Licensed to practice in California and accepts 9 insurances. Specializes in Anxiety, Child or Adolescent, Trauma and PTSD and 10 more.
(he/him)
New to Grow
I am a Licensed Marriage Family Therapist with over 20 years of experience. I provide a client centered emotionally supportive approach. Over the years I have worked with various clientele and populations, including: Families, Couples, Groups, Adults, Adolescents, LGBTQI, trauma survivors, Individuals in crisis and those dealing with severe grief, depression and anxiety. I provide a positive realistic approach that integrates a mixture of many modalities of therapy. I focus on helping clients to align with the tools necessary to navigate behavioral change, personal growth and self care for self and in relationships. I enable clients to realize their potential, provide options and help them to build perspective and create real change.
In our first session the main focus would be for us to get to know each other and build rapport. I will want to know what brings you to therapy, what you expect and what your goals are for therapy. I will ask some guided questions regarding your history, strengths and the goals you have for our work together. I will also describe the limitations of therapy and the I believe therapy is a collaborative process where we can explore all aspects of your journey, and discover where and what path you would like to choose next.
I come to the work as a wounded healer with my own life experiences of overcoming trauma, debilitating anxiety, depression and issues of my own self worth. My path has taken many turns, hardships, discoveries and successes that have lead to an internal wealth of knowledge, insight and growth. We are all worthy of love, recognition, joy and the successes that can come from the increase of personal insight gained through therapy. I have worked with almost all populations in my years of practice. I have touched almost every aspect of the field from private practice, hospital intensive outpatient programs and crisis management to corporate managed care. I not only bring the understanding of how societal pressures and personal relationships can create problematic outcomes in one's personal life, health and future happiness but also can help to uncover the underlying processes that may be at the cause of any distresses one might have. I truly believe that we are here on this earth to learn, and therapy can be one of those ways to gain insight and personal healing. I have been a clinical supervisor for new clinicians learning the art and craft of therapy for around 18 years so not only do I practice therapy but also guide others in learning their path to healing others.
I work best with individuals that want to do the work. Resistance is a part of the work but in my experience it can limit the insight and healing gained within the work. It is important to have clear goals set at the onset of the first few of sessions, (these goals can grow and change as uncovered causes create changes in the therapy). My ideal client could be anyone from any walk of life, diversified clients who have an open mind to learn about themselves and others and truly want to achieve positive change, growth and healing in their life. I have worked in the San Francisco Bay Area for the entirety of my career, therefore I have worked with a widely diverse population of clients. I welcome and strive for a culturally sensitive and diverse practice.
Other specialties
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
CBT can be helpful for those who want a guided, structured practice that addresses directly unwanted behavioural change.
Couples Counseling
I enjoy working with couples, exploring what is working and addressing the issues to work on for growth and change. Almost all aspects of therapy stem from inter-relational sources and how we are in relationship with each other. I provide an unbiased, fair facilitation of couples relationships. I will not choose sides but will not hold back from addressing the needed changes for growth. Someone once said to me that couples counselling is for those who want to end their relationships. I have seen successful growth in couples wanting to increase their relational skills just as often as couples who come to counselling to end their relationship amicably. I provide a no nonsense, frank perspective to couples counselling.
Family Therapy
Family Therapy is at the core of all adolescent and family crisis. I have worked extensively with families in crisis and suicidal adolescents. Family therapy is essential to rebuild family dynamics, understanding, mutual respect and build relational skills.
Strength-Based
I utilise a strength based approach throughout the process of therapy helping to empower the client and help them understand the expanse of their abilities for growth not the limits.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
I managed a hospital based Intensive Outpatient Patient program for suicidal teens and seniors in crisis which included group and their family therapy with a DBT directed modality for many years. DBT is helpful for anyone, but specifically addresses the challenges of adolescents and those with certain personality disorders that benefit through learning intensified modules providing coping skills and options at looking at our choices and ways of being. DBT is elegant and by far one of the most successfully growth oriented treatments I have come across.