About abby …

I earned a Master of Social Work degree at Loyola University Chicago School of Social Work and hold licensure as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Wisconsin. I am endorsed as an Infant Mental Health Clinical Specialist (IMH-E®) by the Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health, and I graduated from the UW Capstone Certificate Program in Infant, Early Childhood, and Family Mental Health in 2015. I am a member of the National Association for Social Workers and the Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health.

Prior to opening Creating Space, I worked in non-profit agency settings for 15 years, and my experience has specialized in infant and early childhood mental health and trauma treatment for very young children and their parents.  I am nationally rostered as a Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) therapist and supervisor, and am an endorsed trainer in this model for the State of Wisconsin.

Another large portion of my work is devoted to providing individual and group reflective supervision, consulting, and training to professionals, including as a Faculty Reflective Mentor at the University of Wisconsin’s Capstone Certificate Program in Infant, Early Childhood, & Family Mental Health.

When I am not working, I love hanging out with my family and friends, reading, cooking, doing yoga, and planning adventures.

Therapeutic EXPERTISE IN …

• Healing from trauma, including complex & relational trauma

• Grief & loss in young children & adults

• Attachment disruptions & challenges

• Behavioral concerns in young children

• Adoption

• Parenting children in foster care

• Support for reunification with biological families

• Strengthening parent-child relationships

• Transitioning to parenthood