over, ignored, or invalidated. I help them reconnect to their bodies, their voices, and their inner wisdom. I use Internal Family Systems, somatic therapies, and nutrition-based interventions to support whole-person healing. As I prepare to begin a Ph.D. in Mind-Body Medicine, I plan to expand my impact through research, education, and program development. I want to investigate the long-term physiological consequences of trauma on women’s hormonal and neurological health. I also plan to develop community-based healing programs that integrate mental health care with lifestyle, nutrition, and body-based practices. These programs will center the needs of women who have long been underserved and misunderstood within conventional systems. I believe that one of the most powerful ways to uplift women is to validate their lived experiences and provide them with tools to reclaim their agency. Through my doctoral studies, I will be able to train other clinicians, shape best practices, and contribute to a cultural shift in how we understand and treat mental health—particularly in women. I do not take for granted the privilege of being here now, doing this work. Every degree I have earned, every certification I have pursued, has been in service of a larger mission: to help women heal, to remind them of their worth, and to ensure they are no longer talked over, dismissed, or denied care. This scholarship would support the continuation of that mission and allow me to move forward without compromising the integrity of the work I feel called to do.

Returning to school in my forties, while raising a child, has been both a transformative and demanding experience. I stepped away from my academic path for many years in order to create a stable, nurturing home for my son. His needs have always guided my decisions. He comes first. There is nothing I would not set aside for his well-being. When I returned to school, I did so with clarity, purpose, and a commitment to becoming someone he could respect and rely on. My education became a vehicle for personal growth, professional reinvention, and generational healing. One of the greatest challenges I faced was not academic readiness, but the belief that I was fundamentally unqualified to be a student. I did not graduate high school in the traditional way. I earned a GED and kept that fact hidden for most of my adult life. When I decided to return to school, I discovered that I needed to complete several pre-college courses before I could even apply to a degree program. At that time, my son was the only person I confided in. I carried the fear that I would fail, that I would confirm all the doubts I had internalized for years. He believed in me without hesitation. His quiet confidence gave me the courage to keep going. I did not tell anyone else until I had completed those courses. Only then did I allow myself to believe I was ready. What made the journey especially meaningful was that I returned to school at the same time my son did. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we attended school side by side—he at the kitchen table, I with textbooks and research articles spread across the couch. We built routines around each other’s assignments, supported one another during stressful weeks, and often paused to discuss what we were learning. Our mutual love of education became a source of connection. We are both academics at heart, and we bond deeply over this shared passion for knowledge. His belief in my abilities remains one of my greatest sources of motivation. Balancing motherhood, academic demands, and professional responsibilities required structure, sacrifice, and intention. I wake up at 4:30 each morning to study while the house is quiet. I created systems to protect my energy and to remain emotionally available for my son. I learned to prioritize effectively, to say no when needed, and to make peace with imperfection. My son’s well-being remained the foundation of every decision. Despite these challenges, I earned both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees summa cum laude. I am now a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a Certified Integrative Mental Health Professional. I specialize in trauma recovery, nervous system regulation, and mind-body integration. I work with individuals—particularly women—who are navigating emotional distress, physiological imbalance, or identity disruption. I approach this work with empathy, rigor, and lived experience. I am preparing to begin a Ph.D. in Mind-Body Medicine. My research will explore the long-term physiological effects of trauma, particularly in women during midlife. I plan to contribute to the development of accessible healing programs, train other clinicians, and expand the scope of integrative mental health care. I hope to serve communities that have often been overlooked by traditional models. Returning to school gave me the opportunity to heal, grow, and model resilience for my son. It allowed us to walk parallel paths, united by curiosity and purpose. This scholarship would provide essential support as I continue my education while remaining fully present in the role that means the most to me: being his mother.

