LP, 10 years of experience
New to Grow
I am a bilingual (English/Farsi) and multicultural Licensed Clinical Psychologist. I have over 10 years of training, and experience in my field. I received her BA from California State University of San Marcos and earned my Master's and Doctorate degree in clinical psychology from APA accredited Alliant International University. '¨ I have experience providing bilingual services to teens, adults, older adults, Family, and a couples in a variety of settings including community mental health, inpatient/outpatient, and college counseling settings. I began my clinical work at South Bay Guidance Center and Sharp Mesa Vista's Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Intensive Outpatient Program. I completed an APA-approved Pre-doctoral and post-doctoral internship at Institute for Multicultural Counseling and Education Services.'¨'¨I provide Individual, couples, and family therapy for teens, adults and older adults, and specializes in the treatment of depression, anxiety, grief and loss, identity conflict, trauma, anger management, emotion dysregulation, perfectionism, substance use and difficult life transitions. I help clients find their inner resiliency by using integrated approach which includes evidenced-based therapy centered on the following frameworks: psychodynamic, Cognitive Behavioral, Dialectical-Behavioral, Acceptance and Commitment, and Mindful Self-Compassion therapy. Everyone has the capacity for true positive change. I value the complexity of people's unique diverse backgrounds and life values/goals, and use these to guide treatment to help clients reach their potential. My goal is to help you understand your past and develop new ways of dealing with life challenges to create a healthier present. I believe that the best therapy is done when the client and therapist have a strong working relationship. Developing a safe, trusting relationship and working collaboratively creates an environment in which this change can happen more quickly and effectively. I view myself as a caring change agent ready to facilitate the process in a beneficial and meaningful way.
Our first session is a gentle beginning. It’s a space where you can show up exactly as you are—no pressure to have everything figured out. I’ll start by getting to know you: what brings you to therapy, what you’re hoping to work on, and what feels most important to you right now. You’re welcome to share as much or as little as you feel ready for. We’ll explore your emotional landscape, past experiences, and current challenges at a pace that feels safe. I’ll also share how I work—whether that’s through CBT, ACT, DBT, attachment-based, or integrative methods—so you know what to expect moving forward. I approach every session with cultural humility and sensitivity. I recognize that your identity, background, and lived experiences shape how you move through the world—and through therapy. My goal is to honor those layers, create a space where you feel respected and understood, and ensure that our work together reflects your values and worldview. By the end of our first meeting, we’ll have a clearer sense of your goals and how we can collaborate to support your healing and growth. You don’t have to be “ready”—you just have to be here. And that’s more than enough.
What stands out most in my therapeutic approach is my ability to create a space that feels emotionally safe, culturally attuned, and deeply validating. I bring a warm, grounded presence to each session, allowing clients to explore their inner world without fear of judgment. My work is guided by compassion, curiosity, and a deep respect for each person’s lived experience. Clinically, I draw from a range of evidence-based modalities—including CBT, ACT, DBT, attachment-based therapy, and mindfulness practices—and integrate them in a way that’s tailored to each client’s unique needs. I’m skilled at helping clients identify and shift unhelpful patterns, regulate intense emotions, and reconnect with their values and sense of self. I specialize in working with trauma survivors, highly sensitive individuals, and those navigating identity-related challenges. My culturally sensitive practice honors the impact of systemic stressors, intergenerational trauma, and intersectional identities. I strive to make therapy inclusive, empowering, and responsive to the diverse backgrounds of the people I serve. Clients often tell me they feel seen, understood, and supported in ways they haven’t before. I believe that healing happens in relationship—and I work hard to ensure that relationship is one of trust, safety, and transformation.
I work best with individuals who are introspective, emotionally attuned, and seeking meaningful change—not just symptom relief. Many of my clients come to therapy carrying the weight of trauma, anxiety, depression, shame, or relational wounds. Some struggle with perfectionism, people-pleasing, or identity confusion. Others feel disconnected from themselves and long to feel more grounded, empowered, and whole. My ideal clients are often navigating life transitions, healing from attachment injuries, or trying to break free from patterns that no longer serve them. They may be highly sensitive, creative, or deeply reflective—and while they may feel stuck or overwhelmed, they’re open to exploring their inner world with honesty and courage. I especially welcome clients from diverse cultural backgrounds and marginalized communities. I approach therapy with cultural humility, recognizing the impact of systemic stressors, intergenerational trauma, and identity-based experiences. My practice is inclusive, affirming, and attuned to the unique cultural narratives that shape each person’s story. Whether you’re new to therapy or returning after time away, I offer a compassionate, nonjudgmental space where you can feel seen, supported, and safe enough to grow. Together, we’ll work toward healing, clarity, and a deeper connection to your values and sense of self.
