LMFT, 19 years of experience
I am a licensed marriage family therapist based in California. I received my master's degree from the University of San Francisco and have been practicing for 18 years. I help people of all ages who are struggling with difficult situations, thoughts, feelings, and behaviors impacting their relationship with self and others. I help people learn how to talk to and treat themselves with kindness, empathy, and compassion.
In our first session together, we start off by going through a psychosocial needs assessment to really get to know the problems you've been struggling with and what your needs are and what areas we need to focus on to bring about healing and change. Out of that assessment we create a tailored treatment plan to help guide the work.
Having worked in the field for 18 years, I have developed and honed a unique set of skills to help facilitate quick and effective change for those struggling with mental health challenges. I integrate the emotional, mental, physical and spiritual aspects of the self to help bring healing and wholeness.
I am passionate and committed to working with people who are seeking to make profound change in their lives who may not know how to make lasting and empowered change, or know how to start. Specifically, I am passionate about helping people through anxiety, depression, grief and loss issues and trauma.
EMDR Therapy allows me to support survivors of complex trauma and PTSD, including those affected by sexual, emotional, and physical abuse, as well as combat veterans. With tailored interventions, I facilitate healing and resilience in a safe, supportive environment.
As a clinician, I leverage CBT to facilitate transformative change in patients' lives. We work together in identifying and replacing disempowered thinking patterns and narratives leading to depression and anxiety, with more empowering, truth based beliefs. In my practice, I prioritize teaching patients how to treat themselves with kindness, which serves as the cornerstone for shifting thought patterns, managing emotions, and making empowered choices. By integrating CBT techniques, I assist individuals in fostering a deeper understanding of their inner dialogue and its impact on their overall wellbeing.
I offer Jungian-oriented psychotherapy, drawing from the depths of the unconscious to explore and address life's challenges. Through creative expressions such as body movement, dream analysis, symbolic exploration, and various expressive art mediums like drawing and journaling, I guide patients in uncovering insights and possible solutions by tapping into the wisdom of the psyche.
By anchoring our work in the body, we tap into its innate wisdom, acknowledging the profound influence of hormones and neurotransmitters on psychological well-being. Through techniques such as mindfulness, breathwork, and body awareness exercises, we foster a holistic understanding of the patient's struggles. By addressing the mind-body connection we aim to cultivate resilience and facilitate healing at a more profound level than if we were just addressing thought patterns or learning coping skills only.
In my work with patients, I often utilize a Mindfulness-Based approach to help guide individuals through difficult emotions (such as anxiety/depression/anger), thoughts and situations with a non-judgmental awareness. By fostering mindfulness, we develop the capacity to navigate challenging experiences without inadvertently creating barriers or reinforcing discomfort. An excellent approach when struggling with anxiety and depression.