Licensed to practice in California and accepts 31 insurances. Specializes in Anxiety, Child or Adolescent, Depression and 5 more.
(she/her)
Over the past two decades, I have dedicated my professional life to assisting individuals and families in overcoming mental health challenges and cultivating healthier, more fulfilling lives. As a bilingual (English/Spanish) Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Marriage and Family Therapy, I provide compassionate, evidence-based care to children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families from diverse cultural backgrounds. My clinical experience encompasses treating trauma, anxiety, depression, substance use disorders, and co-occurring conditions through individual, family, and group therapy. In addition to my work as a mental health therapist, I possess extensive experience as a substance abuse counselor, providing support to clients throughout their recovery journey. I employ various evidence-based modalities that enhance patient care and facilitate the tailoring of individualized treatments based on the specific needs of each patient, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Trauma (CBT-TF), Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Seeking safety (SS), Triple P Positive Parenting Program (Triple P), and Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder (PMAD). My professional experience spans community mental health, integrated healthcare, nonprofit organizations, hospital settings, and private practice, where I collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to deliver comprehensive, patient-centered care. I value collaboration and am recognized as a supportive, dependable team member who enjoys working alongside colleagues to develop innovative, effective solutions that enhance client outcomes. My experience includes crisis intervention, behavioral health assessments, treatment planning, case management, telehealth services, and providing warm handoffs to ensure timely access to behavioral health and specialty services. I am passionate about advocating for underserved communities and firmly believe in treating every client with compassion, cultural humility, and respect. My objective is to empower individuals and families to build resilience, strengthen relationships, and attain enduring emotional well-being.
Clients can expect our initial sessions to focus on understanding their goals, current circumstances, and the challenges they may be experiencing, as well as relevant aspects of their personal history. These early conversations help establish a comprehensive picture of their experiences, strengths, and needs, allowing us to create a meaningful foundation for our work together. Above all, clients can expect to be met with respect, compassion, and acceptance, regardless of their background, identity, or the concerns that bring them to therapy. I am committed to providing a safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental environment where thoughts, emotions, and experiences can be explored openly and honestly. Unconditional positive regard is at the heart of my therapeutic approach. I believe that meaningful change occurs within the context of a genuine and nurturing therapeutic relationship. By working collaboratively, we can identify underlying needs, build upon existing strengths, and develop effective strategies for achieving your personal goals. My philosophy is grounded in a client-centered and strengths-based approach that empowers individuals to gain insight, navigate life's challenges with greater confidence, and create lasting change that aligns with their values, aspirations, and authentic sense of self.
My years of clinical experience and working with diverse backgrounds have enabled me to integrate a client-centered approach, allowing me to be attuned to your needs in practice. Clients have consistently praised my cultural competence as one of my greatest strengths, highlighting how it fosters an awareness of respect for various cultural beliefs, values, and practices. Being open-minded and adopting a nurturing style are two crucial aspects of my approach that enable me to consider clients as individuals, taking into account their unique aspects to enhance therapy. I prioritize cultivating and utilizing active listening to support communication, facilitate the exchange of ideas, and join clients on their journey. While I relish guiding clients through their therapeutic process, I also believe it’s essential to celebrate the small victories along the way. My hope is that you’ll feel like you have a partner who not only provides you with tools but also helps you grow and appreciate yourself more as you learn.
I find immense joy in working with adolescents as they embark on significant life transitions and seek support during challenging times. Additionally, I am deeply passionate about assisting adult individuals grappling with anxiety, depression, and life changes that may hinder their personal growth. My objective is to establish a safe, nurturing, and nonjudgmental environment where clients feel at ease sharing any topic and can freely explore their thoughts and emotions. I wholeheartedly encourage clients to take the first step toward their journey and strive for a fulfilling and purposeful life.
Other specialties
I identify as
Cash - $150 per session
Aetna
Aetna - Allied Benefits
Aetna - ASR Health Benefits
Aetna - Luminare
Aetna - Moda
Aetna - WebTPA
Aetna – HealthEZ
Amerihealth Administrators
Anthem
Arlo
Blue Cross
Blue Shield
Carelon Behavioral Health (Commercial)
Centivo
Cigna
Cigna - HealthEZ
EAP:Cigna
EAP:Evernorth
EAP:UnitedHealthcare/Optum
Evernorth
GTEB
Health Net (Commercial)
IHSS Healthy Workers
Independence Administrators
Independence Blue Cross
L.A. Care Covered
L.A. Care Covered Direct
L.A. Care PASC-SEIU
Sutter Health Plan
Tufts Health/Cigna
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
My experience has led me to explore many approaches in my journey to the right approach for my clients and practice. After learning and trying many, I have learned that I have one of the largest influences in my approach from CBT. CBT is a specific psychotherapy approach known to be effective with different mental health conditions with mild to severe symptoms. CBT explores maladaptive (false believe) thinking patterns to help support life challenges and also to help identify new options while using better coping strategies during these moments. I have discovered that patients who utilize a variety of CBT interventions can increase their ability to manage daily life challenges.
Attachment-based
Another significant influence in my therapeutic approach is Attachment-Based Therapy. This perspective helps individuals and couples understand how early life experiences and important relationships have shaped the ways they connect with others today. Together, we explore both past and present relationship patterns to identify recurring themes that may be affecting current challenges. By increasing awareness of these patterns, clients often gain greater insight into themselves and their relationships. Many clients find that this work helps them make healthier choices in friendships and romantic relationships, improve communication, establish stronger boundaries, and create more meaningful and secure connections with others.
Trauma-Focused CBT
I am certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), an evidence-based treatment designed to help individuals who have experienced trauma and are struggling with its impact on their daily lives. TF-CBT is particularly effective in helping clients understand how traumatic experiences can influence thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and relationships, while providing practical tools to promote healing and resilience. This approach recognizes that trauma can affect the way individuals perceive themselves, others, and the world around them. Through TF-CBT, clients learn healthier and more adaptive ways of coping with stress, managing difficult emotions, and responding to situations that may trigger distress related to past experiences. One of the strengths of TF-CBT is its structured yet flexible framework, which incorporates skill-building to enhance emotional regulation, increase coping abilities, and support long-term recovery. The approach is also culturally responsive, allowing treatment to be tailored to each client's unique background, experiences, and values. As trust and rapport develop within the therapeutic relationship, we work together to identify patterns that may no longer serve you, explore new perspectives and coping strategies, and practice skills that promote greater confidence and emotional well-being. Over time, many clients experience increased resilience, improved daily functioning, and a greater sense of control over the effects of trauma.