As a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Certified Integrative Mental Health Professional, I support individuals, couples, and families through a trauma-informed, whole-person approach to healing. My work centers on helping clients regulate their nervous systems, reconnect with their inner sense of safety, and break free from patterns shaped by chronic stress or unresolved trauma. Many of my clients are women navigating hormonal transitions, complex family dynamics, or deep emotional exhaustion. They often arrive feeling dismissed, overwhelmed, or stuck. I use a blend of Internal Family Systems, somatic therapy, nutritional support, and mind-body education to guide them toward sustainable emotional well-being. Outside of formal clinical settings, I have also quietly supported others in my community—particularly adolescents and young adults who feel lost or emotionally isolated. Several of my son’s friends, for example, have confided in me during times of crisis. I hold space for them without judgment, offering resources, guidance, and genuine connection. I do this not as their therapist, but as a trusted adult who listens, validates, and helps them feel less alone. My own mental health journey has deeply informed my capacity to show up for others with compassion, clarity, and humility. I know what it feels like to grow up in a household shaped by addiction and emotional instability. I know the courage it takes to seek help and the strength required to change long-standing patterns. Because of this, I hold a deep respect for each person’s healing process. As I begin my Ph.D. in Mind-Body Medicine, I plan to expand my clinical impact through research, education, and program development. I intend to create accessible, integrative tools for individuals and communities, particularly those who have been underserved or misunderstood by traditional mental health models. I hope to train other clinicians in holistic, science-backed practices that honor the full complexity of the human experience. My studies will support this mission, allowing me to reach beyond the therapy room and into broader systems of care—ensuring more people feel emotionally supported, empowered, and connected.

My experience with mental health has shaped nearly every aspect of my life—my goals, my relationships, and my understanding of the world. What once felt like a private burden has become the foundation of my life’s work. It has given me not only insight into my own healing but also a profound sense of purpose and empathy for others. I grew up in a home deeply affected by untreated mental illness. My mother lived with severe PTSD and a long-term addiction to prescription pain medication. Her emotional volatility, unpredictable behavior, and eventual abandonment left a lasting impact on my development. Her brothers also struggled with addiction, and one died by suicide. These early experiences created an environment of instability and emotional neglect that shaped my nervous system and sense of self. I developed symptoms of complex PTSD and anxiety early in life, although I didn’t have the words to describe them at the time. As a child, I became hypervigilant, responsible, and attuned to the moods and needs of others—often at the expense of my own. I learned to manage my surroundings by becoming a perfectionist. I worked hard to appear composed and capable while quietly managing overwhelming internal stress. These coping mechanisms helped me succeed in school and in work, but they came at a cost. I spent much of my early adulthood feeling exhausted, emotionally disconnected, and unsure of how to care for myself. Becoming a parent at twenty-eight was the catalyst for change. I realized I had a choice: I could repeat the generational cycles of trauma I had inherited, or I could begin the hard work of breaking them. I chose to heal. I began EMDR therapy to process the unresolved trauma I had carried for decades. I also enrolled in parenting classes to intentionally build the emotional tools I had never been taught. I was determined to parent from a place of presence, stability, and emotional safety. That commitment—to myself and to my child—transformed my life. This experience reshaped my goals in ways I could not have anticipated. In my forties, I returned to school to study psychology. I earned both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees summa cum laude while raising a family and transitioning into a new career as a therapist. I became a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a Certified Integrative Mental Health Professional. Today, I work with individuals and families navigating trauma, chronic stress, and complex life transitions. My approach integrates Internal Family Systems, somatic therapies, nutrition, and circadian science—because I believe that healing must be comprehensive and embodied. My personal experience with mental health informs not just the content of my work, but the way I engage with it. I know what it feels like to live in survival mode. I understand how invisible pain can shape behavior, identity, and relationships. I view symptoms not as problems to be eliminated, but as adaptations formed in the context of overwhelming circumstances. My clients often tell me they feel deeply seen and safe in our work together. I believe that comes not only from my training, but from my lived experience. My relationships have also been transformed through this process. In healing myself, I have learned to relate to others with clearer boundaries, deeper empathy, and greater authenticity. I am no longer driven by unconscious patterns of over-functioning or emotional caretaking. Instead, I approach relationships from a place of grounded self-awareness. I have also learned to let go of relationships that were rooted in codependency or emotional harm—an act that once felt impossible but now feels necessary and life-affirming. On a broader level, my experience with mental health has shaped the way I view the world. I believe that trauma and chronic stress are often at the root of many of the struggles we see in society. I believe that healing must be accessible, integrative, and culturally responsive. I also believe that we cannot treat the mind without addressing the body, and we cannot support wellness without understanding the impact of lived experience, systemic inequality, and intergenerational trauma. These beliefs inform the work I do every day, as well as the future I hope to create through research, education, and clinical innovation. As I prepare to begin a Ph.D. in Mind-Body Medicine, I carry with me not only my professional aspirations but also the clarity that my personal journey is an asset, not a liability. I plan to research the physiological effects of trauma, particularly as they relate to hormonal health and midlife transitions in women. I want to contribute to expanding the field of integrative mental health and to help develop tools, programs, and models of care that honor the complexity of human experience. My experience with mental health has taught me that healing is never linear and never one-size-fits-all. It has taught me to meet people where they are, to listen closely, and to hold space for complexity. It has also taught me that resilience is not about never struggling—it is about showing up for ourselves again and again, with compassion and courage. These lessons will continue to guide me as a therapist, researcher, educator, and human being.

