LMFT, 15 years of experience
As a **licensed marriage and family therapist** with 15 years of experience, I've had the opportunity to work with diverse clients, from individuals as young as three to adults of all ages, as well as couples and families. I began my career in substance abuse counseling and DUI classes. Over the years, I’ve specialized in **talk therapy, play therapy, and art therapy**, with a focus on helping clients resolve **unresolved trauma**. I'm also trained in **Parent-Child Interaction Therapy** and can provide these services via telehealth. Most recently, I spent six years as the **Behavioral Health Program Director** for a foster agency in California. This role was incredibly rewarding and allowed me to work with children in foster care, their biological and foster parents, and adoptive families. Although I loved my work as a director, I truly missed the hands-on experience of working directly with individuals and families in a therapeutic setting, which is why I am back in private practice.
The first session is a chance for us to get to know each other and for me to understand what you hope to achieve in therapy. While there will be a number of questions, my goal is for you to leave feeling a sense of hope about the path we're about to take together. I want you to feel confident that this can be a positive and beneficial step for you.
My therapeutic approach is all about meeting you where you are. My greatest strength is in accepting and working with you exactly as you are right now. I'll ask questions to help you explore your current situation and where you'd like to be. I don't expect you to have all the answers right away. The beautiful thing about therapy is that it gives you the time and space to process your thoughts, wants, and needs at your own pace.
My ideal client is someone who is ready to seek support and make a change, even if they aren't sure exactly what that change looks like yet. I see myself as a partner on this journey, ready to walk the path with you. I enjoy working with clients who are willing to explore their difficulties and try new skills. We'll keep working together until we find the right approach that truly fits you. I understand that therapy is a unique journey for everyone—it's a spectrum. For some, it may involve deep work to reshape unhealthy life patterns, while for others, it's about finding support during a time of grief, navigating a life adjustment, or making a big decision.
This therapeutic approach helps you understand the difference between healthy and unhealthy attachments in your relationships. We'll work together to create a healthier, more balanced dynamic.
I am happy to provide spiritual counseling to assist you with your treatment. This type of counseling ensures that your treatment is in alignment with your spiritual values, beliefs, and goals.
I use **CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)** to help you understand how your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are all connected. This approach is effective in helping you break free from unhelpful thinking patterns and daily habits, which can lead to increased self-esteem and more positive emotions.
**Couples counseling** can help you and your partner develop more positive communication skills. You'll learn to truly listen and respond to each other, creating an opportunity to show love and respect instead of tearing each other down during disagreements.
**Family therapy** is a way of treating the family as a single unit, rather than focusing on just one individual. Every family has its own unique mix of generational beliefs, traditions, and parenting styles. This type of therapy helps you identify which of these elements are beneficial to the family and which are not. It also provides the opportunity for the family to create new, positive traditions together.