Philosophy
Meaning and truth evolve over time....
"Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed unless it is faced."
-James Baldwin
I help others learn to accept themselves and love their lives. Therapy is a labor of love, a process of self-realization and growth, resulting in freedom from the past and a deep contentment in the present. It is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself. Allow me to be your guide on this very important journey.
I am a licensed psychotherapist with over 25 years of experience in the field. My style is warm and respectful yet direct and purposeful. In addition to my education and training, I bring years of experience with my own psychological healing and skill building. This allows me to quickly connect with my clients on a deep and authentic level.
I earned a Masters degree in Social Work from San Jose State University in 2000. I’ve been intensively trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy by Dr. Alan Fruzzeti and Dr. Marsha Linehan. I completed my foundational training in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing with Dr. Andrew Leeds at the Sonoma Psychotherapy Institute. I later studied Attachment Based EMDR with Dr. Laurel Parnell. I’m currently in Level One IFS training with the IFS Institute. I also completed years of training with Dr. David Mee-Lee of the American Society of Addiction Medicine. I am committed to ongoing training so I can bring the very best to my practice.
To begin, I conduct a comprehensive assessment of your personal needs and strengths, then develop a treatment plan that is realistic and accessible. My customized multi-modal approach will combine depth oriented psychotherapy (exploring your deeper core beliefs and life-long themes) with other evidence based treatments (such as DBT, CBT, EMDR, etc).
I will guide you through a process of problem identification, blind spot examination, an evaluation of relationship patterns, and more. Together we will identify deeply ingrained ineffective coping patterns, thoughts, and beliefs and replace them with proven skills that lead to deeper satisfaction in life.
I believe that problem identification and exploration must go hand in hand with helping clients to access their personal power, wisdom, and strengths. I value client self-determination: allowing you to use your own guidance to make effective choices and changes. Together we will find solutions as quickly as possible so that you may move forward with a life that fulfills you.
Allow me, with honor, to guide you in a process that brings mutual joy and satisfaction.
I love my work.