I’m a board‑certified chaplain specializing in pediatric spiritual care, grief, and bereavement. My calling has always centered around walking with children, families, and individuals through some of life’s most tender and overwhelming moments. I believe deeply in the sacredness of each person’s story, and I consider it a privilege to sit with people in seasons of crisis, loss, transition, and uncertainty.
I graduated from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in 2007 and completed my clinical pastoral education in 2008, becoming board certified through the Association of Professional Chaplains in 2017. Over the years, my vocation has continued to draw me toward ministry with the bereaved, end‑of‑life care, and spiritual support for children and their families. That call has expanded beyond hospital walls into offering spiritual care where families may not otherwise have access — in clinics, in their homes, or virtually.
Much of my experience comes from serving in Level I trauma hospitals, including as a Life Flight chaplain, and spending extensive time in ERs and ICUs. Trauma care requires chaplains to assess needs quickly while remaining the calmest person in the room. I thrive in pediatric chaplaincy, especially with elementary‑age children and early adolescents, and I have supported families facing cancer, ALS, early Alzheimer’s dementia, and hospice transitions.
I’m most equipped to support patients, families, and staff through trauma, grief, medical decision‑making, and end‑of‑life preparation and coping. Storytelling, spiritual play, and building on foundations of hope are central to how I connect with children and adults alike. My goal is always to enter their world — never asking them to enter mine. Through active listening and a calming, non‑judgmental presence, I hope to create a space where people feel heard, understood, and less alone.
I am passionate about education, bereavement, and family‑centered care. I love opportunities to teach, speak, and write about grief and spiritual care, and I find deep meaning in supporting caregivers and giving them a safe place to be vulnerable and seen. Throughout my vocation, I have witnessed God moving in profound ways, and I continue to follow where God leads next.
More than anything, I believe I am called to help people find hope in the mess — and I hope you feel more loved and supported at the end of our spiritual conversation than when it began. Along the way, I hope we can notice the small threads of hope that emerge, whether through quiet moments of peace or the kind of soft laughter that reminds us we’re not alone.
I am deeply grateful for every person who trusts me with their story. Your willingness to share your life, your questions, and your grief is something I hold with great care and humility.
When I’m not providing spiritual care…
I’m often seeking camaraderie with fellow chaplains and psychosocial colleagues — community keeps us grounded in this vocation of emotional labor. I value healthy boundaries, rest, and connection, all of which help sustain me in this work. These rhythms remind me that even in demanding seasons, there is beauty, meaning, and hope woven into everyday life.
I also write on Substack which you can visit at https://hopeinamess.substack.com/.
