I began working in mental health right after getting my BA in Psychology with a Minor in Education from UC Santa Cruz in 2006. For 5 years I worked with the highest needs kids and their families in Santa Clara County. During my time in college and while I was working this job and finding my calling in mental health, several of my friends were Marines who were deployed to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Having these relationships and also coming from a long lineage of veterans in my family, I decided to pursue becoming a therapist originally to specialize in working with Veterans, the Military, and their families. I graduated with my Master of Marriage and Family Therapy from USC in 2014.
Over the years, I have worked for a variety of non profit agencies providing services to a wide range of clients (residential facilities, outdoor settings, community-based services and equestrian therapy) and in 2019 decided to make the move into Private Practice where I expanded my practice to specialize in a spectrum of trauma. In my practice, I use a strengths-based, collaborative, individualized approach rooted in Client-Centered and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy principles. I practice EMDR (https://www.emdria.org/about-emdr-therapy/) and am also trained in and practice Neurofeedback (also known as EEG biofeedback which provides immediate feedback through technology that assesses a client’s brainwave activity. The process uses auditory or visual signals as a reward system to train brain waves to optimize brain functioning and support with reducing specific symptoms).
While I do specialize in trauma, I also currently work with a wide range of adults (specializing in ages 25+), which include but are not limited to: anxiety, grief, trauma (including recent devastating fires), relationship challenges, break ups, end of life issues, family conflict, self esteem, employment stress, career changes, veterans, service members, family members of veterans, PTSD, life transitions, older adults. I love working both virtually and in person at my office in Pasadena.
Personally and professionally, I believe strongly in the healing power of the outdoors, recreation, and the wonders of Mother Nature. While I support my clients with trying to find balance in their lives (which looks different for everyone and for some include tapping into their passions of the outdoors), I find balance and joy in mine by getting outside…spending time with my dog, traveling, hiking, SCUBA diving, kayaking, paddle boarding, and a variety of other recreational pursuits. Play in the outdoors brings levity and delight to my life. Prior to beginning my Private Practice, I worked for a non profit (highergroundusa.org) that does recreational therapy and adaptive sports with veterans, first responders, individuals with disabilities, and their families. One the many great joys of my career, in addition to working with my clients, is continuing to work on programs with Higher Ground a few weeks per year as one of the Mental Health Professionals on recreational therapy programs that teach participants how to utilize nature and recreation as healing tools and as a vehicle to live fuller lives.
Play in the outdoors brings levity and delight to my life.
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