Hello and Welcome!

At my practice, I offer flexible hours, a warm, caring and supportive environment, and a client-centered and collaborative approach to treatment. This means that I value coming alongside you as we work together addressing your specific needs. 

I am registered with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT78612). 

I obtained my Bachelor's degree in Human Development at the University of California, Davis, and then went on to complete my Master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at Alliant International University, San Diego. 

With almost 18 years of experience in the mental health field (previously community-based intensive in-home, court-mandated domestic violence treatment groups, faith-based counseling, crisis counseling, school-based mental health, and currently outpatient private practice), I enjoy helping others work towards having deeper, more meaningful thoughts, attitudes, behaviors and relationships. In my approach to treatment, I tend to incorporate psychodynamic, cognitive behavioral (CBT), Bowenian/systemic, DBT-informed, experiential, intergenerational, trauma and attachment-informed therapy (particularly developmental trauma work, looking at the long-term psychological, emotional and social effects of unmet attachment needs in our earliest childhood experiences), to name a few, for a more tailored approach to each individual's unique needs. 

I love working with adult individuals who are hungry for healing! My areas of special interest include childhood abuse recovery, trauma/PTSD, boundaries/communication, depression/anxiety, life transitions, codependency and unhealthy relationship pattern issues. My diverse background (including a Bachelor's degree in human development, teaching and public health experience, interest in nutrition and mindfulness) allows me to combine my professional education background with both my life experiences and passions.

I am a certified Brainspotting (BSP) practitioner and trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy, both neurophysiological forms of trauma treatment shown to effectively reduce the psychological, physical and emotional intensity of triggers caused by overwhelming events/memories. Please go to Services for more information and to see videos about these treatment modalities. 

As a certified Prepare-Enrich Facilitator, I also enjoy supporting couples move through an in-depth premarital, marital and re-marital counseling process. This would include each partner completing a thorough online assessment and then more deeply exploring the many things so many married couples wished they had thought and talked about before marriage, as well as an opportunity to get to know themselves and their partners more authentically.

Currently, I facilitate two intensive therapy treatment curriculums for women: Healing Connections for women struggling with codependency and unhealthy relationships, and Wounded Heart for women survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Go to Therapy Groups for more information about these opportunities. Both of these groups are best suited for women who are no longer in any crisis/safety/legal situations, but who are ready and hungry for healing and building healthier understanding of themselves, their own patterns and relationships. In the past, I've also facilitated 52-wk court-mandated domestic violence groups, high school anger management groups, Incredible Years Parenting groups and Incredible Years Social Skills Training groups for children.
 

I believe that every individual not only has the potential for growth, but is resilient and able to discover what does and doesn’t work in his/her life (a process of ‘pruning’ and ‘fertilizing’), to negotiate life changes and to make healthier choices for more authentic living. My approach, in all of my counseling work, is systemic. This means we would examine issues and concerns in the context of the “bigger picture,” which includes the mind (thoughts, emotions, beliefs), body (genetics, physical health, lifestyle), soul (values, spirituality) and social (relationship to self and others). I place a large emphasis on the importance of balanced self-care, awareness, and personal accountability.

I am a Clinical Fellow member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) and verified by Psychology Today. You can find me at Psychology Today's  website.  

Outside of my passion for Marriage and Family Therapy and serving in the mental health community, I have a deep love for family, quality time with friends, my Christian faith, new sweet or savory recipes, road trip exploration and adventures, gardening, art and the great outdoors (camping, hiking, rock climbing, and more)!