Why I offer these services….

At 23 years old, as part of my position with the Department of Corrections, I completed the police academy and began my career as a Parole Officer. Though I moved positions during my nearly 12-year tenure, I served as a Parole Officer for over 7 years. As I promoted and transferred into training roles, I began to see just how challenging the work environment was and still is.

I want you to know I understand the culture of working in a large state agency. I understand the culture of working in a paramilitary style organization. I understand how creativity is stifled. I have experienced being the only woman in meetings. I have experienced being the only young person in meetings. I understand and have lived with the stress for many years. I accepted the stress, trauma and secondary trauma as just part of who I am and how it impacts me.

Katie, some years after she had quit her position, wearing a fitted Parole tactical vest.

Thankfully, I had started to practice yoga consistently not long after I started as a Parole Officer. I didn’t know at the time what yoga did for my mind and body, I just knew I needed to keep going. I felt infinitely better. Eventually I would complete my 200- and 300-hour yoga teacher trainings while still employed with the Department of Corrections. Through these trainings, I learned more about Ayurveda. The wisdom of these teachings and the ability to apply them in my day-to-day life helped not just to manage my stress, but these practices gave me clarity and calm. These practices gave me the courage I needed to make the decision to quit my full time, full benefits, pay into PERA secure position.

This is why I offer the care I do now. I want to support the wellbeing of other professionals who are working in the Criminal/Legal System. I want to work with clients who are also surviving the grip of the Criminal/Legal System. This work is personal! Though the stress and trauma may have been a part of me I have learned an enormous amount about my own body, mind and spirit and how to create situations for myself (and others) where I can truly thrive. Not merely survive.

It takes strength and resolve to heal. And to make decisions that can better align and support your own desires and motivations.

I firmly believe that when each of us individually begin to heal, this ripples to our co-workers and clients. This work also ripples into our communities. The more we all heal, the safer we will feel. The safer we feel, the less reliant we become on these harsh hierarchical, hegemonic and archaic systems.

If you are at all interested in connecting with me about how these practices have helped me, please connect!

It would be an honor to work with you.