LCSW, 13 years of experience
New to Grow
I am Licensed Clinical Social Worker who obtained my master's in social work from California State University, Long Beach. I have over ten years of experience in my field and have had the opportunity to work in various settings including child welfare, hospice, hospitals and the education system. As a professional who has worked in a variety of settings, I am here to support you as you navigate life's transitions, adjust to new circumstances, and overcome challenging obstacles on your journey toward healing and personal growth.
In our first session I am here to listen to your story, help you identify what you feel are your current challenges and what changes you would like to see within yourself and your life after working with me. In the first session I feel it is a time to get to know you, for you to decide if I am a good fit for you, as well as set the stage for our work together. I find this time to be essential to begin the building of an environment where you feel safe, heard and hopeful.
As a clinician, I approach therapy from a strength-based perspective and believe every individual brings their own internal and external strengths that through collaboration in therapy can be identified and mobilized to overcome challenges and lead to growth. Additionally, I do not believe one single therapeutic approach fits every person or situation, hence as a clinician I draw from multiple evidence-based approaches to develop a treatment plan that is flexible and effective. I take a collaborative approach in sessions with the goal of empowering my clients to accept what they cannot control, take action where they can and recognize their own capacity for resilience and transformation.
As a clinician I am passionate about helping clients who are working through life transitions and need support to navigate recent changes, as well as clients who are feeling "stuck" in their daily life. I have specialty training in understanding the school system and the unique challenges students and families may face, in particular those within the special education system. Additionally, I have served families within the Child Welfare System and have worked closely with those families in the adoption process. I utilize multiple treatment approaches, which primarily include techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy, solution focused therapy and motivational interviewing, all with a strength-based lens. I am looking to work with client's who want a collaborative therapy experience and are striving to have a more fulfilled and balanced life.
As a clinician, I primarily use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and have been trained in CBT, CBITS and Bounce Back. Additionally, I have had experience using this therapeutic modality in multiple settings including schools, private practice and the medical field. In my practice I use CBT to help clients gain insight into how their thought patterns affect their emotional well-being and behaviors. I help clients in identifying unhelpful thoughts, challenging these with evidence and replacing them with more balanced perspectives. Additionally, CBT is collaborative approach and in sessions we will work together to develop coping skills, strengthen problem-solving abilities and develop healthier habits that support your overall wellbeing.
As a clinician I incorporate strength-based principles with other evidence-based approaches to help clients recognize and build upon the qualities, skills and resources they already possess. I work with clients to build on their personal strengths to help them navigate current challenges to improve overall wellbeing and move clients towards their personal goals.