LMFT, 38 years of experience
I bring over 38 years of experience in the mental health field, having worked in hospitals, residential care facilities, schools, community clinics, as well as in private practice settings. I am bilingual and bicultural, and throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of supporting individuals from diverse backgrounds in improving their mental health and reaching their personal goals. My areas of specialization include: Depression and anxiety Trauma Grief and loss ADHD and executive functioning challenges Substance abuse and recovery Couples and family dynamics Mental health disorders—especially anxiety and depression—are among the most pressing public health challenges of the 21st century. Depression is now the leading cause of disability worldwide, with chronic and toxic stress often at the root of these conditions. The good news is that, when properly diagnosed and treated, depression, anxiety, and many other mental health concerns can be stabilized and even reversed—allowing individuals to return to their routines and rediscover a healthier, more fulfilling life. If you entrust me with your mental health care, I will offer you not only my clinical expertise and decades of experience, but also unconditional support, deep respect, and a commitment to helping you heal, grow, and thrive.
Your first therapy session is a vital step in your healing journey. It’s the moment we meet, begin to build trust, and lay the foundation for meaningful work together. My intention is for you to feel safe, heard, and never judged. With my clinical experience and compassionate approach, I will support you in moving toward healing and a more hopeful future. Clients often arrive feeling anxious and eager to address their concerns. That’s completely natural. In our first session, we will: Explore the issue that brings you to therapy Clarify your needs and expectations Define your treatment goals collaboratively Begin by placing you at the center of the therapeutic process This is your space—guided by your voice, your pace, and your priorities. I am here to walk beside you with care, insight, and unwavering support.
As a seasoned therapist, one of my main strengths is my experience successfully treating hundreds of clients. I am an avid learner and continuously read, participate in trainings, and certifications to be up to date with the current mental health treatments. Based on my experience in multiple settings, I am knowledgeable in different areas and value teamwork with other specialists that i feel can be of benefit for my client. My compassionate and friendly approach has made me connect with clients of all ages, including children who enjoy therapy, as I incorporate play therapy and video games in our theapy.
I will be happy to see children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. I can deliver services in English or Spanish .
With over three decades of clinical experience, I specialize in working with trauma survivors using evidence-based modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). My approach is grounded in neuroscience and the understanding that untreated trauma often underlies a wide range of mental health conditions—including mood disorders, personality disorders, and substance use. In my practice, trauma history is not a secondary concern—it is the foundation. I begin treatment by exploring the client’s lived experiences and identifying unresolved trauma before addressing current symptoms or behavioral patterns. This prioritization allows for deeper healing and more sustainable progress. Trauma is not just an event—it’s a disruption in the nervous system, in the sense of safety, and in the ability to regulate emotion. By reprocessing these experiences, clients can restore emotional balance and build healthier relationships with themselves and others.
For over thirty years, I have centered Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in my clinical practice, witnessing its transformative impact across diverse client populations. My approach treats CBT not merely as an intervention, but as a structured learning experience—clients engage with customized materials as if entering a classroom, gradually becoming experts in identifying and reshaping distorted cognitive patterns. This educational model empowers clients to take ownership of their healing. Through psychoeducation, guided exercises, and gradual exposure, I help individuals build lasting emotional resilience. CBT becomes more than symptom relief—it becomes a foundation for lifelong coping, emotional regulation, and self-awareness. Mood disorders, anxiety, and trauma-related conditions are addressed not only at the surface level, but at their cognitive and behavioral roots. Clients leave therapy not just feeling better, but equipped with tools to stay well.
During my tenure at an adolescent treatment facility, I completed two years of intensive training in Attachment-Based Family Therapy (ABFT), an evidence-based modality designed to address adolescent depression, trauma, and relational distress. ABFT is one of the most effective approaches for repairing ruptured parent-child relationships and restoring emotional connection within the family system. This type of therapy with children and adolescents is based on five tasks; - Developing an alliance with the adolescent, alliance with the parent, identifying attachment ruptures, addressing attachment trauma, and creating autonomy. This therapeutic modality is not only effective but also transformative for the adolescents and their families, and sets the foundation of a long-lasting, healthier relationship that can transcend generations.