Hi, caregiver!

I’m Dr. Grace Peterson. Learning to get through life’s difficult stuff with support has been huge for me, it can be hard to deal with things that I wish could just be avoided. When life is chaotic, I see if I can make a ritual of the mundane tasks (like making my morning coffee or taking care of the cat litter), because it makes getting the basics done a little bit easier. And when it all feels like too much, being outside helps me return to my own nature, things flow a little easier when I’m grounded. You might also find me grabbing a sprinkle donut, it’s a small thing that always makes me smile.

Relationships have always been the most cherished part of my life. During my first year of graduate school, I was enjoying brunch with my best friend. Over pancakes, she asked what I was passionate about, and I said, “I really want to work with older adults.” Over the years since the brunch, this passion continued to grow. I’ve come to see aging as desirable. Older adults have tenacity, and the challenges that aging can present are no joke. I have come to know that not only do I love working with older adults themselves, but I delight in working with the caregivers and care partners for older adults. Caregivers are the cornerstone of society, and they deserve excellent care themselves. I trust that if you find yourself in a caregiving role to a loved one, you also hold relationships in high esteem, and I admire that about you.

I work with caregivers who are ready for a change and looking for someone who gets what they are going through. They feel like they’ve lost parts of themselves to the overwhelm of caregiving and are ready to feel supported and more in control.

Graduate Education: Colorado State University, doctorate (PhD) in Counseling Psychology

Internship: Sharp Mesa Vista in San Diego, CA, rotations focused on Older Adults, Adolescents, and Substance Use

Post-doctoral Training: Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System/University of California, San Diego (UCSD), in Home-Based Primary Care

Licensed Psychologist in California (PSY34164) and Colorado (PSY.0006151)