My experience with mental health has shaped nearly every aspect of my life—my beliefs, my relationships, and my professional identity. I did not grow up in a home where mental health was acknowledged or understood. Instead, I grew up in the shadow of untreated PTSD, emotional instability, and addiction. My mother suffered from severe post-traumatic stress and a long-term dependence on prescription pain medication. Her emotional dysregulation and eventual abandonment left lasting imprints on my development. Her brothers battled similar demons, and one died by suicide. These early experiences introduced me to the harsh reality of mental illness—not as an abstract concept, but as a lived, daily experience that dictated the emotional climate of my home. As a child, I developed complex PTSD and anxiety. My nervous system learned to stay on high alert, constantly scanning for signs of danger. I became hyper-attuned to the emotions of others, highly perfectionistic, and deeply self-critical. These coping mechanisms helped me survive in an unpredictable environment, but they also kept me disconnected from myself. I entered adulthood with a strong drive to succeed, but also with a fragile inner world I had never been taught to tend. Despite the pain, my early experiences with mental health instilled in me a deep sensitivity to suffering, a desire to understand human behavior, and a commitment to never turning away from difficult truths. These qualities shaped my beliefs about healing—that it is possible, that it requires courage, and that it must address the whole person: mind, body, and spirit. I believe that we carry our past in our physiology, our emotions, and our relationships, and that true recovery requires integration on every level. These beliefs transformed my relationships. When I became a parent at twenty-eight, I knew I had a choice: repeat the cycle or break it. I chose to break it. I began EMDR therapy to address the trauma I had carried for decades. I enrolled in parenting classes—not because I lacked confidence, but because I wanted to parent from a place of intention, regulation, and emotional presence. I wanted to offer my child the safety, stability, and attunement I never received. Doing this work fundamentally changed how I related to myself and others. It taught me how to set boundaries, how to remain emotionally available without becoming enmeshed, and how to hold space for both joy and pain. In my forties, this inner transformation inspired a professional one. I returned to school to study psychology, ultimately earning both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees summa cum laude. I became a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a Certified Integrative Mental Health Professional. My clinical work is grounded in trauma-informed, holistic care. I integrate Internal Family Systems, somatic therapy, nutrition, and circadian science into my sessions. Many of my clients are women navigating midlife transitions, hormonal changes, or recovery from relational trauma. They come to therapy feeling dismissed, disconnected, and dysregulated—experiences I understand not just intellectually, but personally. My experience with mental health has not only shaped what I do—it has defined how I do it. I do not see symptoms as problems to be fixed, but as messengers pointing toward unmet needs and unresolved pain. I approach clients with compassion, curiosity, and deep respect for their resilience. I know how hard it is to do this work, to face the past, to build new habits, to stay present in a body that has known danger. I do this work myself every day. I practice what I teach. I manage my own mental health through weekly therapy, meditation, nourishing food, magnesium and selenium supplementation, time in nature, and gentle exercise. These are not extras—they are essential. Now, as I prepare to begin a Ph.D. in Mind-Body Medicine, I carry all of this with me: the pain of the past, the wisdom of recovery, and the passion to expand what healing can look like. I plan to research the physiological effects of trauma and chronic stress, especially as they relate to women’s hormonal health and midlife experiences. I want to contribute to the growing body of evidence that validates the mind-body connection. I want to develop accessible programs and continuing education for clinicians. I want to help shift the culture of mental health toward a more integrative, compassionate, and embodied approach. Mental illness disrupted my childhood, but it also forged the values I live by: truth, empathy, resilience, and purpose. It influenced how I love, how I parent, how I serve, and how I learn. It broke me open, but it also led me back to myself. I no longer see my history as something to overcome. I see it as the very foundation on which I am building a meaningful, authentic life. My experience with mental health is not a detour from my path—it is the reason I am on it.

