My approach

I am a psychologist licensed in California specializing in evidence-based therapies: My knowledge and experience are rooted in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and I now primarily specialize in mindfulness-based therapies such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). My work is also informed by somatic, trauma-sensitive and compassion-focused therapies:

What is ACT?

ACT is a unique empirically validated psychological intervention that uses acceptance and mindfulness strategies together with values-based commitment and behavior change strategies to increase psychological flexibility. Psychological flexibility means contacting the present moment fully as a conscious human being and based on what the situation affords, changing or persisting in behavior in order to move toward chosen values.

ACT also stands for “Accept, Choose and Take Action” and uses experiential exercises, metaphors, stories, writing and value-directed goal setting to help you

-       Create a rich and meaningful life, while accepting the pain that inevitably goes with it

-       Transform your relationship with your difficult thoughts and feelings

-       Learn to perceive them as harmless, even if uncomfortable, transient internal events

-       Take effective action guided by your deepest values and in which you are fully present and engaged

In short, ACT will help you live a life worth living

ACT is most likely different from what you have done so far. The interventions can sound a bit wacky but I’m guessing you’ve already tried the more typical solutions and haven’t found them helpful. 

ACT has been shown to help clients cope with a wide variety of clinical problems, including depression, trauma, anxiety, stress, substance abuse, chronic pain, OCD and psychotic symptoms.

I have found that ACT makes sense to me and especially to my clients. It redefines how we view internal experiences through a more compassionate and witnessing lens that helps create and embark upon a clearer path. I am deeply honored to be part of my client’s journey, creating a meaningful life and guiding them toward their own potential.

Learn more
What is ACT?
Suggested Reading:
Embracing your Demons by Russ Harris
State of the ACT Evidence

The Guest House

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice.
meet them at the door laughing and invite them in.
Be grateful for whatever comes.
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

— Jellaludin Rumi

What is Compassion work?

Compassion is a particular way of holding oneself, others and the world. Compassion literally means “to suffer with.” Compassion is wishing yourself, others and the world well. It is a warm, loving, connected attitude and feeling and it can be learned and cultivated. Self-compassion is an alternative to self-esteem, which can rise and fall with success and failure; however, self-compassion stays consistent; thus, providing us with a more stable sense of self. I believe that healing cannot exist without compassion; thus, integrating this into my work with clients has proven to be most inspiring and has profoundly impacted my clients. My clients have become their own cheerleaders and advocates. Kristen Neff, Ph.D. describes that by acknowledging our pain, recognizing that we are not alone in the suffering and showing self-kindness we can cultivate self-compassion. She describes self-compassion as simply compassion directed inward and integrated the Buddhist philosophy that self-compassion consists of kindness, common humanity and mindfulness.

My work has been influenced by the work of Kristen Neff, Chris Germer, Tara Brach and Paul Gilbert.
Research evidence demonstrates that self-compassion is related to psychological flourishing and reduced psychopathology. (Germer, Neff 2013)

Suggested Resource: https://self-compassion.org/

What is Mindfulness, Somatic (Body) and Parts work?

I believe in the mind-body connection. Mindfulness is a way of connecting to the present moment that is fully connected, engaged, open and curious about what is. Mindfulness can take the form of sitting meditation as well as movement meditation and I will guide you to integrate mindfulness into daily life in the way it fits you. Additionally, I am passionate about integrating the body into my work due to evidence that the body is affected and holds pain when the mind suffers. I believe that we cannot heal one without the other. Learning how to access the somatic experience and being mindful of fragmented parts within us is part of the healing process. In addition, recognizing that there are different parts within us that have an impact on our lives and behaviors can help us understand our actions, cultivate compassion toward ourselves and foster healing. Thus, I incorporate teachings by Jon Kabat-Zinn, Dan Siegel, Thich Nhat Hanh, Eckhart Tolle, Peter Levine, Bessel van der Kolk, Pat Ogden, Janina Fisher, Richard C. Schwartz and Stephen Porges. I integrate the body, breath and movement whenever appropriate in my practice and my clients have found this approach empowering, healing and life-changing.

Mindfulness and somatic work has shown to be effective with a variety of clinical problems such as trauma, rumination/depression, stress, memory, focus (ADHD), emotional reactivity/impulsivity and cognitive inflexibility. It has shown to enhance relationship satisfaction, self-awareness, empathy, morality, intuition and fear modulation. Evidence also suggests that mindfulness meditation has numerous health benefits, including increased immune functioning. It also appears to increase information processing speed as well as decrease task effort and having thoughts that are unrelated to the task at hand. (APA July/August 2012, Vol 43, No. 7). Mindfulness is especially helpful to trauma work due to its ability to regulate the nervous system and increase dual attention.

Suggested Reading:
Full Catastrophe Living by Jon Kabat-Zinn
The Power of Now by Ekhart Tolle
The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing [EMDR] and Mindfulness-Based Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing [MB-EMDR]

This treatment is meant for individuals who are currently faced with distressing experiences that may have been caused by events in the past. We will begin with mindfulness practices to help your nervous system stabilize in order to engage in the reprocessing of your disturbing experiences. I will help you establish a home practice of mindfulness and meditation, which can take the form of sitting and/or movement meditations. Then, I will guide you through reprocessing your experiences in order to integrate old memories and help you reclaim the present.

