WELCOME
"You, yourself as much as anybody in the entire universe deserve your love and affection"- Buddha
One is not defined by a mental illness or a self-destructive behavior. We all have unique experiences, strengths, and limitations. Therefore, I strive to treat each person as an individual and provide care that best meets your specific needs. Depression, eating disorders, and addictions are a few of the ways we cope with the challenges that life throws at us. We go through the motions but often feel like we’re barely holding it together. Life ceases to contain joy and we’re left feeling overwhelmed. You don’t have to go through it alone. I offer you unconditional support in helping you find your answers and healthier ways to cope. I can help you to navigate the challenges life offers and find ways to help you handle stress and find the happiness you deserve.
THERAPEUTIC APPROACH
My approach focuses on creating a safe environment where individuals feel comfortable sharing their experiences. I want my clients to learn how to feel good about themselves while working through some pretty difficult issues. I believe that we all possess innate and unique strengths. Unfortunately, during difficult times, we sometimes lose sight of our positive qualities. I aim to help you identify these strengths, utilize them, and build upon them during times of struggle or conflict. I tend to utilize an "eclectic" approach to treatment, which combines a variety of therapeutic models and techniques. Most commonly, I incorporate concepts of Interpersonal Therapy, Psychodynamic, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, but WE decide what best fits your needs.
SERVICES
Grief
“Grief is like the ocean; it comes in waves ebbing and flowing. Sometimes the water is calm, and sometimes it is overwhelming. All we can do is learn to swim.” - Vicki Harrison
There is no right way to grieve, nor does the grieving process take the same amount of time for everyone. Grieving may progress over a period of years or even longer, depending on many individual factors, such as depth and length of the relationship with the individual that has died. Coping with the death of a loved one is one of life's great difficulties. Individual reactions to profound mourning and grief differ from person to person and I do not set a time line for your grief, nor do I believe that you have to move from stage to stage to complete and end the pain your grief brings.
Addiction
Addiction is not biased: rich or poor; young or old; male or female. The reality is that many people die from alcohol and drugs every day. We can’t really blame the substance (as deadly as they may be) because we know that the drug is just a symptom of a deeper suffering, a deeper sadness, and an inability to cope with reality.
I strongly believe that an individual struggling with addiction needs to be active in a 12 step program and be working with a sponsor. I do not replace the role of a sponsor as I feel they are incredibly intricate to the recovery process.
My role as a therapist is to help the individual explore and process their core issues and begin mending their emotional wounds. The first step in doing so is through self-exploration. This may take some time and effort by talking, writing, and looking very deeply inside at who you are as a person. It also involves a great deal of love and forgiveness towards yourself and others. I am here to support you while you walk through your suffering and help you find healthier ways of coping through life stressors and begin “living life on life’s terms”.
Eating Disorders
"Why don't you just stop?" This is the question which people with eating disorders are confronted again and again by parents, spouses, friends and themselves. Regardless of whether the person starves, binges, binges and purges, compulsively overeats, gains weight or loses weight, the story of a roller coaster experience is all too common. Until the behaviors in an eating disorder are viewed as the symptoms rather than the problem, the focus of recovery remains in the wrong place.
Because they did not develop an eating disorder by conscious choice, but rather as an unconscious protection from emotional pain, most people with eating disorders who are just entering some sort of treatment (residential, in-patient or individual therapy) do not know why they do what they do with food.
Reiff, D. W. & Lampson Rieff, K. K. (1997). Eating Disorders: Nutrition Therapy in the Recovery Process (2nd ed.). Mercer Island, WA: Life Enterprises.
Addiction
Addiction is not biased: rich or poor; young or old; male or female. The reality is that many people die from alcohol and drugs every day. We can’t really blame the substance (as deadly as they may be) because we know that the drug is just a symptom of a deeper suffering, a deeper sadness, and an inability to cope with reality.
I strongly believe that an individual struggling with addiction needs to be active in a 12 step program and be working with a sponsor. I do not replace the role of a sponsor as I feel they are incredibly intricate to the recovery process.
My role as a therapist is to help the individual explore and process their core issues and begin mending their emotional wounds. The first step in doing so is through self-exploration. This may take some time and effort by talking, writing, and looking very deeply inside at who you are as a person. It also involves a great deal of love and forgiveness towards yourself and others. I am here to support you while you walk through your suffering and help you find healthier ways of coping through life stressors and begin “living life on life’s terms”.
Eating Disorders
"Why don't you just stop?" This is the question which people with eating disorders are confronted again and again by parents, spouses, friends and themselves. Regardless of whether the person starves, binges, binges and purges, compulsively overeats, gains weight or loses weight, the story of a roller coaster experience is all too common. Until the behaviors in an eating disorder are viewed as the symptoms rather than the problem, the focus of recovery remains in the wrong place.
Because they did not develop an eating disorder by conscious choice, but rather as an unconscious protection from emotional pain, most people with eating disorders who are just entering some sort of treatment (residential, in-patient or individual therapy) do not know why they do what they do with food.
Reiff, D. W. & Lampson Rieff, K. K. (1997). Eating Disorders: Nutrition Therapy in the Recovery Process (2nd ed.). Mercer Island, WA: Life Enterprises.
ABOUT ME
I graduated from the University of California Irvine, with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology in 2006 and then received my Masters in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in Eating Disorders from Antioch University of Los Angeles in 2010. I have worked in the mental health field for nearly 7 years in a variety of treatment settings, including school based therapy, in home, residential and groups. I am a compassionate professional specializing in grief, eating disorders and addiction. I believe everyone has the capability to make positive changes that will help enhance their quality of life and I am privileged to be a part of that first step. What is unique about my practice is that I bring a wealth of personal experience as an individual who has overcome personal struggles and the passion to help others do the same. These experiences have helped me grow and have humbled me to be a more sensitive and empathic therapist to anyone that comes into my office. I continue to enjoy working in a field that offers me the amazing opportunity to meet new people and help them to find happiness and fulfillment in their lives. I am grateful to all of the people who have shared their experiences and their wisdom with me over the years, and I continue to learn from the honesty, openness, and bravery of my clients everyday.
Insurance & Fees:
I accept the following insurances:
- Anthem Blue Cross
Insurance & Fees:
I accept the following insurances:
- Anthem Blue Cross