My mental health has influenced every aspect of my academic and personal life, but it has also become one of my greatest sources of strength. I grew up in a home shaped by trauma, addiction, and emotional instability. My mother lived with severe PTSD and a long-term addiction to prescription pain medication, eventually abandoning our family. These early experiences left me with symptoms of complex PTSD and chronic anxiety. For years, I managed by becoming hypervigilant, perfectionistic, and overly responsible—coping strategies that helped me succeed externally but created emotional exhaustion internally. When I became a parent at twenty-eight, I made the conscious decision to break this cycle. I began EMDR therapy to process the trauma I had carried for decades and enrolled in parenting classes to build the emotional foundation I had never received. This work laid the groundwork for a much deeper transformation. In my forties, I returned to school, earning both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees summa cum laude while raising my child and transitioning into a new career as a therapist. As I’ve pursued higher education, my mental health has remained central to my success. While academic stressors can sometimes activate old patterns—self-doubt, performance anxiety, or a tendency to overextend—I now have the tools to respond rather than react. I do not push through distress or override my needs to meet a deadline. Instead, I pause, reflect, and make adjustments that allow me to stay grounded and regulated. I manage my mental health through a consistent, multi-layered routine. I engage in weekly talk therapy to maintain emotional clarity and self-awareness. I practice daily meditation to support nervous system regulation and stress resilience. I supplement with magnesium, selenium, and targeted vitamins that support mood and cognition. I eat nourishing, whole foods to stabilize blood sugar and support overall health. I also prioritize time in nature and gentle exercise—particularly walking and stretching—which help keep my body and mind in balance. These practices are not optional; they are foundational. They allow me to show up fully in my academic work, my clinical practice, and my personal relationships. My mental health is not a barrier to my education—it is the reason I am here. It has taught me self-discipline, empathy, and the value of deep, sustained attention. It informs my work as a therapist, where I help clients—particularly women navigating hormonal transitions and trauma recovery—reconnect with their bodies, reclaim their narratives, and rebuild emotional safety. As I prepare to begin a Ph.D. in Mind-Body Medicine, I bring with me a lifelong commitment to integrative care and a personal understanding of what it takes to heal from the inside out. Prioritizing mental health is not something I do occasionally; it is a daily commitment that touches every area of my life. It is what allows me to thrive academically, be present with my clients, parent with attunement, and build a life of purpose. This scholarship would support not just my education, but my continued ability to lead, serve, and contribute in a sustainable way—both personally and professionally.

