My Why
I knew I wanted to be a therapist when I was fourteen years old. My parents were divorcing and thought it would be a good idea to send me to therapy. They were right! It validated my experience, gave me real tools, and honestly, it inspired me. I remember thinking, I could do this job.
I was already the kid making sure everyone got candy when the piñata broke. Therapy gave that instinct a direction.
I started grad school in 2012 and have never looked back.
What drives me today is a little different than it was then. I still love the relational part of this work, the trust, the honesty, the particular kind of conversation that does not happen anywhere else. But I have also come to see emotional intelligence as something that changes how people move through the world, not just in their relationships and their inner lives, but in how they work, lead, navigate conflict, and show up for the people they love.
Those are not soft skills. They are some of the most meaningful investments a person can make in themselves.
Over a decade in, and I still feel lucky to do this work every day.
My Approach
Every person who comes to therapy is a different puzzle. I mean that in the best possible way. What works for one person does not work for another, and I take that seriously. I do not have a single model I apply to everyone. I have a range of tools and I use whatever actually fits the person in front of me.
My training includes Emotionally Focused Therapy, the Gottman Method, Internal Family Systems, EMDR, somatic and trauma-informed practices, and cognitive and behavioral approaches including CBT, DBT, and ACT. I also have specific training in OCD-informed treatment and ADHD and neurodiversity-informed therapy.
Outside of formal training I am an ongoing student of psychology. I read widely on relationships, sexuality and gender, perfectionism, somatic psychology, neurodiversity, and the intersection of psychology with physical health and spirituality. The field keeps evolving and so do I.
What It’s Like to Work With Me
I am direct. I will ask the questions you have been avoiding and challenge what is keeping you stuck. I will also sit with you in the hard stuff without making you feel like something is wrong with you.
Clients often tell me they appreciate that I am both supportive and honest. That I do not let them off the hook but also do not make them feel judged for being human. That is what I am going for.
Some people come for a specific issue and leave when it resolves. Others stay for longer and use therapy as a place to keep growing. Both are valid. I follow the client's lead on that.
Training & Professional Background
II earned my Bachelor's degree in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Connecticut in 2012 and completed my Master's in Social Work at the University of Southern California in 2014. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of California, license number 82020.
I work with individuals and couples throughout California via telehealth.