Licensed to practice in California and accepts 6 insurances. Specializes in Life Transitions, Parenting, Emotional Regulation and 6 more.
(he/him)
New to Grow
As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with more than 20 years of experience, I provide compassionate, evidence-based therapy to individuals and families across a variety of settings, including hospitals, schools, private practice, and community mental health programs. My career has included leadership roles in education and mental health, as well as founding a respected family therapy organization. These experiences have strengthened my commitment to helping people navigate life's challenges with greater resilience, insight, and well-being. I believe effective therapy considers the full context of a person's life, including family, community, and environmental influences. My experience as Head School Counselor at The Berkeley School reinforced the importance of early intervention, strong support systems, and creating safe, trusting spaces where people can heal and grow. Whether working with children, adolescents, adults, or families, I strive to provide a collaborative and empathetic therapeutic relationship. I currently serve part-time as a Mental Health Therapist III with Sutter Health in a Partial Hospitalization Program, providing individual and group therapy to adults recovering from acute mental health crises. Working closely with multidisciplinary teams, I help clients build stability, develop coping strategies, and navigate transitions in care using evidence-based approaches. In addition to my work at Sutter, I have maintained a private practice since 2017, providing psychotherapy for anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship challenges, and life transitions. My integrative approach draws from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Psychodynamic Therapy, Multi-Dimensional Family Therapy (MDFT), and Narrative Therapy. I tailor treatment to each client's unique needs, fostering a strong therapeutic alliance that supports lasting growth and meaningful change.
Starting therapy can feel like a big step. You do not need to have everything figured out before you arrive. My goal in our first session is to create a space where you can begin to feel comfortable, understood, and supported. We will spend time talking about what brought you to therapy, the challenges you are facing, and what you hope might be different in your life. I am interested not only in your symptoms or struggles, but also in who you are as a person, your relationships, your strengths, and the experiences that have shaped you. The first session is also an opportunity for us to get to know one another. I will ask questions to better understand your situation, and you are welcome to ask me questions about my approach. Together, we can begin to identify goals and consider what might be most helpful moving forward. Many clients tell me that they leave their first session feeling relieved simply to have a place where they can speak openly and honestly without fear of judgment. While we may not solve everything right away, my hope is that you will leave with a greater sense of clarity, feeling heard, and a better understanding of the path ahead. Above all, you can expect a warm, collaborative, and compassionate conversation. Therapy is not about being fixed. It is about creating the conditions for growth, healing, and a deeper connection to yourself. My role is to walk alongside you in that process and help you build on the strengths you already possess.
I believe therapy works best as a genuine partnership. My role is to create a space where you feel safe, understood, and supported as we explore the challenges that bring you to therapy. Whether you're struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship difficulties, life transitions, or simply feeling stuck, my goal is to help you find relief while also deepening your understanding of yourself. Growth can be uncomfortable at times, but it can also be deeply rewarding. I see therapy as a journey of both acceptance and change, helping you develop greater self-awareness, self-compassion, and confidence so that you can live more fully and authentically as yourself.
I enjoy working with adolescents, young adults, and adults who are struggling with life's challenges and looking for a space where they can be themselves without judgment. Many of my clients come to therapy feeling overwhelmed, anxious, disconnected, or unsure of their next steps. Others are dealing with depression, trauma, relationship difficulties, family stress, or life transitions that have left them feeling stuck. I have a special appreciation for working with young adults who are trying to find their footing in the world. This stage of life can be exciting and full of possibility, but it can also bring uncertainty, self-doubt, loneliness, and pressure to have everything figured out. Together, we can make sense of these challenges and help you move forward with greater confidence and clarity. I also work well with people who have spent much of their lives taking care of others, meeting expectations, or pushing through difficult circumstances, only to realize they've lost touch with their own needs, feelings, or sense of purpose. You may be successful on the outside but struggling internally, or you may simply feel that something in your life is asking for attention and change. You do not need to have a clear understanding of what is wrong before starting therapy. Often, people come in knowing only that they are hurting, exhausted, or longing for something different. That is enough. The clients who benefit most from working with me are those who are curious about themselves and open to exploring both their struggles and their strengths. My hope is to provide a warm, collaborative relationship where you feel supported, challenged when needed, and empowered to create a life that feels more authentic, connected, and fulfilling.
