You already have the insight. I help you get to the part where you actually feel different.
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BASED IN NEWPORT BEACH, AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA
What is therapy like with me?
Some sessions focus on what's happening right now: the argument from last night, the meeting you're dreading. Others look at what's underneath it, the older experiences that still shape how you think, feel, and react today. Usually it's a bit of both.
You can show up exactly as you are. I bring the clinical expertise; you bring the expertise on your own life. We adjust as we go, so the pace and approach fit you, not a textbook.
Many of the patterns that frustrate you now started out as smart ways to cope or protect yourself. They just never got the memo that things changed. Together, we'll figure out where they came from and practice responding in ways that fit the life you want now.
Fair warning: there's rarely one big breakthrough that changes everything overnight. Change usually happens the less cinematic way, through awareness, practice, and showing up. I'll be with you through all of it.
Wellness involves both the mind and body.
I believe it’s important to look at your life and wellbeing as a whole. You can learn coping skills, gather insight, and try every strategy recommended by therapists, friends, or social media — and many of those tools can absolutely be helpful. But when your mind and body are stuck in a constant state of stress or overwhelm, it can feel like pouring water into a leaky bucket.
That's why I look at the whole picture. Alongside insight, we may work on calming your nervous system and look at the things that quietly affect how you feel: sleep, routines, physical health, relationships, and environment. Feeling better usually takes understanding yourself differently and supporting yourself differently.
Beyond any specific therapy approach or technique, research consistently shows that the relationship between therapist and client plays one of the biggest roles in meaningful change.
Why clients choose me:
I love what I do, and a big part of that is who I get to do it with. That's what the free consultation is really for. It's a chance for both of us to get a feel for whether we click. When it feels like a good fit, I take that seriously, and the connection is genuine. My hope is that you'll feel comfortable and connected from the start. I don't believe a therapist has to be robotic or overly clinical to be good at this. In fact, the connection between us is a big part of what makes it work.
You can expect sessions with me to have some laughs, perhaps some tears, and plenty of “aha” moments. There may even be some cussing, because sometimes, it’s the best way to capture the sentiment of the f@¢%ed up $#*+ we go through. I will never judge you, only join you while we work towards your therapeutic goals.
If you’d like to connect, I’d be happy to schedule a consultation to see whether we’re a good fit. And if we’re not, no pressure and no hurt feelings — I’m always happy to help point people toward resources or referrals that may better support their needs.
MY APPROACH
Therapy is not one-size-fits all. Everything we do will be tailored to you.
My Approach
No two people come to therapy with the same story, so no two people get the same therapy. Some clients want practical tools right away. Others need time to understand what's underneath before anything else makes sense. Most want a mix. We'll figure out what works for you, including how you like to talk, how fast you want to go, and what you want to be different, and we'll keep adjusting as you grow.
Expertise without the stuffiness.
No long questionnaires, and no starting at the very beginning of your life before we get to what's actually bothering you. My style is flexible and conversational, but it's more than just talking. From our first session, you'll get practical guidance: concrete strategies, communication tools, and real things to try when the old patterns show up in your relationships, decisions, and everyday life.
Treat the cause to improve the symptom.
My work is grounded in attachment theory, psychodynamic, and trauma-informed approaches. I believe our lived experiences shape the way we think, feel, relate, and respond to the world around us. Rather than only managing symptoms once they appear, I work to understand the deeper patterns and experiences driving them in the first place. But understanding is only half of it. If old experiences shaped the pattern, new experiences are what reshape it. That's why we put insight into practice, in session and in your real life, until the change feels true, not just makes sense.
Methods
Attachment Theory
Attachment-based therapy looks at how your earliest relationships taught you to seek connection, safety, and love, and how those lessons still show up today. Maybe you go quiet in conflict, over-function to keep the peace, or need more reassurance than you'd like to admit. None of that is random. It's attachment at work.
Together, we'll explore your patterns around trust, boundaries, vulnerability, and conflict, and practice new ones. The goal is to feel more secure, in your relationships and in yourself.
EMDR
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) helps your brain and nervous system process experiences that never quite got filed away. You know the ones. They're over, but your body still reacts like they're happening.
EMDR can help with trauma, anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, grief, body image, chronic stress, performance anxiety, and memories that still sting. Clients often find that what used to feel overwhelming starts to feel like something that happened, rather than something that's still happening. EMDR can also strengthen positive beliefs about yourself, so you're not just less reactive, you're more confident.
Emotionally Focused Therapy
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) is built on a simple idea: most fights aren't really about the dishes. Underneath the conflict are deeper needs for connection, trust, and feeling like you matter to someone.
EFT helps you recognize the cycle you get stuck in, whether that's pursuing, withdrawing, people-pleasing, or shutting down, and respond in ways that build closeness instead of distance. It's best known as a couples therapy approach, but its principles work beautifully in individual therapy too, strengthening your relationships with partners, family, friends, and coworkers.
Therapy should feel helpful to you for more than one hour a week.
What we talk about in session should show up in your real life: in the conversation with your partner, the moment before you send the text, the meeting that used to send you spiraling.
Over time, many clients develop what I call their "inner therapist," the ability to pause, notice what's happening, and choose how to respond. Even — and especially — when I'm not in the room.
Training & Education
I'm always learning, through advanced trainings, conferences, consultation, and ongoing therapy of my own. It keeps me curious, current, and humble, and it shapes how I show up for my clients.
I believe in this work because I do the work myself.
Doctor of Clinical Psychology (PsyD), California Southern University
Master of Science in Clinical Psychology (MS), Vanguard University
Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences and Psychology, University of Southern California (USC)
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, California (LMFT #110761)
Member, EMDR International Association (EMDRIA)
Member, California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT)
EMDR Training Parts I and II, EMDR Humanitarian Assistance Program
EMDRIA Conference attendee
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) Externship, trained directly under Dr. Sue Johnson, founder of Emotionally Focused Therapy
Ongoing training in anxiety treatment, trauma work, polyvagal theory, grounding and nervous system regulation, relationship repair, rekindling passion and moving beyond the "roommate phase," aging, and brain and body health, including mental longevity, and a holistic approach to the connection between physical and mental health