LCSW, 13 years of experience
New to Grow
When some people imagine a therapist, they picture an extremely stoic, proper person who sits in an armchair quietly and probably enjoys sweaters with elbow patches. Lucky for you, I am not your typical "armchair therapist". I believe in being a real human and having real human interactions with my clients. Additionally, not to brag, but I have a great sense of humor (that I try to use at appropriate times). My calling toward a therapeutic practice stems from a strong belief in being an advocate, an ally, and someone who strives for social justice. After spending almost a decade working with unhoused populations in Los Angeles doing street wraparound care and mental health, I have now brought my dedication to healing and mental health into my private practice work. Perspective and wisdom are not gained overnight, and my experiences shaped me as a therapist and a person today.
Sometimes, starting therapy can feel overwhelming because you might not know what to share. I am happy to walk alongside my clients and guide them with open-ended questions. My clients are often appreciative of the conversational tone and approach I have with them during sessions, including our first session where we will complete our intake assessment. Trust is not built overnight, and often my clients come in with trauma, depression, anxiety, and grief that have created barriers to trust. This is normal, and ultimately, in our work together, we build that trust over time. Once the trust is built, clients of mine often find that they are able to share more, cry if needed, and widen their windows of tolerance for the pain they have been through. This is key to healing.
I have worked with a variety of populations, spanning from adults experiencing homelessness, transitional-aged youth, LGBTQ+, and people experiencing depression, anxiety, PTSD, adjustment disorders, and substance abuse. I offer a non-traditional, holistic approach to therapy, using modalities such as cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, and trauma-focused therapy throughout sessions. I focus on aligning with my clients and processing in an open, casual, and warm environment.
Do you ever just look around and think, "Please don't make me live through one more unprecedented historical event"? Yeah, you are not the only one. In fact, if you are having that thought, you might be a good fit as my client. We need to be honest about the times we are living in and how stressful they can be on our mental health. On top of this, I best serve clients who have experienced difficult life transitions, grief, trauma, depression, anxiety, PTSD, and who are diverse in race, sexual orientation, gender and culture.
Trauma-informed care has been an essential practice of mine as a therapist. I believe in meeting clients where they are at and creating a safe, comfortable environment for them to explore their past traumas. I am passionate about educating clients about how trauma impacts the body and their nervous system, as well as finding ways for clients to soothe and decrease the impact of triggers.
Our thoughts are powerful and can control our emotions, physical feelings and behavior. In therapy, I find it helpful and important for clients to evaluate their thoughts, identify what else might be true, and re-frame negative or distorted thoughts. When we can change our minds we can change our lives.
I have walked alongside clients experiencing great losses in their lives for many years. Grief is unexpressed love and needs to be treated with care to honor who we have lost. With clients, I aim to create a safe place for them to move through the different stages of grief, as well as find creative ways to honor their losses.
Our minds and bodies are so connected, and through my experience as a therapist I have learned that people need to not only explore their thoughts but explore their physical bodies to find calm. Through mindfulness and meditation, I help clients explore and get to know how their emotions interact with their body, and I love giving clients practical tools to calm their bodies when activated.
As someone who worked intensively with populations experiencing homelessness and substance abuse, I found motivational interviewing to be a great intervention to impact and create change for clients. When I utilize this treatment, I meet clients where they are at, roll with their resistance and identify incremental steps they can take to make greater changes to their lives.