LCSW, 15 years of experience
Hi! I'm an LCSW based in California. I received my Masters in Social Work from NYU. I chose social work because we look at each person as an interconnected being who lives within a larger network of people, i.e. families, communities, etc. We don't see your issues as yours alone, as if you exist in a bubble, but as part of a larger fabric of factors. I believe this is a much more humanistic approach to mental health. I have been practicing for 15 years and have worked with all ages and communities of people. I especially love working with young adults transitioning into the world as independent people. I love helping young adults, college students, and young professionals navigate self identity, passions, relationships, careers, while becoming the best versions of themselves. I also love working with new mothers as they navigate their new identities, while helping them stay connected to themselves in the process. I spent several years as a Mommy and Me instructor and love witnessing the evolution of motherhood.
In our first session, we will start with introductions and talk about what has brought you to therapy at this time. I always have my clients start with what is the most pressing thing in their lives right now and assure them that their life story and timeline will organically come together. Once I get a sense of the challenges you are facing now, I can come up with a custom made plan for us to focus on in our ongoing sessions.
I am warm and approachable by nature, making me easy to talk to. I am authentic in my approach and use humor and transparency where appropriate. I see us as partners in our work together. I feel connected and invested in all my clients and truly care about your wellbeing. I am always learning and growing and will bring in what I have learned into our sessions when relevant. I am always looking for the silver lining, even when one is hard to find. I have a positive approach to life and want all of my clients to find their power and self worth.
I love working with college students and young professionals navigating life as newly independent people in the world. Often times, young adults are overwhelmed by the many choices they face and the pressures of being the best version of themselves in the real world. Though they are eager, they may not always have the tools and support they need to pave that path on their own. They find themselves stuck in old habits and routines, find career pressures overwhelming and distressing, and have a challenging time finding healthy relationships.
I use psychodynamic lens as my base, but use eclectic models depending on my client's needs. I find that a psychodynamic framework helps in providing insights into interpersonal patterns and relationship dynamics. I use this method to help client's see patterns in their lives and to get in touch with their feelings and needs.
CBT is an effective tool used in therapy to help clients see maladaptive patterns in their thoughts and behaviors. CBT is a lens to view how our thoughts and behaviors influence each other on a daily basis, often in ways that we cannot perceive unless pointed out. CBT provides concrete tools and insights in order to stop old patterns and make different choices.
CPP is a treatment model used between children 0-5 and their caregivers to create positive bonding and attachments. Often, due to trauma or post partum depression/anxiety, bonding and attachment don't go as smoothly as we anticipated. In CPP, the therapist helps facilitate that bond between caregiver and child.
Coming from a strength based approach, clients feel empowered by the strengths they already have but may not perceive. Many people do not see their strengths or their resilience unless they are pointed out. We all have these strengths and tools and they can be reinforced in therapy and built upon by providing additional tools and insights.
Many of my clients have experienced grief and loss. I have helped support them in their most difficult times and have helped them stay present in their grief as well as guided them in integrating their grief into their lives going forward.