ABOUT ME

I believe in the possibility of hope, courage, clarity and kindness, even in the midst of difficulty. I believe that life can be beautiful despite the challenges that we face and that with hard work and determination we can grow and even thrive from adversity. Although I tend to see the glass as “half full”, I am a realist and use humor, positive psychology and warmth in our sessions. In my opinion, the reality that we have had to navigate through a pandemic has reinforced the notion that people are able to live both within the “awful” and the beauty at the same time.

MY APPROACH

My goal is to provide a comfortable and safe therapeutic space for you to be vulnerable and open using a combination of therapeutic approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR), expressive arts, and Humanistic Therapy. I also use a holistic approach and look at how the mind, body and spirt support our emotional and physical healing. Our bodies are amazing in telling us what we need to tend to.

MY EXPERIENCE  

My expertise lies in working with grief and loss, trauma, family issues and major life transitions, and it’s been an honor and a privilege to have walked alongside many children, teens and adults during some of the darkest moments of their lives. Consider me a guide, teacher and confidant as you go along your journey in whatever challenge you’re facing.

I received my Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from San Diego State University and my Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from National University, and became licensed as a Marriage, Family Therapist in 2011. Before becoming a full-time clinician, I spent many years working with consultants, executive coaches and their teams at Fortune 500 companies providing 360-degree Leadership and Development training. I also wrote many successful community grants for the public sector and non-profit organizations, and provided clinical support to students at a local community college. I have responded to community tragedies and provided trauma support to students, faculty and administration on school campuses and other organizations.

I’ve provided presentations on compassion fatigue, burn-out and self-care to organizations, and regularly lecture at CS San Marcos on grief, loss and death. I’ve served on the Board of Directors for the California Association of Marriage, Family Therapists since 2017, most recently as the Immediate Past President (2022).

I look forward to pushing my sleeves up, jumping into the process and working with you!