I help adolescents and adults feel more connected to themselves and the world around them. I aim to create a collaborative therapy relationship so we can identify the things you would like to change in your life, so you can feel yourself again.
Our emotions can often feel out of control, and it can be hard to understand where they are coming from or even why certain emotions are coming up. Each person has their own unique experiences and for some of us identifying, verbalizing and processing our feelings can be challenging. It can often feel easier to just push those emotions away, until it isn’t. Sometimes it takes a safe, caring, and compassionate therapy relationship to bring to mind what has felt intolerable, unloveable, or too much to address by yourself.
We are all shaped by our relationships since birth and some of our earliest relationships continue to impact us. Together, we can explore the emotional and relational residue that are rupturing into the present, the unwanted parts.
My clinical experience has shaped how I view everyone, and nurtured my awe for the complexity of human experience. In my training at community mental health settings and university counseling centers, I’ve grown passionate about providing quality care to underserved populations such as victims of crime and immigrant communities. This desire to care for people extends into working with sexual minorities, specifically individuals who are experiencing an internal conflict between their sexual identity and religious beliefs. Throughout all of these experiences, my multicultural perspective deepened as I learned about the unique lives and the sociocultural context of each person I saw. Each of these experiences fostered a sensibility that, whomever I am sitting with, there is always more than is seen on the surface and an understanding that all suffering has meaning.
I would be honored for you to trust me to be a part of your journey. If this sounds like I would be a good fit for what you are looking for, I invite you to schedule a consultation with me to further assess if we are a good match.
Animal-Assisted Therapy with Bernie
Bernie is completing training to be a therapy dog here at our Carlsbad & Vista offices. He’s always happy to see you and has been practicing sitting politely by the door when clients arrive. While he may sometimes reach for his chew bone to contain his excitement, he’s learning to settle into sessions and relax on his bed. Bernie’s friendly, playful energy already brings an added layer of warmth to our sessions. Clients are welcome to request his presence if they’d like a little extra support (with the understanding that he’s still finding his footing as a therapy dog-in-training).
For many, Bernie’s presence enhances the therapeutic environment by adding a gentle, nonjudgmental energy. Whether you find comfort in his companionship, enjoy having him nearby, or simply want a little comic relief, I’ll be present with you to ensure a positive experience. I’m excited for the supportive role Bernie will play as he completes his training and grows into his responsibilities with us.
Credentials as a Psychologist
Licensed Psychologist (PSY34928)
Post-doctoral Fellowship, Coastal Therapy Group
Pre-doctoral Internship, Case Western Reserve University (APA Accredited)
Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (PsyD), Alliant International university (APA Accredited)
Masters of Arts in Clinical Counseling (MA), Alliant International University (APA Accredited)
Bachelors of Arts in Psychology (BA), California State University, Dominguez Hills
