I understand that selecting a therapist can be daunting. How can you expected to trust a total stranger with the most intimate parts of yourself, and believe that she will be able to embrace what you bring in and understand what you need? Here you can learn a little about my history and perspective, but most importantly I wish to convey to you that I am here to foster a relationship where you feel safe, where we can build trust, and where you will be accepted authentically and unconditionally.

Personal History & Academic Training

I originally began my career in the Human Sciences with Bachelor and Masters Degrees in Sociology, during which I performed research in Los Angeles and abroad in Paris and London.  My studies and travels armed me with the theoretical tools to understand human behavior; yet I yearned to treat individuals and touch personal lives. I returned to Southern California to pursue a second Masters in Clinical Psychology with a specialty in Marriage and Family Therapy, followed by a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. Although my training focused on adults and couples of all ages, I cultivated a passion for working with new parents, facilitating groups for new moms and infants/toddlers, as well as groups and individual treatment for clients struggling with a wide spectrum of Postpartum disorders.

Clinical Perspective

I was propelled toward a career in psychotherapy by an acute curiosity about people, and the desire to help individuals fill in the ‘blanks’ by finding creative solutions to life’s problems. Over time, I have cultivated my own clinical voice that fits my eclectic interests. I resist classifying myself based on a particular ‘theory’ of psychology, because—let’s face it—no two people are the same! Instead I actively select the appropriate interventions by constantly asking, “what works, for whom, and under which particular circumstances?”

My integrative style tends to include approaches that both look to the past to uncover the origins of current concerns (such as Systems, Attachment, and Psychodynamic theories), and also those that proactively seek to make changes in the present (such as Cognitive Behavioral work). Lastly, I try to empower my clients by educating them about neurological processes that contribute to their symptoms, and help them find pragmatic solutions. In short, my stance is one of collaboration and great empathy, but I will also challenge you when I see an opportunity for growth.