I earned a master’s degree in theology from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., in 1996 and completed my Reiki Master certification in 2008.

I’ve studied Animal Communication (Levels I and II) with Maggie Bunce in Fort Wayne and Animal Reiki with Kathleen Prasad, author of Animal Reiki: Using Energy to Heal the Animals in Your Life (Ulysses Press, 2006) and founder of Animal Reiki Source. I've also studied species behavior with the Animal Spirit Network. Flower essences, aromatherapy, and essential oils are other areas of interest and study.

I’m a member of the International Association of Animal Massage and Bodywork and subscribe to the Animal Reiki Source Code of Ethics and the Code of Ethics for Interspecies Communicators developed by animal communication pioneer Penelope Smith.

In addition, I have more than 20 years of experience as a professional writer and editor.