Special Interests
Approach
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), Harm reduction, Psychodynamic, Relational
Therapy Style
My goal as a therapist is to develop a safe and respectful relationship with my clients. This can serve as a secure base from which distressing thoughts, feelings, and behavior patterns can be explored, understood, and changed.
My style is active and direct, compassionate and attuned, and authentic and humorous (even irreverent). I focus on seeing the whole person in front of me – the multiple identities and systemic forces that influence their struggles. I look deeply into the past, because it provides essential context for understanding the present. Uncomfortable feelings will inevitably arise, and we will practice holding them with honesty & compassion.
I balance empathy with challenge – listening closely and asking many questions to make sure I understand the issues at hand, then gently pushing clients to confront obstacles to change and to accept certain realities. I motivate my clients to do work outside of session, so that they can practice and master the strategies we discuss.
My approach to therapy integrates theoretical and strategic elements from the following:
- Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
- Attachment Theory
- Internal Family Systems (IFS)
- Mindfulness
- Relational Psychotherapy
- Existentialism
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Harm Reduction
Education
BA - Psychology, Stanford University
PhD - Counseling Psychology, University of Southern California
Pre-doctoral Internship – UCLA Counseling & Psychological Services
Post-doctoral Internship – UC Berkeley Counseling and Psychological Services
License Number and State
CA 21720
Pronouns
she/her
What are your interests outside of work?
Running, listening to the Grateful Dead, spending time with my child
Why did you become a therapist?
I became a psychologist for two primary reasons: my deep empathy for human suffering and my genuine curiosity about people’s inner worlds. I see myself as a collaborator, a witness, and a student of the human experience. I am so grateful to be a psychotherapist, and humbled by the trust invested in me by those who choose to work with me.
What book have you read more than once?
Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl because it’s important to be reminded of the capacity of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable suffering.