I believe that most people are doing the best they can with the tools they have. Sometimes those tools stop working, especially during periods of stress, loss, relationship conflict, or emotional overwhelm. That's where DBT can help. I use DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) in a practical, down-to-earth way to help you better understand your emotions, navigate difficult situations, and respond to challenges with greater confidence. Rather than focusing on what's wrong with you, DBT helps us build on your strengths while developing new skills for managing life's ups and downs. Together, we may work on: Handling intense emotions without feeling overwhelmed by them Improving communication and relationships Managing stress and difficult life transitions Becoming less self-critical and more self-compassionate Staying present and grounded during challenging moments One of the things I appreciate most about DBT is its belief that acceptance and change can happen at the same time. You don't have to wait until you're "fixed" to begin feeling better. We can work toward meaningful change while also developing greater understanding and compassion for the person you are today.
Many people come to therapy feeling caught in patterns they don't fully understand. You may find yourself worrying constantly, being hard on yourself, overthinking decisions, or reacting in ways that don't reflect who you want to be. CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) can help make sense of these experiences. Together, we'll explore how your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors interact, and identify patterns that may be keeping you stuck. Rather than focusing on what's "wrong" with you, we'll work to understand what you're experiencing and develop new ways of responding that feel more helpful and aligned with your values. My approach to CBT is warm, collaborative, and practical. I want you to leave therapy with not only greater insight but also tools you can use in everyday life. Over time, many clients find they feel less overwhelmed, less self-critical, and more confident in their ability to navigate challenges and make choices that support the life they want to live.
Most of us have experienced moments when we know we want something to change, but we're not quite sure how to get there. It's normal to feel pulled in different directions or uncertain about taking the next step. I use Motivational Interviewing to help you slow down, explore what's most important to you, and reconnect with your own inner wisdom. Rather than giving advice or pushing you toward a particular decision, I provide a supportive space where we can talk openly about what's getting in the way and what you're hoping for. Together, we'll build on your strengths, clarify your goals, and help you move toward meaningful change in a way that feels authentic and sustainable. My role is to walk alongside you, helping you discover that you may already have more courage, resilience, and capacity for change than you realize.
I believe that your struggles are only one part of your story, not the whole story. When we've been through difficult experiences, it's easy to lose sight of our strengths and begin seeing ourselves through the lens of anxiety, depression, trauma, or self-doubt. Narrative Therapy offers an opportunity to step back and look at your life with greater curiosity and compassion. Together, we'll explore the experiences that have shaped you, reconnect with the values and strengths that have helped you persevere, and uncover possibilities that may have been hidden by the challenges you've faced. In our work, you can expect thoughtful conversations that help you better understand your experiences, identify patterns that no longer serve you, and discover alternative stories that reflect your resilience, hopes, and values. Rather than being defined by your problems, you'll have the opportunity to develop a fuller, more empowering understanding of who you are. My role is not to tell you who you are, but to help you rediscover the wisdom, resilience, and courage that already exist within you, so you can move forward with greater clarity, purpose, and self-confidence.
Sometimes we find ourselves repeating the same patterns in relationships, reacting in ways we don't fully understand, or feeling stuck despite our best efforts. Psychodynamic therapy helps us explore the deeper experiences and beliefs that may be influencing your life today. Together, we'll look at how your past may be shaping your present, with the goal of helping you better understand yourself and create lasting change. Clients often find that this approach leads to greater self-awareness, healthier relationships, and a stronger sense of choice, freedom, and authenticity in their lives.