As a licensed marriage and family therapist with a background in law enforcement, my passion lies in providing support and guidance to individuals and families who are in need. I have always been driven by a strong desire to make a positive difference in people's lives, and my diverse professional experiences have equipped me with a unique perspective and skill set to do just that. Having served in law enforcement, I have witnessed firsthand the challenges and hardships that people can face, as well as the impact these experiences can have on their mental and emotional well-being. This motivated me to transition into the field of therapy, where I could directly help individuals and families navigate through their struggles, heal from trauma, and build healthier relationships. I bring a compassionate and empathetic approach to my work, recognizing the importance of creating a safe and non-judgmental space for my clients. Through evidence-based therapeutic techniques and a collaborative approach, I aim to empower individuals to overcome their challenges, strengthen their emotional resilience, and foster positive change in their lives. I believe that everyone deserves support and the opportunity to lead a fulfilling and meaningful life, and I am dedicated to assisting others in achieving their goals and finding lasting happiness.
In our first session, you’ll feel welcomed and heard. I’ll explain confidentiality, boundaries, and practical logistics, then invite you to share what brings you here and what you hope to change. Together we’ll explore your current challenges, strengths, and goals, and discuss a plan that fits your pace. We may set gentle, achievable steps you can try between sessions. I’ll be transparent about my approach and how we’ll measure progress, with safety and support always central. If you have questions, I’m happy to discuss them. You decide what feels right.
I care about the wellness of others. Some of the feedback I've received shares the comfort a client feels in my presence, and the ease in the ability to connect while building rapport. I've also experienced some of life's highs and lows, various forms of trauma, and a long-term marriage, which becomes helpful in relating to many circumstances that arise in therapy.
First responders (active, retired, or former) and military veterans seeking support after critical incidents or ongoing career stress. If you’re looking to process a traumatic event or reduce reliance on self-medication, I can help you integrate the experience, rebuild resilience, and restore balance. I am a former peer support member, a motor sergeant with CHP, and experienced in critical incident stress debriefings. I assist with navigating the demands of a stressful career, managing interactions with the public, peers, and management, and sustaining recovery and well-being. You’ll find a validating, nonjudgmental space with practical coping strategies.
Trauma Informed Care
Trauma-informed care means creating safety, trust, and collaboration. I tailor sessions to your pace, respect your service culture, and honor boundaries. I use grounding, mindfulness, and gentle exposure as appropriate, with collaborative goals and strengths-based framing. You’ll feel validated, supported, and empowered to rebuild resilience after trauma.
EMDR
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a structured therapy that helps process distressing memories and reduce their emotional impact. In sessions, you’ll briefly recall a target distressing event while following bilateral stimulation (eye movements, taps, or tones). This dual attention task facilitates adaptive information processing, helping memories integrate into healthier neural networks. The process typically includes history-taking, preparation, assessment, desensitization, installation of positive beliefs, and closure, with re-evaluation in subsequent sessions. EMDR is adaptable for trauma, anxiety, and life stressors; it emphasizes safety, client readiness, and a collaborative pace, often yielding rapid symptom relief and functional gains.
Solution Focused Brief Treatment
Solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) concentrates on your goals and exceptions, not problems. In sessions, we’ll start by asking about times you’ve coped or things that have worked, however small. Together we’ll formulate clear, concrete goals and identify the smallest steps toward them. We’ll explore “flash forward” moments to imagine a preferred future and articulate what would be different when that future is reached. We’ll highlight client strengths, resources, and support systems, and track progress with brief check-ins. Interventions may include scaling questions, miracle questions, and future-oriented task assignments to build momentum between sessions.