I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with experience working with individuals, couples, families, and groups. I work with those struggling with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, substance use, and relational issues. I gravitate toward using Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Gottman methods in my approach to build understanding of your inner dialogue, your values, and how to create more fulfillment in your life. While wo...
I have served clients in both private and community mental health settings to address barriers created by anxiety, trauma, and unexpected life transitions. My therapeutic approach is inspired by a relational psychodynamic perspective that offers and encourages space to explore how past experiences shape present patterns of relating to others and the self. The purpose of which is to create new sustainable ways of interacting in the present to improve emotional and psychological wellbeing. I have ...
I help individuals recognize and harness their own personal strengths while learning new ways to challenge negative thought patterns and unhealthy behaviors that can keep us feeling stuck, depressed, and anxious. My approach to therapy is collaborative, client-centered, compassionate, and non-judgmental. I meet clients where they are at and help guide them to where they want to be. I draw upon evidence-based practices including mindfulness, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Dialectical ...
Emphasizing uniqueness, I utilize an integrative approach in your treatment through the use of various modalities while applying diverse techniques and interventions. This will help you become more in touch with your whole self and recover from any trauma or adverse life experiences and the psychological distress produced by it. Beginning therapy is like commencing a journey within oneself, and it is essential to find the therapist that is right for you to assist you along the way. You already p...
By gently challenging you to question and shift your mental framework, I want to help you make decisions and take actions that are consistent with your values. I have a compassionate, science-based, and direct approach toward helping people find psychological relief. I am passionate about helping people achieve the most authentic version of themselves. The journey towards change must start with compassion. Only when we feel seen and heard, can we begin the process of transformation. I am a th...
Having trained at the University of Notre Dame (Ph.D., M.A.), UC Berkeley (APA-accredited internship) and Stanford (post-doctoral fellowship), I bring rigorous scientific expertise into my clinical work with college students. In fact, I worked at the University Counseling Centers at all three of these schools and have continued to develop a specialized private practice that focuses almost exclusively on college students. I also teach for Pepperdine University in their Graduate School of Educati...
My clinical experience specifically includes working with the families of individuals with a severe mental illness diagnosis, bereavement counseling (including situations of violent or traumatic loss), and infertility. I also work with individuals who are anticipating or experiencing stress related to high-conflict divorce. I work with clients who have generally crafted an intentional life, often one marked by good judgment, predictably optimistic outcomes, and plenty of agency. A life that w...
I believe that the first step towards change is acceptance; therefore, I strive to create a non-judgmental space, one that views many "symptoms" as coping mechanisms that made sense at some point but have outgrown whatever usefulness they once had. When we can view ourselves with compassion, we can then challenge ourselves to examine thought and behavior patterns that may be keeping us stuck and learn to move beyond them. An important part of this work is getting in touch with our core values an...
My therapeutic style is tailored specifically to each individual I am working with. I tend to utilize a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy approach as my foundation to address negative thoughts impacting specific behaviors for desired change. I also utilize a psychodynamic approach, which focuses on understanding the deeper meaning of emotions and how those emotions impact desired outcomes. I am client-centered and focused on your particular needs for the present moment. I'm a therapist with Octave...
My style can best be described as insight and action-oriented therapy. I believe that once an individual has an improved understanding of their inner workings (thoughts, emotions, behaviors) and patterns of behavior, then they can begin to adopt more healthy ways of living. In sessions, I offer empathy, acceptance, guidance, and understanding, while encouraging clients to show up authentically so that they can work towards personal growth and positive change. I'm a therapist with Octave an...
I have worked with people from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. I have training in many theoretical approaches and tend to work from an eclectic orientation. I believe in client-centered care, and enjoy supporting individuals through therapy. My primary goal always is to hear you and to understand your life from your perspective. I believe that with the appropriate therapeutic support, we can all become more skilled at navigating through difficult times, as well make effective and...
My deep belief, rooted in both my practice as a therapist and in my experience healing my own trauma, is that our brains and bodies have the innate ability to heal from trauma when provided with a safe enough space to connect to and experience our internal world. As human beings, we are neurobiologically wired to be in relationships with others. For that reason, I have also learned that a key aspect of trauma recovery involves being in the presence of someone who can create safety and hold space...
I come from a trauma-informed theoretical orientation. I believe that attachment is often the root of many challenges. I work from a cognitive-behavioral lens with a narrative approach. I am informed by psychodynamic and social-emotional developmental models (Piaget, Erickson, Freud, Maslow). I also use techniques and interventions integrating art, worksheets, media, and psychoeducational books or articles. I have training in motivational interviewing, adoption competency certification, ASIST su...
As a therapist, my goal is to foster and provide a safe space for clients to experience empathy, compassion, and healing. I strive to work with clients to guide them in forming and maintaining healthy relationships with themselves and others. I am motivated to provide the best care possible for my clients. I work collaboratively with clients to identify challenges as well as the practical steps needed to achieve life-long goals. My approach is direct, compassionate and supportive. I'm a thera...
At the end of the day, I want you to see that you can figure out your issues so my focus will be to elicit your strengths and demonstrate that you can eventually do this on your own. Investing your time in therapy is a huge step and a challenging one, especially not knowing what to expect from therapy. My approach to therapy is a person-centered one, where you are the pilot in this journey. I am not the expert here as you are the only expert in your life. My role here is to help guide and suppor...
I specialize in anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and relationship issues. I have experience working with veterans, children, families, adolescents, and adults struggling with substance abuse. As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, I provide a safe therapeutic environment with a focus on developing lifelong skills. Working together, we will formulate attainable goals and strive towards greater self-acceptance. I will invite you to work with a kind curiosity on the journey of self-di...
You'll learn to navigate difficult situations, gain confidence, and express yourself authentically. I take an empathetic and humble approach to building your strengths and creating opportunities for growth. We'll create sustainable goals that align with your values while riding with the ups and downs of that journey. With therapy, you'll be able to overcome avoidance, learn how to unwind, and feel more at peace. Together, we'll create a way for you to meet your potential, break old patterns, ...
I work with individuals, couples, and families with anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, and all types of relationship issues (romantic, family, peer, and occupational). I believe that clients are experts in their own lives, and my role as a therapist is to provide a safe and nurturing environment for clients to explore and meet their goals. The therapeutic relationship between the client and therapist sets the foundation for authentic collaboration that allows for trust and meaning...
If you are anxious, depressed, have been through a traumatic experience, or just feel stuck and hopeless, you need someone to understand you and provide the professional support and expertise to help you feel good again. Sometimes life can be difficult and we can get stuck in ways that keep us from achieving our full potential. Many people stay too long in a place of unhappiness and despair. I am trained in traditional, evidence-based methods, however, my goal is to provide personalized and c...
Having a comfortable and relaxed partnership with your therapist is so important when exploring the raw parts of ourselves. We often keep these tender sides hidden and experience shame that we don’t “have it all together.” In order to feel ready to illuminate issues that need attention, we must be able to deeply trust the person doing that work by our side. I’m compassionate, non-judgmental, real and a little messy – like all humans! I’ve been there too! While I’m learning about what makes yo...