About Me

The professional:

I am an associate professor at the University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work. I teach the classes Suicide Assessment and Interventions, Clinical Social Work Theory and Practice, and Social Justice Challenges in Mental Health Practice.
I have a small psychotherapy and consulting practice in Denver, which I started in 2012. I treat people with a wide range of challenges, but my practice specializes in helping people who have suicidal thoughts, attempted suicide, or experienced suicide loss.
Writing is one of my passions. I have published two books, 30+ peer-reviewed scholarly articles in academic journals, and close to 100 articles on my website Speaking of Suicide.
Before I became a clinical social worker, I was a journalist. I still occasionally publish articles in newspapers, like this one: Suicidal thoughts are often hidden. Here’s how to talk about it.
For more information about my professional life, you can see my vita. (Warning: in academia we list every little thing, so it’s 52 pages long!)
You also can check out videos that address my work, as well as news stories and podcasts/radio shows.

I was born in Connecticut but grew up in Houston.
I love to hike in the Colorado mountains, snorkel in blue seas, take photos, write, and eat chocolate, among other things.
My interest in suicidology stems from my early experiences of suicide loss and suicidality. For many years I hid my suicidal past. Now, I’m open about it for many reasons, one being that if the only suicidal people anybody hears about are those who died, hope for recovery can wither.
My husband is also a suicidologist. We have a son and a number of cats I can’t disclose, because it may or may not exceed the legal limit.
I am an unabashed cat lady.

You can also contact me by social media, though I don’t check those as regularly as I do email:

For occasional updates about my work— new blog posts, writings, trainings, talks, and other news—sign up here. I promise not to deluge your inbox.