LCSW, 25 years of experience
New to Grow
Hi my name is Amy and I have had the honor of providing mental health services for over the past 25 years in the Bay Area. I am so proud of you for even contemplating getting support for whatever the struggle(s) you are going through. My hope is to provide you a safe place to explore what struggles you have been carrying with you-no matter how long you have been dealing with them. I am a trauma informed and gender affirming therapist who has been fortunate to serve many different communities (e.g. children, teens, families, TAY, adults, older adults, LGBTQ+, Latinx, Asian, houseless, foster care, CSEC, persons with ASD, a variety of addictive behaviors, and a variety of immigrant communities. If you are feeling unsure of how to choose a therapist since there are so many people to chose from, I would challenge you to select a person and see if you vibe with them in 1-2 sessions and if it is not a match, ask what you are looking for so the therapist can help get you matched with someone who may be a better fit. My hope is that you simply start your therapeutic journey since I personally know how difficult that can be. In my experience most of us wait months or years to finally reach out for help and I would use that "gift of desperation" to help schedule your first session. I wish you all the best in your journey and finding a therapist you feel will support you in your time of need.
During the first session, we will start the journey in learning about each other. I will review confidentiality, your rights as a client, and answer any questions you may have about the therapeutic process. We will begin to explore what your therapeutic goals are.
I am a trauma-informed and gender affirming therapist who is down to earth, uses humor when appropriate, and has a compassionate heart. Due to the being in mental health for over 25 years I have been trained in several modalities and my hope is that we can talk about what modality or mix of modalities will fit your needs. My hope is that you feel safe in the session so you can explore what changes you want to make for you. I have had the honor of helping teens and youth who have struggled with abuse in their life, family conflict, coming out issues, maintaining friendships, and setting healthy boundaries in order to respond versus react to people and situations in their lives.
My ideal clients are those who are motivated to be honest with themselves and open to learning new skills to help them manage their mental health symptoms and improve their relationships.
I have used CBT with children, teens, adults and older adults to help manage symptoms related to mood issues and trauma.
I have used DBT to assist persons dealing with mood regulation issues and personality disorders to help them build confidence in using their skills in interpersonal relationships.
I have used primarily Brief Strategic Family Therapy (BSFT) to assist youth and their families to improve their relationships with one another and to help clarify roles within the family system.
I have provided gender affirming care for at least 5 years using the WPATH guidelines to assist children, youth and adults in seeking gender affirming medical and non-medical care.
I have used play therapy well over a decade primarily with children but some teens and adults if clinically appropriate and I have been trained in sand tray work and used that as needed.