You want to feel secure in your: self, relationship, decisions, body, and mind. I want to help you get there.
BASED IN ORANGE COUNTY, ACCESSIBLE THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA
What is therapy like with me?
Each session is what we make it. We can tackle events from the week, or dive deep into past experiences that need attention and healing. I provide a non-judgmental space to be your true self to unpack whatever it is you want to focus on.
My process is very collaborative. While I have knowledge about foundational life strategies to optimize mental health, we adjust as we go to align with your personal style, pace, and goals.
I believe our unique experiences shape who we are and how we react to situations. Sometimes these reactions are helpful, while other times... well, they're not. We can identify patterns that may have been helpful to you at one time but are no longer serving you, and replace them with adaptive responses that align with your current needs and most authentic self.
The journey of healing and self-fulfillment is not linear. There isn't a specific formula, phrase, or lesson that holds the key to our peace and happiness. It’s a culmination of factors we will explore and apply to your life and routine. The healing is in the process: the practicing, showing up, and working through it—and I’m here to guide and support you along the way.
Regardless of training, education, treatment modalities, or whether it’s online or in-person:
Research shows that the therapeutic relationship between client and therapist is the most influential factor in achieving successful therapy results.
Why clients choose me:
I build a genuine connection with each and every one of my clients. I absolutely love what I do and believe in my innate ability to connect with people, join in their emotional experiences, and work together to take realistic steps towards their goals that feel safe and effective. Even with my therapist hat on, you will get to know me as a real person. While the focus is, of course, the life and experiences of my clients, I may briefly self-disclose moments or mistakes I’ve made if I believe it can serve a purpose.
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. I would love to chat for a few minutes to see if we’re a good fit—and if we’re not, I can give you referrals or some tips on how to search for someone that can better meet your needs. No pressure, no hurt feelings.
MY APPROACH
Therapy is not one-size-fits all. Everything we do will be tailored to you.
For once, you don’t have to have all the answers.
Together, we can explore what’s happening in your life to establish your goals. This begins with a conversation between two real people. Working through my own challenges in therapy allows me to be an empathetic listener and compassionate guide while we identify and implement what will help you most. It’s important you know that you are not flawed: your experiences have shaped your mind and behaviors in an attempt to protect you, and we can adjust what’s getting in your way now.
Expertise without the stuffiness.
Some therapy experiences can be rigid or require you to start at the very beginning of your life, filling out long questionnaires, weekly homework, and extensive history-taking in order to get to what you want to work on. While this may be a great fit for some, my approach is more flexible. I use techniques from various in-depth trainings, but more importantly, years of experience working with people to create the best treatment plans, customized to your needs and preferences.
Treat the cause to improve the symptom.
My educational background and trainings are grounded in attachment theory, psychodynamic, and trauma-informed therapies. This means I believe that our lived experiences influence how we think, feel, and behave. Regardless of the challenge, I work to understand the root of the issue to treat the problem, rather than continuing to chase the symptoms after they’ve begun. This is what creates lasting change.
Methods
Attachment Theory
Attachment-based therapy relates our early relationship experiences with what’s happening in our current life. The dynamics of our bond with our primary attachment figures eventually shape how we value ourselves, how we see the world, and how we relate to others. Our attachment style affects our relationships with our partners, friends, family, and self. This part of the work focuses on exploring these emotional implications from the past so you can better understand the present. Learn to express your needs and emotions, rebuild trust in yourself and others, and experience true closeness in your relationships.
EMDR
EMDR, or eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing, is an integrative approach involving the reprocessing of traumatic memories on a neurological level to treat a variety of presenting problems including disturbing memories, PTSD, phobias, performance anxiety, general anxiety, panic attacks, complicated grief, general stress, emotional and physical abuse, body image issues, and more. In addition to healing the emotional scars from previous challenges, EMDR can be incredibly effective in building positive internal resources to create sustainable success in your future.
Emotionally Focused Therapy
EFT is one of the most studied and most effective couples therapies in the world. I work with individuals to explore patterns in your relationship that create tension, and help you break the cycles that keep you feeling disconnected. You will also learn how to create a more secure bond and increase trust to move the relationship in a healthier, more positive direction. EFT techniques are helpful outside of couples work and can be used to improve all interpersonal relationships (i.e., family tensions, friendships, workplace interactions) by building empathetic understanding and enhancing communication skills.
Therapy should feel helpful to you for more than one hour a week.
You will feel the benefits of therapy in many different ways, but I want you to be able to apply what we do in session into your everyday life.
From general perspectives, to ways of communicating, and handling conflict: you will develop your “inner therapist.”
I work with my clients to find their own strengths as a resource and instill practical skills to change what’s not working for them.
Training & Education
I am always learning and evolving as a clinician so I can offer my clients the most current, evidence-based techniques to apply to their specific goals. I continue my education through attending conferences, taking seminars, engaging in peer supervision with other therapists, as well as diving into my own depth work with an esteemed therapist who has profoundly impacted my life, both personally and professionally. I believe in what I do because I do the work, myself.
Doctor of Clinical Psychology (PsyD)
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
Master of Science in Clinical Psychology (MS)
Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences and Psychology, USC
EMDR Humanitarian Assistance Program: EMDR Training Part I & Part II
Emotionally Focused Therapy Externship: I studied directly under Dr. Sue Johnson herself, one of the leading relationship therapists in the world
Member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT)