I’m a human, just like you.
When you’re in session with me, you will see my human side and we will build a positive professional therapeutic relationship where you can feel relaxed and open. Many of my clients appreciate that while we can talk about serious topics, we can also add humor and laugh together—because that can be healing too.
If you’re wanting to know my credentials, I am happy to tell you. I have my B.S. from California State University, Fullerton in Psychology, and my M.S. from California State University, Fullerton in Counseling. I have been practicing for 20 years in a variety of settings including non-profit, county, school based and of course, private practice. I am a certified Parent and Child Interaction Therapist as well as Clinical Supervisor through the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists.
My approach in session is primarily Mindfulness based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
Meaning, we will work on being aware of your thoughts, and feelings and find ways to change unhelpful thinking patterns to improve your anxiety. If I see it may help, I will also utilize interventions from Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) that can help with emotion regulation. If it appears there are a lot of past experiences that are affecting you in the present day, I will at times take a Psychodynamic approach to help you better understand and work through the past to better help you in the present. Most of all, I will work collaboratively with you to create an approach that is best fit for you, at your pace, and at your comfort level. I never push my clients in therapy to talk about things they’re not ready to.
What to expect in our first session:
I offer free initial consultations to give you the chance to decide if we are a good fit. Therapy is about you, so it matters that you feel like I am able to support you with your needs. After that, we will schedule sessions either weekly or bi-weekly where I will gather more information to get to know you and we can start working on helping you feel better. Therapy is not a one size fits all, so when the time is right my clients and I discuss when they feel like they’re doing well and ready to take a break from therapy.