(he/him)
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of California with over seven years of experience in psychotherapy and the healing arts. Throughout my career, I have provided mental health support to children in local Bay Area schools, working closely with caregivers and extended family members to help manage emotional and behavioral challenges. I have extensive experience providing family therapy, supporting families in strengthening communication, deepening connection, and building strong, healthy alliances. In addition, I work with young adults navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, and other life stressors. I am committed to serving individuals from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds, as well as diverse sexual orientations and gender identities. My approach is humanistic, client-centered, and trauma-informed. I strive to deeply understand each client’s unique story, build a strong therapeutic relationship, and collaborate in meaningful ways that foster healing, resilience, hope, and a renewed sense of purpose.
The first session is all about creating a comfortable space for us to get to know each other. Starting therapy can bring up a lot of feelings—nervousness, uncertainty, or even relief—and all of that is completely normal. During our first meeting, we’ll talk about what’s bringing you to therapy and what you’ve been going through. I’ll ask some questions about your current challenges, your background, and any important experiences that have shaped your life so far. This helps me understand the bigger picture and how I can best support you. There’s no pressure to share everything right away. Therapy is a process, and we’ll move at a pace that feels comfortable for you. You can also expect me to share a bit about how I work, the types of approaches I use, and how therapy might help with the concerns you’re facing. By the end of the session, we’ll start identifying goals and discuss what ongoing sessions might look like if you choose to continue. Most importantly, my goal in the first session is to make sure you feel heard, supported, and safe to be yourself.
One of my greatest strengths as a therapist is my ability to create a space where clients feel truly seen, supported, and understood while also receiving practical tools to help them move forward. My work is grounded in empathy and shaped by both my professional experience and personal background. As a first-generation Filipino American, I understand how culture, family expectations, and the immigrant experience can influence mental health. My personal experiences growing up in a home impacted by domestic violence have also given me a deep sensitivity to the needs of people who have experienced trauma, family conflict, or neglect. I bring a supportive but direct approach to therapy, using evidence-based practices like CBT and DBT to help clients better understand their emotions, build coping skills, and navigate life’s challenges with greater confidence and resilience.
I have been a licensed therapist for four years, with over eight years of experience in the field. Much of my work has focused on supporting children and teenagers with behavioral and mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, trauma, and major life transitions such as divorce and grief. As a lifelong learner, I continue to grow and expand my practice. I welcome the opportunity to work with adults, couples, and families, and I’m especially interested in supporting individuals navigating life transitions, such as career changes, work-life balance, and identity exploration. I also have a special interest in working with men’s issues, including masculinity, shame, and the impact of unhealthy or limiting patterns on emotional and relational growth. My goal is to create a space where clients feel supported in developing greater self-awareness, resilience, and meaningful change.
Child Parent Psychotherapy
In my practice, I use Child–Parent Psychotherapy (CPP), an evidence-based, trauma-informed approach designed to strengthen the relationship between young children and their caregivers. CPP recognizes that a child’s emotional and behavioral well-being is deeply connected to their primary attachment relationships. Through collaborative sessions with both child and caregiver, I help families understand how past experiences—such as trauma, loss, or chronic stress—may be impacting present-day behaviors and interactions. Together, we create a safe space to explore feelings, build emotional regulation skills, and support secure attachment. Using play, reflective dialogue, and gentle guidance, I support caregivers in responding to their child’s needs with attunement and confidence. My goal is to help families foster resilience, repair relational ruptures, and build a foundation of safety, trust, and connection that supports healthy development.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
In my practice, I use Child–Parent Psychotherapy (CPP), an evidence-based, trauma-informed approach designed to strengthen the relationship between young children and their caregivers. CPP recognizes that a child’s emotional and behavioral well-being is deeply connected to their primary attachment relationships. Through collaborative sessions with both child and caregiver, I help families understand how past experiences—such as trauma, loss, or chronic stress—may be impacting present-day behaviors and interactions. Together, we create a safe space to explore feelings, build emotional regulation skills, and support secure attachment. Using play, reflective dialogue, and gentle guidance, I support caregivers in responding to their child’s needs with attunement and confidence. My goal is to help families foster resilience, repair relational ruptures, and build a foundation of safety, trust, and connection that supports healthy development.
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
In my work as a clinician, I use Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) to help individuals and couples better understand and transform the emotional patterns that shape their relationships. EFT is grounded in attachment theory and focuses on identifying the underlying emotions and needs that drive conflict, disconnection, and distress. In our work together, I help clients slow down reactive cycles and access the deeper feelings beneath surface behaviors. By creating a safe, supportive space, we explore patterns of interaction and work toward fostering greater emotional awareness, responsiveness, and secure connection. My goal is to help clients move from patterns of blame, withdrawal, or defensiveness toward more open communication, emotional safety, and lasting relational change.
Humanistic
In my clinical work, I take a humanistic approach to the treatment of mental health concerns. I believe that each person has an innate capacity for growth, healing, and self-understanding when provided with a safe, supportive therapeutic environment. My role is to create a space grounded in empathy, authenticity, and unconditional positive regard, where clients feel truly seen and heard. Rather than focusing solely on symptoms or diagnoses, I work collaboratively with clients to understand their lived experiences, values, and strengths. Together, we explore patterns, emotions, and barriers that may be contributing to distress, while honoring each individual’s autonomy and unique path toward healing. Through this compassionate and client-centered process, I support individuals in building self-awareness, resilience, and a stronger sense of self, empowering them to make meaningful changes in their lives.
Trauma Informed Care
In my therapy practice, I utilize a trauma-informed approach to ensure that treatment is grounded in safety, trust, and empowerment. I recognize that many individuals have experienced trauma in various forms, and that these experiences can significantly shape emotional responses, relationships, and coping patterns. Trauma-informed care means that I prioritize creating a supportive and nonjudgmental space where clients feel in control of their healing process. I am mindful of how trauma impacts the nervous system, attachment, and self-perception, and I work collaboratively with clients to move at a pace that feels safe and manageable. Rather than asking “What’s wrong with you?” we explore “What happened to you?” and how those experiences continue to influence the present. Through this lens, I help clients build emotional regulation skills, strengthen resilience, and reconnect with a sense of safety, choice, and empowerment in their lives.