LCSW, 8 years of experience
New to Grow
From working in East LA with 0-5 population to working with military personnel and kids/teens in San Diego, I have had the privilege of walking alongside so many individuals and families in every facet of life. Obtaining my Bachelor's Degree in the Midwest, studying in a foreign country, and ultimately earning my Master's in California, I embrace adaptability and have gained valuable perspectives gained through varied experiences in various locations. I specialize in utilizing an attachment-based, trauma-informed, and neuroscience lens; and I embrace every individual's story.
You can expect that I will listen to you and provide unconditional positive regard. I follow your pace and walk alongside you with a flashlight in hand. I utilize a mix of indirect and direct approaches, always following and attuning to you wherever you are in the process. If you would like to set a specific goal, we will; if you would rather just focus on the overarching picture, we will do that as well.
I have unique experience in that I have worked with various age groups in various settings. This includes having worked with elementary school students and high school students in the school system in South LA, working with 0-5 and their caregivers in East LA, working with the military population in San Diego, and working with kiddos and teens in an outpatient psychiatric facility. I adapt to every population I work with and understand the client is the expert. After working with me, people tend to walk away with enhanced self-understanding, improved attunement to themselves or others, and increased self-compassion. I utilize the most up-to-date methods such as Polyvagal Theory and utilize methods that are not a quick fix, rather are instrumental in providing long-term results with long-term benefits.
The clients I serve are motivated and yearning to lean more. They are collaborative and are in a place in life where they know they want to do better, they just don't know how. They are open to the therapeutic approach and acknowledge that healing is not a quick fix, rather a lifelong journey. They may be tired of second-guessing themselves, replaying various situations in their heads, and living from a place of reactivity. They are wondering how they can get unstuck from their thoughts patterns and their big feelings, and wanting to learn how they can be more present and live a life with intention and full of meaning.
I use attachment-based method by examining and understanding how past attachments and particularly early attachments impact the current symptoms and relationships. I find that many symptoms are a result of past attachment ruptures whether it is insecurity, low self-esteem, or current relationship struggles. Unveiling the past helps identify the current patterns.
I utilize this approach to understand the interaction between the unconscious and the conscious. This approach focuses on early childhood experiences as well as how the unconscious is a major driver for our current thoughts and feelings. I help clients bring what is below their awareness, in their unconscious, to the surface so they can know what is present and how to address it.
I like to use components of ACT as I find that is is very validating and leans towards a more acceptance approach of various thoughts and feelings rather than trying to "fix" thoughts or feelings. It normalizes the human experience and inspires more self-reflection as well as self-understanding and compassion.
I acknowledge the privilege I hold and make an effort to create a safe and compassionate space for all individuals to speak about their culture or race, as they experience it themselves.
I believe wholeheartedly that the mind and body are connected, and in order to tend to the mind, we need to tend to the body. This shows up as using somatic approaches and nervous system retraining in my practice. I rely heavily on the Polyvagal Theory and use it to enhance my understanding of the moment-moment experience for the client and enhance their awareness so they can be more present and attuned to themselves and the environment around them.