Licensed to practice in California and accepts 9 insurances. Specializes in Anxiety, Trauma and PTSD, Military/Veterans and 5 more.
(she/her)
New to Grow
Clients often tell me they appreciate that I'm genuine, approachable, and easy to talk to. I believe healing happens through authentic human connection, so I bring warmth, humor, curiosity, and compassion into every session. I frequently use metaphors, storytelling, and practical examples to help make difficult concepts easier to understand and create meaningful change. My experience has taught me that every person's story is unique. I don't simply treat symptoms—I work to understand the whole person, including how childhood experiences, relationships, trauma, and the nervous system continue to shape life today. I have extensive experience treating PTSD, complex trauma, and traumatic brain injury (TBI), and I also bring personal insight into the recovery process from TBI. Additionally, I am both personally and professionally familiar with the challenges faced by Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOA) and individuals raised in dysfunctional families. I understand the lifelong impact these experiences can have on self-worth, relationships, boundaries, and emotional well-being, as well as the work required to heal the wounded inner child while building a peaceful, authentic adult life. I believe therapy should be both supportive and transformative. I will meet you with compassion, but I will also encourage you to do the work that creates lasting change. My clients often describe me as part therapist, part coach, and part cheerleader—I celebrate your successes, help you navigate setbacks, and gently challenge you when old patterns keep you stuck. My goal is to create a safe, trusting relationship where you feel understood, empowered, and equipped with practical tools to move forward with confidence.
Many people come to therapy worried they'll spend the first session answering a long list of questions or feeling like they're being interviewed. That's not how I work. Unlike many agency, hospital, or government settings where intake sessions are highly structured with forms and checkboxes, our first session is a genuine conversation. It's an opportunity for us to get to know one another. You'll learn about how I work, and I'll begin learning about what has brought you to this point in your life. I believe the first session is one of the most important because it helps us determine whether we're a good fit. Finding the right therapist matters. Healing happens within a safe, trusting relationship, and not every therapist is the right fit for every person. I encourage clients to trust their instincts and ask questions. You deserve to work with someone you feel comfortable talking to. Our conversation will focus on understanding what you hope to gain from therapy, what your goals are, and what feels most important for you to share. I don't believe in rushing people into painful memories or asking deeply personal questions before trust has had a chance to develop. You are always in control of your story. I'll never expect you to share more than you're ready to, and I respect the pace that's right for you. Therapy is a process that unfolds over time. During our first session, we're laying the groundwork for everything that follows. Think of it like building a house. Before we start putting up walls or decorating rooms, we need a strong foundation that can support everything we'll build together. That foundation is trust, safety, connection, and a shared understanding of where you're hoping to go. Along the way, you'll probably notice that I use humor, metaphors (just as I did above- I simply cannot resist), and everyday examples to help make difficult concepts feel more approachable. My hope is that you'll leave our first session feeling heard, understood, and confident that you don't have to navigate this journey alone.
Therapy is much more than techniques and treatment plans—it is a relationship. While my training in trauma therapies such as EMDR, Brainspotting, CBT, and somatic approaches provides the clinical foundation for my work, it is my life experiences and the way I connect with people that truly shape my approach. Like many of my clients, I have experienced trauma, anxiety, and the challenges of recovering from a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Those experiences have given me a deep appreciation for the invisible struggles people often carry. While your journey is uniquely your own, I understand what it feels like when the world suddenly becomes more overwhelming, when your mind or body doesn't seem to cooperate, or when healing isn't as straightforward as you hoped. My goal is never to compare experiences, but to offer genuine empathy that comes from both professional expertise and personal understanding. My professional career has also given me extensive experience working with military members, veterans, and their families. Having worked on Naval Base San Diego during and after 9/11 and later helping establish a Vet Center specializing in combat trauma and PTSD, I have a deep understanding of military culture, deployments, reintegration, moral injury, survivor's guilt, and the unique transitions that service members and their families often face. Clients often describe me as warm, genuine, and easy to talk to. I believe laughter can coexist with healing, so I naturally use humor, metaphors, and storytelling to make difficult topics feel less intimidating. Sometimes the right analogy helps something "click" in a way that clinical language never could. At the same time, I won't simply nod along or tell you what you want to hear. Therapy is an investment in yourself, and meaningful change requires participation. I'll gently challenge you when old patterns are keeping you stuck, ask thoughtful questions that encourage deeper reflection, and help you recognize the barriers standing between you and the life you want. My role isn't to push you before you're ready—it's to walk beside you, encourage growth, and help you discover your own answers. One of the principles I return to often is that every choice has both benefits and costs. There are rarely perfect decisions in life. Together, we'll slow things down, map out your options, explore what each path might bring, and consider what aligns best with your values and long-term goals. Rather than telling you what to do,
My ideal client is someone who is ready for more than simply talking about problems—they're ready to understand themselves, learn new skills, and create meaningful change. You don't have to have everything figured out or even know exactly where to begin. Curiosity, honesty, and a willingness to explore are far more important than having the "right" answers. Many of the people I work with are living with the effects of trauma, childhood wounds, anxiety, military service, difficult relationships, or major life transitions. Some have spent years taking care of everyone else while putting their own needs last. Others simply feel stuck, overwhelmed, or disconnected from the person they want to be. If you're looking for a therapist who will simply listen without engaging, we may not be the best fit. If you're looking for someone who will listen deeply, ask thoughtful questions, offer practical tools, gently challenge you when needed, and celebrate your progress along the way, we'll likely work well together. My hope is that our work helps you move beyond surviving toward living with greater peace, confidence, and authenticity. I believe healing is possible at any stage of life, and I would be honored to help you build the life you deserve.
