my approach
I am enthusiastic, I feel deeply, and I believe in the power of humor - these are core to who I am as a person and core to who I am as a therapist.
I see my role as therapist as being a co-investigator with clients. Together, we explore the why’s, what’s, and how’s that have shaped and influenced you and your life. We seek answers to questions, understanding to places of confusion, compassion to places of shame, and freedom to places that have felt stuck. I bring in knowledge and expertise, you bring in your perspective, intuition, and insight.
In this process, we’ll work a lot with your younger selves - those younger versions of you whose wounds you may still carry, whose belief systems may have been shaped by harmful or oppressive experiences, whose wonder and desire can still guide you. Through working with our younger selves, positive change often gets unlocked.
In terms of theoretical approaches, my work heavily draws upon Internal Family Systems, Self-Compassion, Gestalt Therapy, Narrative Therapy, & Person-Centered Therapy.
I simultaneously believe therapy is the coolest AND that it is unfair people need therapy; it is unfair the world and other people have been so harmful that it has caused the need for people to heal. I feel frustrated for and with the queer people I help who are doing the hard work of healing from a world that made (and still makes) it difficult for them and their younger selves to exist. We shouldn’t need to heal. But alas, we do. And, we can.
I believe anyone who steps up into a therapeutic space exhibits strength and courage, and is taking responsibility over their life. I believe therapy is messy, hard, fascinating, relieving, cool, and all the things human. I believe it is a privilege to be in my position of supporting people through it all.
What I Believe About Therapy
I graduated from Pacifica Graduate Institute with an M.A. in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Depth Psychology in 2015. In conjunction with graduate school, I obtained further clinical training at the University of San Francisco's Center for Child & Family Development and with Bay Area Community Resources, where I provided psychotherapy to children, adolescents, and their families in both school and community clinic settings. I opened my private practice in 2017.
Education & Training
I am a member and past President (2021 & 2022) of the Marin County Chapter of the California Association of Marriage & Family Therapists. I am also a member of the San Francisco Chapter of CAMFT, CAMFT, and Gaylesta, an association of psychotherapists serving the LGBTQ+ community. In addition to my private practice work, I am a clinician with Immigrants Rising.
Professional Affiliations
Curious to work together? Let’s chat!
Schedule a complimentary 20-minute phone call with me. On this call, it would be great for me to hear where you’re at and what you’re seeking, have you get a little more of a vibe of who I am, and have you get any questions for me answered.