(he/him)
I am a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW 102807) in the State of California with a Master’s in social work (MSW) from UCLA. I work with adults 18 plus and specialize in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), anxiety, stress management, trauma, self esteem issues, mood disorders, and LGBTQI+ issues. I principally employ the use of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Exposure Response Prevention (ERP), mindfulness, psychodynamics, coping development, and motivational interviewing.
As it can be difficult to make it to the first appointment, I'd first spend some time listening to why they are seeking treatment at this moment, how they are feeling, along with some questions to better understand the type and severity of the issues they are experiencing, along with any previous treatment experience and background information. The first session is about gaining a sense of trust through listening to the client, defining the issue to work on, identifying how we could approach the issue, and to address any questions about my experience and approach.
My aim is to be as authentic and accessible as possible, as therapy can be an intimidating and unknown process to many. One needs to feel safe to explore and change aspects of themselves or their lives, and one of my main goals is to create a safe and equitable space to achieve this. I welcome feedback, questions, and encourage those I work with to let me know if they have any questions about the direction and focus of their treatment, as this is a collaboration.
I typically work with adults of all ages and backgrounds who are facing many challenges but specialize in working with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and anxiety. I personally know what it’s like to cope with both OCD and anxiety as I to have faced those challenges and gone through treatment myself, so I know what it’s like on the client side of therapy. In working with my clients I strive to keep focus on improving each individual’s quality of life, I prefer one-on-one sessions with the goal of improving one’s functionality and to supply them with an array of coping tools they can use well beyond therapy and last for the rest of their lives.
Typically, I use CBT to build insight into one's perceptions or ways of thinking about their related issues, which has a heavy influence on the severity of many mental health symptoms. We then introduce an array of coping tools to provide relief, to come up with new ways of thinking about the issue and explore how to modify unwanted behaviors to see what needs to be changed. Further exploration of the origins of faulty thinking can also lead to much valued insight and healing. This process can be used to replace long-standing unwanted thoughts and behaviors that are at the root of some of a client’s mental health symptoms.
I employ aspects of DBT that involve the introduction and use of mindfulness techniques which teaches us to be more present, to become more of our own observer, which can offer much relief for many mental health symptoms. Like CBT this can be used to build more insight into their presenting problems and to come up with ways to change unwanted cycles of feelings and associated behaviors.
I utilize aspects of the psycho-dynamic approach via exploring the motivations for any unwanted behaviors or related thoughts along with the defense mechanisms at play that can be used to prevent desired changes. This involves an exploration of the range of associated feelings involved with a client’s presenting problem and related symptoms.
I mainly utilize exposure treatment for clients suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). This intervention involves systematic confronting of thoughts, objects, or scenarios that cause distress while ceasing the related compulsions (rituals or ways clients use to feel better or to alleviate associated fears). ERP presents a structure to face one's OCD related or anxious fears, to dispel the inaccurate beliefs that fuel OCD's unwanted behaviors.