I have extensive experience utilizing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in my work with individuals navigating trauma, anxiety, depression, and self-worth challenges. My training emphasized both the theoretical foundations of CBT and its practical, skills-based application across diverse populations and settings. What I appreciate most about CBT is its ability to empower clients—it offers concrete tools to understand their thought patterns, challenge inner narratives, and take meaningful steps toward change. In practice, I use CBT flexibly, tailoring interventions to each client’s emotional and developmental needs. This includes thought records, behavioral experiments, exposure work, and psychoeducation, often integrated with mindfulness and emotion regulation strategies. With trauma survivors, I take a paced, safety-first approach—using CBT to gently explore core beliefs while also incorporating grounding techniques and somatic awareness. I find that when clients feel safe and supported, CBT becomes a powerful framework for rewriting the stories they’ve been told about themselves. Whether I’m working with children, adolescents, or adults, my goal is to help clients feel seen, understood, and equipped to navigate their inner world with greater compassion and clarity.
I have meaningful experience using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in my work with clients navigating anxiety, trauma, depression, and identity-related challenges. ACT’s emphasis on psychological flexibility, values-based living, and mindful acceptance aligns deeply with my therapeutic approach. In practice, I use ACT to help clients shift from avoidance and struggle toward openness and committed action. I guide them through experiential exercises, mindfulness techniques, and values clarification to help them observe their thoughts without judgment and reconnect with what truly matters to them. Rather than trying to eliminate distressing thoughts or emotions, I support clients in building a new relationship with those experiences—one rooted in compassion and choice. With trauma survivors, I often integrate ACT with grounding and somatic awareness, helping clients hold space for pain while moving toward healing. I use metaphors, defusion strategies, and present-moment awareness to foster resilience and reduce the grip of shame and fear. Whether I’m working with adolescents, adults, or couples, ACT allows me to meet clients where they are—honoring their lived experience while helping them take meaningful steps toward a more vital, values-driven life.
I have extensive experience using Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) in my work with clients who struggle with emotional dysregulation, trauma, self-harm, and interpersonal difficulties. DBT’s structured approach—balancing acceptance and change—has been especially effective in helping clients build resilience and develop practical coping skills. In my practice, I incorporate DBT’s core modules: Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotion Regulation, and Interpersonal Effectiveness. I guide clients through skills training, experiential exercises, and real-life application, helping them observe and describe their emotions, tolerate distress without impulsive reactions, and communicate more effectively in relationships. With trauma survivors and highly sensitive individuals, I adapt DBT to emphasize self-validation, grounding techniques, and nonjudgmental awareness. I often use metaphors, diary cards, and behavioral chain analysis to help clients understand the links between thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Whether in individual therapy or group settings, I find DBT invaluable for fostering emotional stability, increasing self-awareness, and empowering clients to make values-driven choices. My goal is always to create a safe, collaborative space where clients feel supported in both their healing and growth.
I have extensive experience using attachment-based therapy in my work with clients navigating trauma, relational wounds, and emotional dysregulation. Grounded in the principles of attachment theory, my approach emphasizes the healing power of secure, attuned relationships—both in early development and within the therapeutic alliance itself. In practice, I use attachment-based treatment to help clients explore how early caregiver relationships shaped their sense of safety, self-worth, and emotional expression. I focus on building a trusting, emotionally safe therapeutic relationship that allows clients to process past attachment injuries and develop new relational patterns. This includes helping clients identify core beliefs formed in childhood, recognize relational triggers, and cultivate self-compassion. With trauma survivors and individuals experiencing abandonment or rejection sensitivity, I integrate attachment work with somatic awareness, emotion regulation strategies, and parts work when appropriate. I also draw from complementary modalities such as CBT and ACT to support clients in developing secure internal attachments and healthier interpersonal boundaries. Whether working with children, adolescents, or adults, I view attachment-based therapy as a pathway to restoring emotional resilience, deepening self-understanding, and fostering meaningful connection. My goal is to help clients feel safe enough to be seen—and strong enough to rewrite the relational narratives that have shaped their lives.
I use an integrative treatment approach to meet clients where they are—emotionally, developmentally, and culturally. My experience includes blending evidence-based modalities such as CBT, ACT, DBT, Self-Compassion, attachment-based therapy, and mindfulness practices to create a personalized framework for each client. Integrative therapy allows me to respond to the complexity of human experience with flexibility and nuance. For example, with trauma survivors, I may combine somatic grounding techniques with cognitive restructuring and values-based work. With adolescents, I often integrate emotion regulation strategies from DBT with narrative therapy to help them explore identity and build resilience. I begin by assessing each client’s goals, strengths, and relational patterns, then draw from multiple theoretical orientations to support healing. This might include using CBT to challenge distorted thoughts, ACT to promote psychological flexibility, and attachment-based work to repair relational wounds. I also incorporate mindfulness and experiential techniques to deepen insight and foster self-compassion. My goal is always to create a collaborative, culturally responsive space where clients feel seen and supported. Integrative therapy gives me the tools to honor each client’s story while guiding them toward meaningful change.