I grew up in a home shaped by untreated trauma, addiction, and emotional instability. My mother lived with severe PTSD and a long-term addiction to pain medication. Her struggles made it nearly impossible for her to show up as a stable parent, and eventually, she abandoned us. Her brothers also battled addiction—one of whom died by suicide. Chaos and emotional volatility were constants. Mental illness was not discussed—it was survived. My nervous system adapted by staying hypervigilant, constantly anticipating the next emotional storm. As a child, I experienced intense anxiety and symptoms of PTSD. I became overly responsible, attuned to everyone’s needs, and committed to keeping the peace. These survival strategies served me for a time, but they came at the cost of self-connection. I functioned well on the outside for most of my young adulthood, but inwardly, I carried the legacy of trauma. When I became a parent at 28, I knew I had a choice: continue the cycle, or stop it. That moment became a turning point. I sought EMDR therapy to address the PTSD I had carried for so long. I enrolled in parenting classes—not because I felt unprepared, but because I wanted to parent consciously, with awareness and emotional safety. I was determined to give my child the stability, warmth, and attunement I never had. That decision changed my life. In my forties, I returned to school with a deep sense of purpose. I earned both my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in psychology and Marriage and Family Therapy, graduating summa cum laude. I now work as a licensed therapist and Certified Integrative Mental Health Professional, specializing in trauma recovery, nervous system regulation, and the mind-body connection. My approach blends Internal Family Systems, somatic therapy, nutrition, and circadian science. I support clients—many of whom are women navigating midlife transitions—through deeply integrative and trauma-informed care. Mental illness devastated my family, but it also gave me a profound sense of purpose. I understand how relentless intergenerational trauma can feel, and how powerful it is to interrupt it. I am committed to helping others do the same. Now, I am preparing to begin a Ph.D. in Mind-Body Medicine with a specialization in Integrative Mental Health at Saybrook University. This next step will allow me to deepen my clinical work, contribute to research on trauma’s physiological effects, and help train other professionals in holistic approaches to mental health. I want to build programs that make integrative care more accessible to those who need it most—especially women who feel overlooked in traditional systems. This scholarship would ease the financial burden of doctoral study and allow me to continue my clinical work while pursuing advanced training. I have come a long way from the child who lived in survival mode. Today, I am a calm, grounded parent and therapist who believes in healing not just as a possibility, but as a reality. Mental illness shaped my life story. It fractured my family, shadowed my early years, and pushed me into deep self-reflection. But it also led me to healing, clarity, and purpose. I plan to use everything I have lived and learned to help others reclaim their health, rewrite their stories, and break generational cycles—just as I have done.

Returning to higher education in my forties was not a detour—it was a homecoming. After a successful career in the creative arts, I found myself increasingly drawn to understanding the connection between suffering, expression, and healing. I had always been the one others came to during difficult times. When I began to listen more closely to that calling, I realized I wanted to do more than offer comfort—I wanted to understand the science of healing and contribute to meaningful transformation in others’ lives. That clarity led me back to school to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in psychology and Marriage and Family Therapy, both summa cum laude. Now, as I prepare to begin a Ph.D. in Mind-Body Medicine, I feel an even deeper sense of alignment between my lived experiences, professional aspirations, and commitment to service. Growing up, I witnessed the long shadow trauma casts across generations. I learned to pay attention to what wasn’t being said, to the tension in a room, to the subtle ways people protect themselves. My early experiences fostered compassion, intuition, and a deep desire to understand the systems—both internal and external—that shape us. These values now form the foundation of my therapeutic approach. I believe that healing cannot be compartmentalized. The body holds what the mind cannot, and true transformation requires attention to both. This belief informs my work as a therapist, where I specialize in treating trauma through integrative, evidence-based methods. As a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Certified Integrative Mental Health Professional, I work primarily with women navigating hormonal changes, trauma recovery, and systemic stressors. Many of my clients have been dismissed or misunderstood in traditional medical settings. They come to therapy feeling unseen, overwhelmed, and disconnected from themselves. My role is to help them reconnect with their bodies, reclaim their voices, and begin to trust their inner wisdom. I draw from Internal Family Systems, somatic therapy, nutrition, circadian health, and neuroaesthetics to support a full-spectrum healing process. My ultimate goal is to make this kind of integrative care more accessible to diverse communities, particularly women navigating midlife transitions. Pursuing a Ph.D. in Mind-Body Medicine is the next step in fulfilling this mission. The program at Saybrook University offers the perfect convergence of science, spirituality, and clinical application. It will allow me to deepen my research on the intersection of trauma, hormonal health, and systemic oppression, while also preparing me to teach and lead in the field of integrative mental health. I envision developing community-based programs, offering continuing education for clinicians, and contributing to policy that centers whole-person wellness. This scholarship would provide essential financial support to help me pursue these goals without delay. As a fee-for-service therapist and primary financial contributor to my household, I am funding my education through a combination of work, savings, and scholarships. Receiving this scholarship would ease the financial burden and allow me to remain focused on both my doctoral studies and my commitment to my clients and community. Higher education has been a transformational experience—not only intellectually, but personally and spiritually. It has shown me that we are never too old to begin again. It has reinforced my belief that healing is possible at any age, in any body, and in any life stage. I plan to use my education to be a bridge between disciplines, between research and practice, and between people and their own capacity to heal. With your support, I will continue to walk this path with clarity, compassion, and purpose.