LMFT, 9 years of experience
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in both states of CA and TN with a deep passion for working with people from diverse backgrounds. I believe every human being deserves to be seen and live in a way that brings about peace, self-love, and a positive self-image. This can be difficult when the messaging around us is in direct contradiction to knowing our worth and we may end up feeling isolated and alone. My hope is to provide you with the support we all deserve in order to live as fully as possible through an exploration of your own needs and an identification of tools, resources, and supports to validate those needs. I believe we all have an inherent birthright to exist in peace and that is what I strive to support my clients in achieving in their minds, hearts, and ultimately their lives.
You can expect me to own that finding the right therapist requires an appropriate fit and I am genuinely invested in knowing my client's voice and experience in order to be properly attuned to what is expressed. I will listen for what brings a person into therapy, what needs are at the forefront, and what desired outcomes are, in order to transparently share knowledge, support the practice of therapeutic skills, and engage in connecting folks to resources. Above all else, clients can expect me to relate as one human being in support of another.
I believe healing happens at the pace of trust and I honor my clients' self-determination within the therapeutic journey in order to deepen the integration and application of therapeutic tools. I'm a relational therapist who values the power of being witnessed and not judged, while providing information transparently so that people can feel empowered by what makes sense to them. I understand the role of the nervous systems in our own healing process and that felt-safety is not something we can "think" our way to, but simply felt through gained trust each step of the process.
I enjoy working with folks who are interested in exploring their own intersectional identities and wanting to find ways to embrace their whole selves while connecting to their communities.
I support Clients through the 8 phases of EMDR therapy in order to attain therapeutic goals related to bottom-up trauma processing, reducing emotional distress and overall well-being.
I began practicing yoga at the age of 11 in 1994 and I participated in an official Yoga Teacher Training Program (from 2019 to 2020) at Sanctuary for Yoga in Nashville, TN. I incorporate this knowledge, when applicable, into my therapeutic practice by engaging clients in the natural calming of their nervous systems (self-regulation) using breathing techniques, mindfulness practices, and intentional movement. I apply an understanding of the nervous system to support Clients through the application of Polyvagal techniques, Somatic techniques, and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction techniques.
I utilize techniques from Internal Family System, Motivational Interviewing, Existential and Feminist modalities to support genuine connection to yourself and your communities. Knowing your worth is the backbone of living a healthy, authentic, and fulfilling life. I strive to support you in integrating all aspects of your identity in a way that is in alignment with your personal values so that you can explore what brings you joy, define what success means to you, and create an all encompassing definition for health.
Being a Marriage and Family Therapist I am deeply invested in the healing power of relationship with an appreciation for genuine connection rooted in authentic expression and respect. I am trained in Level 1 Gottman Method and incorporate my knowledge of Nonviolent Communication to my support of all folks invested in experiencing fulfilling relationships.