Licensed to practice in California and accepts 9 insurances. Specializes in Mood Disorders, Self Esteem, Anxiety and 10 more.
(he/him)
New to Grow
Hello and thank you for visiting my profile. My therapeutic philosophy is that individuals need to be a part of their own solutions. Each person is the expert of their own life, not anyone else. I strive to empower clients to feel that their successes come from themselves and are the result of their own dedication and hard work. Clients should be empowered to seek out their ideal therapist and what the therapist has to offer them individually, their family, spouse, partner, children, etc. You are not "broken" and don't need to be fixed. I try to stay away from diagnostic labels and work well with those who don't appreciate categories. I do not start labeling or plugging you into a pre-existing program. I won't put you in a clinical diagnostic box. We focus on strengths you already have and building on current resources. We don't just talk about the problems over and over. Sessions are focused on making life more fulfilling, comfortable and enjoyable.
I know starting therapy can feel exciting, uncomfortable, or even a little stressful. My goal is to create a warm, supportive, and judgment free space where you can feel comfortable being yourself. You don't have to have all the answers or know exactly what to say. We simply start wherever you are. During our first session, my focus is on getting to know you. I'll ask you questions about your life, your relationships, your background, and what has brought you to therapy. We'll talk about what's been working well, what's been difficult, and what you hope will be different as a result of our work together. This is also your opportunity to get to know me, ask questions, and let me know what you need to feel comfortable in therapy. I believe that every person has a unique story and I want to understand yours without judgment. Therapy is a collaborative process, which means we'll work together to identify your goals and create a plan that fits your needs. Whether you're looking for support through a difficult time, healing from past experiences, improving relationships, or simply wanting to understand yourself or relationships better, we will move at a pace that feels right for you. Most importantly, you don't have to pretend or hide parts of yourself here. My hope is that therapy becomes a place where you feel heard, understood, accepted, and supported as we work together toward meaningful and lasting change.
One of my greatest strengths as a therapist is creating a warm, compassionate, and non judgmental space where clients feel safe enough to be themselves. I believe that genuine healing begins when people feel heard, understood, and accepted without criticism. My approach emphasizes building a strong therapeutic relationship based on trust, empathy, and authenticity, allowing clients to explore difficult emotions and life experiences at their own pace. What makes my approach unique is that my passion for therapy is rooted in personal experience. Having worked through my own trauma and participated in therapy myself, I experienced first hand the profound impact that a supportive therapeutic relationship can have on healing and personal growth. Those experiences inspired me to become a therapist and dedicate my career to helping others discover the same hope, resilience, and self - understanding that I found. While every person's journey is different, I understand the courage it takes to ask for help, and I strive to walk alongside my clients with compassion, respect, and genuine care as they work toward meaningful and lasting change.
An ideal client for my practice is someone who is ready to actively participate in the therapeutic process. While no one needs to have everything figured out before beginning therapy, the clients who tend to benefit most from my approach are those who are motivated to better understand themselves, open to personal growth, and willing to invest in meaningful change. I work best with individuals who are curious about their own thoughts, emotions, and relationship patterns, even when that exploration can be uncomfortable. Therapy is not always about hearing what is easy - it is often about discovering deeper truths that create lasting change. My role is to provide these insights with compassion, sensitivity, and respect, while helping clients feel supported rather than judged. I also value clients who are open minded and flexible. There may be times when we explore perspectives that challenge long held beliefs or bring difficult emotions to the surface. While this process can feel uncomfortable, it is often where the greatest healing and personal growth occur. Together we move at a pace that feels safe while remaining committed to meaningful progress. If you are willing to be honest, curious, and actively involved in your own growth, my therapeutic approach is likely to be a good fit for you and / or relationship.
Narrative therapy is based on the idea that you are not defined by your problems / issues. Instead, your problems are something that happened to you, not who you are. People tend to tell themselves stories about their lives, and sometimes those stories become negative or limiting. A narrative therapist helps the client look at these stories, question whether they are completely true, and create a more balanced and hopeful story based on their strengths and successes. How a therapist uses Narrative therapy: Asks clients to tell their life story. Help separate the person from the problem, for example: The addiction is affecting your life instead of "you are an addict." Looks for times when the problem was less powerful. Explores the client's values, strengths, and accomplishments, helps the client rewrite their personal story to include resilience, hope, and growth. The goal is for each client to see themselves as MUCH MORE than their problems, mistakes, trauma, depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, etc.
Psychodynamic therapy looks at how past experiences and unconscious feelings impact current thoughts, emotions, and relationships. The idea is that many of our behaviors today were learned long ago, often during childhood, and we may not even realize they are influencing us. For example: Someone who grew up with criticism may constantly feel "not good enough." Someone abandoned as a child may "fear people leaving them as an adult." Someone raised to hide emotions may struggle to "express feelings in relationships." The therapist helps client understand these patterns so they can make different choices. How a therapist uses psychodynamic therapy: Explores childhood experiences. Talks about important relationships, such as parents, partners, siblings, etc. Looks for repeated patterns in relationships. Helps client identify unconscious feelings and conflicts. Connects the past with present problems. Encourages insight into why certain situations trigger strong emotions.
Compassion Focused Therapy is a form of therapy approach that helps people become kinder and less critical towards themselves. It is especially helpful for people who struggle with shame, guilt, self-criticism, anxiety, depression, trauma, etc. The idea is that many people speak to themselves much more harshly than they would speak to a friend. Compassion focused therapy teaches clients to replace that harsh inner voice with one that is understanding, supportive, and encouraging. How a therapist might use Compassion Focused Therapy: Teach clients about how the brain evolved to protect us, sometimes becoming overly self critical Normalize emotional struggle to reduce shame. Help clients notice their inner critic. Explore where that critical voice came from such as family, school, culture, past experiences, etc. Practice replacing criticism with compassionate self-talk. Use breathing and mindfulness exercises to calm the nervous system. Encourage clients to imagine what a compassion or mentor, loved one, or wiser version of themselves might say.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a practical, goal-oriented form of therapy that helps people understand how their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are connected. The basic idea is that when we change unhelpful ways of thinking and behaving, our emotions often improve as well. CBT teaches that it's often not just the situation itself that causes distress, but how we interpret it. CBT helps clients recognize these automatic thoughts, evaluate whether they're accurate, and develop more balanced ways of thinking. CBT is often explained with a simple triangle: Thoughts = Feelings = Behaviors. Each one influences the other. For example: "I thought is I'm going to fail the test. The feeling is fear and the behavior is to avoid studying for the exam. Avoiding studying then increases the chance of performing poorly, reinforcing the original thought. How a therapist uses CBT: Identify negative or automatic thoughts. Look for evidence that supports or contradicts those thoughts. Replace unrealistic thoughts with more balanced ones. Change behaviors that keep problems going. Practice new coping skills between sessions.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a type of therapy that teaches people how to manage intense emotions, improve relationships, cope with stress, and make healthier choices. The four main DBT skills are: Mindfulness, which is learning to pay attention to the present moment without judging it. Distress tolerance, which is learning how to survive emotional crisis without making them worse. Emotional regulation, which is learning to understand and manage emotions instead of being controlled by them, and Interpersonal Effectiveness, learning to communicate clearly while maintaining self-respect and healthy relationships.