Brenda has worked in the field of Social Work and Education supporting students on the Autism Spectrum and with Learning Differences for over 25 years. Brenda‘s combined life experience includes Eco Therapy, Art Therapy, and Animal-Assisted Therapy which supports our CIP strength-based approach, using creative approaches to support growth and change in the clinical work with our students. Brenda’s other experiences include volunteering with Americorps VISTA and various social justice work in Mexico and Haiti. Brenda was also the Social Skills Coordinator and a Student Support Specialist before returning to a Clinical role.
As a Clinician, Brenda supports students with CBT and DBT skill building, while encouraging a variety of wellness and mindfulness into a healthy work/life balance. Brenda earned a Masters’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Denver and received the Kindness Matters Award after launching a center-wide Kindness Initiative in 2019 inspiring a movement of students and staff in word and action.
When Brenda is not gardening or cooking, you can find her hiking with one of her two teenage children (if she is lucky). Brenda has a child on the Autism Spectrum and has appreciated having her children “grow up with CIP” over the past 9 years.
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