Trauma is about being wounded, it is about helping you heal from the inside out. Trauma causes us to walk around with a wound that hurts us and others around us. Unhealed trauma may be at the root of many problems and challenges: anxiety, depression, addictions, suicidal ideation, unhealthy relationships, etc. It is my hope to help you heal! I do this by using evidence-based therapies that help bring wounds into the open, where we can tend to them, compassionately, gently and authentically.

“Although PTSD is triggered by trauma, it is really a disease of memory.
The problem isn’t the trauma; it’s that ...the emotional charge of the memories remains a hair-trigger
and consequently intrudes into numerous activities of daily living.” – George Lindenfeld

EMDR is a simple but efficient therapy using bilateral stimulation (BLS) ─ tapping, auditory tones or eye movements ─ to accelerate the brain's capacity to process and heal a troubling memory. BLS, which occurs naturally during dream sleep, causes the two brain parts to work together to reintegrate the memory. EMDR therapy is an eight-phase treatment and BLS is used during one phase of treatment. Some clients experience relief or positive effects in just a few sessions. EMDR is effective in alleviating trauma-related symptoms, whether the traumatic event occurred many years ago or yesterday.

Scientific research has established EMDR as effective for the treatment of post-traumatic stress, phobias, panic attacks, anxiety disorders, stress, sexual and physical abuse, disturbing memories, complicated grief and addictions.

The possible benefits of EMDR treatment include the following:

The memory is remembered but the painful emotions and physical sensations and the disturbing images and thoughts are no longer present.
EMDR helps the brain reintegrate the memory and store it in a more appropriate place in the brain. The client’s own brain reintegrates the memory and does the healing.

I am an EMDR trained psychologist.

Learn more
Suggested Reading:
What Is EMDR?
Getting Past your Past by Francine Shapiro
TedX Talk by Jamie Marich on Trauma

Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)

Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is a structured, evidence-based psychotherapy developed for individuals suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of traumatic experiences. It's grounded in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) principles and aims to address the dysfunctional beliefs and cognitive distortions that often accompany PTSD.

Here's a more detailed summary of the key components and process of CPT:

1. Psychoeducation: CPT begins with an educational component where the therapist provides information about PTSD, its symptoms, and how trauma impacts thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. This helps clients understand that their reactions to trauma are normal responses to abnormal events.

2. Understanding Thoughts and Feelings: Clients learn to identify and understand the connection between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. They explore how their trauma has influenced their beliefs about themselves, others, and the world.

3. Cognitive Restructuring: This is a central component of CPT. Clients are guided to identify and challenge maladaptive or distorted thoughts related to their trauma. They learn to evaluate the accuracy and helpfulness of these thoughts and replace them with more balanced and realistic perspectives.

4. Processing Trauma Memories: Clients are encouraged to confront and process their traumatic memories in a safe and structured manner. This involves writing detailed accounts of their traumatic experiences and then examining and challenging the associated thoughts and beliefs.

5. Exposure Techniques: While not as intensive as exposure therapy, CPT may involve gradual exposure to trauma-related thoughts, emotions, and situations. This helps clients confront their fears and reduce avoidance behaviors.

6. Developing Coping Skills: Clients learn practical coping skills to manage distressing emotions, such as relaxation techniques, problem-solving strategies, and assertiveness training. These skills help them deal with triggers and stressors more effectively.

7. Challenging Assumptions about Safety, Trust, Power, and Control: CPT addresses underlying beliefs related to safety, trust, power, and control that may have been shattered by the traumatic event. Clients learn to challenge assumptions that the world is completely dangerous or that they are entirely powerless.

8. Homework Assignments: Clients are often given homework assignments to practice the skills learned in therapy between sessions. This reinforces learning and helps generalize skills to real-life situations.

9. Termination and Relapse Prevention: As therapy progresses, the focus shifts to consolidating gains and preparing for the end of therapy. Clients learn to recognize signs of relapse and develop strategies to maintain progress in the long term.

Overall, Cognitive Processing Therapy is a structured and goal-oriented approach to treating PTSD that empowers individuals to challenge and change the negative beliefs and thought patterns that contribute to their symptoms. It provides a framework for understanding and processing trauma in a way that promotes healing and recovery. CPT is a brief therapy that typically consists of 12 sessions, but symptoms can ameliorate with fewer sessions.

I strive to create a safe and inclusive space for everyone who walks through my door. Life is full of painful experiences that are part of the human condition. When adding to this emotional struggle a history of discrimination, judgment and rejection, living can seem unbearable. Thus, this may lead to many unhealthy coping strategies that impact one’s life in such a way that it may seem like there’s no light at the end of the tunnel. Many LGBTQIA+ folks struggle with internalized shame that drives many unhelpful coping behaviors. My aim is to help you see that light within you, to help you find yourself, belonging and hope.