LCSW, 7 years of experience
Hi! I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and have been practicing in California for the past 7 years. I am dedicated to supporting individuals of all ages who struggle to fit in, feel isolated, and have issues either at school, work, and/or at home. Most of my clients are neurodiverse, including Autistic individuals, ADHDers, AuDHDers, and trauma survivors, as well as their parents and caregivers. I also work with giftedness, social anxiety, developmental delay, and those with learning differences.
In our first few sessions I will provide education about neurodiversity and what neurodiverse-affirming means. We will explore and process what this means for you or your loved one. This information will help develop a strengths-based plan. The rest of our time is dedicated to developing strategies designed to help you to manage the symptoms you or your loved one are experiencing.
My passion lies in helping individuals and their families feel seen and heard. It is so rewarding to help my clients gain more understanding about themselves and to fully embrace and accept who they are. If you or your loved one are seeking support in navigating the challenges of neurodiversity, chronic illness or if you are simply looking for a therapist who embraces differences, I invite you to reach out. Let’s embark on a journey of self-discovery, growth, and empowerment together.
Living outside of societal norms can feel isolating and lonely. A lot of my clients have recently received a diagnosis, or have suspected a diagnosis for a while, but have not been able to obtain one for one reason or another. Either way, my clients have received varying opinions and information about neurodiversity coming from people they trust and the professionals they hoped would help. Most of my clients end up feeling gaslighted, frustrated, and confused about what neurodiversity (or being different) is and what it means. As a result, my clients experience symptoms of stress, anxiety, depression, social isolation, and trauma that can be caused by living in a world not designed to understand them.
I was taught that my clients do not come to me with their problems, but rather with their solutions to their problems that are no longer serving them. I use IFS to help my clients build compassionate relationships with all parts of themselves. My approach is neurodiverse-affirming, honoring each person's unique way of thinking, feeling, and experiencing the world. For autistic, ADHD, gifted, and other neurodiverse clients, I adapt therapy to your communication style, sensory needs, and pacing, exploring how different parts, including your neurodiverse ones, have developed to protect you in a world that often misunderstands you. Together, we create a safe space to reduce shame, unburden old patterns, and strengthen your ability to live authentically.
I use ADEP to help you connect more deeply with your emotions in a way that feels safe and manageable. ADEP supports you in moving through old pain and stuck patterns by gently turning in to what's happening in the moment, in your body, your feelings, and your relationships. For autistic, ADHD, gifted, and other neurodiverse clients, I adapt processes to honor sensory needs, pacing, and communication styles so you can explore your emotions without overwhelm. Together we can process what's holding you back and feel more connected, confident, and free to be yourself.
I use Experiential Therapy to help you learn, heal, and grow through doing. This includes creative arts, role-play, mindfulness, movement, somatic experiencing, and/or other activities to help you connect with your emotions and discover new ways of relating to yourself and others. I tailor my interventions to include neurodiverse-affirming approaches for my neurodiverse clients and their specific way of experiencing emotions. I work on undoing masking and help you discover your authentic self-identity. Together, we will create experiences that help you heal from your unique challenges, build confidence, and bring more authenticity into your daily life.
My Trauma-Informed approach starts with creating safety, which includes emotinal, physical, and sensory considerations, so your nervous system can begin to heal. I recognize how past experiences, big or small, can shape the way you see yourself and relate to others. I adapt my approaches to meet the specific needs of my neurodiverse clients. This includes overcoming the trauma of masking and living in a world not designed to support your unique neurology. Together we work gently to understand the impact of trauma, build coping skills, and restore a sense of control, connection, and self-trust.
In play therapy, children express themselves and work through challenges in the language they know best - play. Using the Oaklander Method, influenced by Gestalt Therapy, I combine creative activities such as art. sandtray, movement, storytelling, and role-play to help children explore feelings, challenge negative thought processes, heal from traumatic experiences, and develop coping skills to regulate emotions. For ADHD, autistic, gifted, and other neurodivergent clients, I adapt neurodiverse-affirming techniques into each activity, taking into account their special interests, sensory needs, and communication styles to ensure that therapy feels safe and empowering. Through these playful experiences, children can process big emotions, develop a positive self-image, and discover new ways to connect with themselves and others. My approach includes educating my clients' parents about their child's unique needs and implementing developmentally appropriate expectations for their children. I help my parents with neurodiverse children understand their child's unique neurology and how to support them and advocate for supports at school and in the community.