Other specialties
I identify as
Brainspotting
Brainspotting is a gentle, focused therapy that helps access and process trauma, anxiety, and emotional experiences that may be stored deeper in the brain than words can reach. By using specific eye positions, we allow your brain to process and release unresolved experiences naturally. You don't have to retell every detail of what happened for healing to occur. Many clients describe Brainspotting as helping them feel calmer, more grounded, and less emotionally reactive over time. I guide you through the process at a pace that feels safe and comfortable, allowing your brain to do the work it was designed to do.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps us understand the connection between our thoughts, feelings, and actions. Together, we'll slow things down and look at the stories your mind is telling you. Are they accurate? Are they helpful? Do they still fit the life you want today? Rather than telling you what to think, I'll help you examine your options, weigh the costs and benefits of different choices, and develop practical tools for responding in ways that align with your values and goals. CBT is a collaborative, solution-focused approach that gives you skills you can use long after therapy ends.
EMDR
One of the things I appreciate most about EMDR is that healing doesn't always require talking through every detail of a painful experience. Your brain already knows how to heal—sometimes it just needs the right conditions to do so. Traumatic and distressing experiences can sometimes become "stuck" in the brain, causing them to continue affecting how we think, feel, and respond long after the event has passed. EMDR helps your brain process these memories so they become part of your past rather than something that continues to feel like it's is happening in the present. During EMDR, we'll use bilateral stimulation, such as guided eye movements or alternating taps, while you briefly focus on a memory or current concern. You never have to share more than you're comfortable sharing, and we'll move at a pace that feels safe for you. As the brain reprocesses these experiences, many people notice a reduction in emotional distress, negative beliefs begin to shift, and they are able to respond to life's challenges with greater confidence and resilience. EMDR can be effective for trauma, anxiety, grief, phobias, and many other concerns. Typically there is some relief (not resolution) in just on session.
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
We all have different "parts" of ourselves. You may have a part that worries, a part that strives for perfection, a part that avoids conflict, or a part that wants to protect you from getting hurt. These parts aren't flaws—they developed for a reason, often as a way of helping you survive difficult experiences. Internal Family Systems (IFS) helps us understand these different parts with curiosity rather than judgment. Instead of trying to get rid of them, we'll explore what they're trying to protect, what they need, and how they may be affecting your life today. As you begin to heal the wounded parts of yourself, you'll feel more balanced, compassionate toward yourself, and better able to respond from your calm, confident core rather than from old survival patterns. IFS is a gentle, respectful approach that can be especially helpful for trauma, anxiety, childhood wounds, relationship difficulties, and building greater self-understanding.
Mind-body approach
Our minds and bodies are constantly communicating with one another. Stress, trauma, anxiety, and grief don't just affect our thoughts—they can also show up as muscle tension, chronic pain, digestive issues, fatigue, headaches, or a constant feeling of being "on edge." A mind-body approach recognizes that healing involves more than talking about problems. In our work together, we'll learn to notice how your body responds to stress and use practical techniques to help regulate your nervous system. This may include breathing exercises, grounding skills, mindfulness, body awareness, movement, or other strategies that help you feel calmer, safer, and more connected to yourself. Rather than fighting your body's reactions, we'll work to understand what they're trying to communicate. As your nervous system begins to feel safe, many people notice improvements not only in their emotional well-being but also in how they experience stress in everyday life.