I think that therapy can be a profoundly empowering and liberating experience if done well. Whether you are trying to address deeply rooted traumas, needing support in getting your healthy needs met in a relationship, wanting to honor a more authentic and vulnerable version of yourself, or seeking relief from depression or anxiety, my goal is to tailor the therapy process so that it's uniquely suited to meet your needs. As a licensed marriage and family therapist and certified clinical sociologist, I'm especially interested in exploring how the systems you find yourself in (school, work, relationships, family, etc.) contribute to and/or buffer against mental health struggles. I approach therapy with compassion, collaboration, and curiosity. I have extensive history in working with personality disorders, mood disorders, trauma, dual diagnosis, and clients in-crisis in a variety of settings, including: crisis shelters, community clinics, and schools. I integrate aspects of poetry, art, music, and play into a feminist-experiential model of therapy with the aim of empowering my clients. As a clinical supervisor, I've practiced, supervised, and taught a wide variety of therapy models, and I enjoy working with clients to find a therapeutic approach that they feel allows them the best balance between support, flexibility, being challenged, and collaboration. Outside of therapy, I've taught sociology and psychology classes at universities and colleges around Southern California. I'm also active in conducting research and publishing. My research focuses on gender, race, identity, and inequality. I look forward to working with you and witnessing your growth and strength.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
My primary goal is to collaboratively help you reach your goals. After our initial assessment (1-2 sessions), we will work together to identify appropriate treatment goals. I want you to feel like you have agency in what your treatment looks like and that you feel empowered to improve your quality of life. Most individual therapy aims to help individuals gain a better understanding of themselves, the patterns they engage in, and the systems they find themselves in. I believe to understand something is the first step towards being liberated from it. Further, I think we must illuminate the link between suffering and social-economic-political contexts you find yourself in.
What treatment methods and tools do you utilize?
I utilize a variety of evidence-based interventions, though I pull heavily from feminist therapy and LGBTQIA+ affirmative therapy. I aim to meet you where you are at in order to create a safe place for you to unpack your story. My therapeutic approach pushes to be anti-racist, anti-sexist, LGBTQIA+-affirmative, sex-positive, and inclusive.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
I often explore the following topics in therapy: cognitive distortions, domains of wellness, existential issues, healthy communication, appropriate boundaries, and identifying values. Ultimately, progress in therapy should be judged based on your ability to cultivate the healthiest parts of yourself, not by your ability to cope, conform, and adapt within an oppressive hegemony.