education & background
I was born and raised in Los Angeles; my family has been in the LA basin for 7 generations. I left to go to college at the University of Oregon, and I graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Biological Psychology and a minor in Chemistry. I went to Pepperdine for graduate school, and in 2005 I got my Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology.
I spent the first 10 years of my career as a public servant, working exclusively with children and families in multiple settings, including schools, outpatient clinics, private homes, group homes, residential facilities, partial hospitalization programs, emergency rooms, and psychiatric hospitals. I specialized in abuse and trauma, early infant attachment, family systems, and behavior management; I became certified in an evidenced-based practice called Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). In 2008 I finally accumulated the 3000+ hours of supervised clinical fieldwork that is required by the State of California to become eligible for licensure, and in October I passed both board exams and officially became a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.
I went into private practice in June of 2012, and since then I've been working primarily with individual adults and couples. My areas of specialization include trauma, dysregulated mood (anxiety and depression), codependence, family of origin issues, and relationship problems.
my therapeutic approach
I am a marriage & family therapist (as defined in the FAQs) and my approach is trauma-informed, which means I recognize that trauma is both widespread and deeply impactful, and this awareness informs every aspect of the treatment I provide. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has identified the six key principles of trauma-informed care:
- Safety: Creating physical and emotional environments where clients feel secure.
- Trustworthiness & Transparency: Building trust through clear, consistent boundaries and communication.
- Collaboration & Mutuality: Leveling power dynamics between provider and client.
- Empowerment, Voice & Choice: Supporting autonomy and recognizing strengths.
- Cultural, Historical & Gender Awareness: Acknowledging systemic trauma and tailoring care to diverse identities.
In addition to being trauma-informed, my approach would be considered integrative because I prefer to borrow from multiple therapeutic models, rather than limiting myself to just one. This allows me to adapt my overall treatment strategy according to each client's unique needs, strengths, and preferences. Gilbert et. al. (2011) refers to integrative therapy as a "unifying approach" and a "multi-dimensional relational framework that can be created anew for each individual ." If you would like additional information about integrative psychotherapy, please click LEARN MORE below.
The following is a list of my preferred treatment models:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): This method involves learning to control thoughts and change fundamental beliefs in order to reduce symptoms and problematic behaviors. CBT is the gold standard in mental healthcare because it is research-based and proven effective for treating a range of different issues and client populations. I am D certified in several evidence-based practices (as defined in the FAQs) with foundations in CBT, including Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
- Psychodynamic therapy: This is the traditional form of psychotherapy; the interventions are intended to facilitate insight and self-awareness, unmask the unconscious, examine underlying drives and defense mechanisms, and achieve self-actualization, among many other things. Psychodynamic therapy is effective for clients with problematic interpersonal relationships, unresolved conflict within their family of origin, unmet developmental needs from childhood, and avoidant or insecure attachment styles (just to name a few examples).
- Humanistic: This approach falls under the "psychodynamic" umbrella; the interventions include expression of empathy, active listening, and unconditional positive regard in order to build a strong therapeutic alliance, promote self-acceptance, and facilitate personal growth.
- Existentialism: This approach also falls under the "psychodynamic" umbrella; it involves helping clients search for meaning, embrace both freedom and responsibility, and confront mortality.
- Mindfulness & meditation helps clients learn to stay present in the moment and sit with their unpleasant emotions.