I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) based in California. I graduated from Alliant International University and have 11 years of experience in treatment settings ranging from residential care to routine outpatient care, treating self-harm, addiction, PTSD, anxiety, depression, relation and family conflict, life adjustments and more. Utilizing CBT, DBT, and Solution-Focused interventions will help develop insight to why things are they way they are, and how to take action towards a brighter future.
In the first session, I like to really understand who a client is. Where they grew up, family/friend dynamics, who they are today, what type of experience (if any) they've had in therapy, and what they found helpful/unhelpful. I also like to explore the history and progression of their symptoms, why they are currently seeking therapy, and identify goals of treatment.
I embrace a nonjudgmental approach, and accept clients with where they are in life. Throughout sessions, I encourage clients to envision what their definition of a meaningful life looks like, and collaborate with them on how to take steps to achieve their goals. I like to instill hope in clients and understand that progress can be made at different rates, and are influenced by many factors. In addition, I incorporate warmth and humor to help ease the difficulty of discussing personal issues.
I enjoy working with clients who have had long-term symptoms and are now ready to begin therapy, as well as clients who are going through an adjustment and need support.
I have been utilizing CBT for 11 years. I believe that changing how people think and behave will influence how they feel about themselves. I like to understand why people think a certain way, explore origins of their thoughts, and identify what change is needed to improve them.
Formally trained in DBT, I work with clients by exploring various coping strategies and concluding when each one is best used. DBT teaches that everybody is always trying their best, and the goal would be to strive towards a better best.
This treatment method allows me to understand what a client's strengths are, and how to "know" when a client is progressing towards their goals. I utilize scaling questions to measure progress regularly and address deterrents along the way. The focus is "who are you today, and who do you want to be in the future?"