Diane obtained her Master of Arts degree in Counseling Education from St. Louis University in 1982, having also pursued higher level education in Lima, Peru, which was her home for most of her growing years. She believes that her bilingual and bicultural experience paved the way for her to become a professional counselor, understanding that there are always at least two ways of viewing and sharing the world at all times, and it reflects her respect for the beauty and wisdom of all cultures.  She has served clients from over 20 countries during over 40 years of counseling, and loves that this is part of her diversity story, as she has supported all of them in feeling heard and in finding their strengths.  Believing that we are mirrors for each other, Diane’s guidance in the therapeutic experience is as a caring, growthful, and self-caring one. She is guided by a Systems’s perspective and a strength based approach.

Diane has worked for over 20 years in a hospice setting, with children and their families as a Bereavement Specialist and Expressive Therapist.  Within those roles, she has helped to create and develop special programming for bereaved groups in our community. Her clients and colleagues describe her as an excellent listener and calm presence, often able to “connect the dots” for individuals and in groups in an extraordinary way.   She brings this skill into her therapy sessions, finding and sharing resources that support “meaning-making” – a common human need.  

Diane has had earlier experience working in school settings,both in the USA and in Peru.  These were seminal experiences in leading to her to understand, and fell in love with, working with children and their families.  She went on to be a home based family therapist for many years, and then a family treatment supervisor.  Over the years she has mentored 2 generations of mental health therapists, a joy that continues to feed her spirit.