(she/her)
Hello! I am a Los Angeles based psychotherapist, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional. My therapeutic approach is strengths-based, collaborative, culturally inclusive, nonjudgmental, LGBTQ+ affirmative and trauma-informed. I practice Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and psychodynamic therapies to address a variety of problems including depression, interpersonal conflicts, difficulty with intimacy and relatedness, self-destructive or self-sabotaging behaviors, repeating painful life problems with little sense of control, life adjustments and transitions, grief and loss, and anxiety disorders. I welcome explorations of the intersectional impact of race, class, gender and sexuality on mental health. As a cancer survivor I am especially interested in the relationship between physical and mental health and supporting those living with chronic health conditions. As a lifelong learner, my recent areas of interest include sports and performance psychology. I completed a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Columbia University, a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Welfare from UC Berkeley, and a Master’s of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from The New School. I have specialized training and experience treating Post Traumatic Stress in military veterans and survivors of sexual abuse. In addition to my work as a therapist I provide training and clinical supervision at nonprofit housing programs in Los Angeles. I have served as a field instructor for social work graduate students from Cal State LA and USC. In 2023 I was appointed to serve on the ethics committee of the National Association of Social Workers, and currently serve on the medical board of advisors for Onco-Ballet, a nonprofit that provides dance classes to cancer patients and survivors.
In our introductory session you’ll have the opportunity to share your story and what you hope to achieve in therapy. If you don't know already we will work together to figure this out! I strive to create a welcoming environment that allows you to feel comfortable sharing and being vulnerable. From there, we’ll work together in the sessions that follow to make these goals a reality for you.
My working style is collaborative, analytic and strengths-based. We will work on building coping skills and insight. I support clients to cope with uncertainty and reconnect with their ability to trust their judgment again.
I work best with clients who are curious and open to discovery. They are willing to examine the way they see and do things, and willing to advocate for change. Many of my clients are motivated by a desire for reconciliation, healing, and often justice.
I use CBT as a way to understand the thoughts and emotions that drive behavior. In doing this we can identify patterns and consider whether they are serving our best interests or are keeping us stuck.
DBT is a form of CBT with extra attention to building out a toolbox for skills in mindfulness, interpersonal effective and emotion regulation. I've had the privilege to complete intensive training from the Linehan Institute in DBT for Complex PTSD.