What’s the most profound, insightful, or interesting thing you’ve learned as a mental health professional?
Three things: 1) Something my very first supervisor said to me (way back when I was a graduate student) still sticks with me today, and that is to give my client’s a different experience. We need to venture into that new territory where change lives. That means we have to entertain the idea of new ways of being, and create environments where we experience the life we want. 2) You cannot pour from an empty cup. If you are not taking care of yourself first, you will have nothing to give anyone else. 3) Trauma is a mental injury that you can rehabilitate from.
What is your style/approach to therapy?
I work with clients to overcome their past, calm their bodies, and bring peace to their own lives. My practice focuses on bolstering strengths so you can face your past and find new meaning in life. I utilize a variety of techniques, such as grounding and meditation, somatic interventions, EMDR, as well as talk therapy techniques. I trust that you know what is best for you, and collaborate with you to make goals. Together, will work to find ways to get your needs met in healthy ways. I have experience helping people build their self-esteem and self-worth, while decreasing feelings of hopelessness, loneliness, and worthlessness. I have extensive history working with sexual abuse victims and perpetrators, trauma, domestic violence victims and perpetrators, anxiety and depression. Healing is challenging work, but I will be right beside you as you take the steps necessary to build the life you want to live.
In what ways does your personality influence your approach to therapy?
I show up for my clients as my authentic self. It is the only way to have an authentic relationship with my clients. For many who suffer with trauma related issues, being authentic can be something they desperately want, but at the same time their trauma tells them it is not safe. This leaves people feeling shame, and unworthy of love and belonging. Creating a space where it is safe to explore this part of themselves is often beneficial in dropping shame, and embracing life. This aspect of the therapeutic relationship is incredibly healing, and I am often humbled and honored to be apart of that process.
Specialties
Abuse/Survivors of abuse
Abuse includes any significant mistreatment along the lines of psychical, emotional, sexual, verbal, and neglect. Survivors of abuse may experience negative thoughts and feelings, flashbacks, distrust of others, social withdrawal, self-harm, and increased likelihood of developing mental health and substance abuse issues.
Dissociative disorders
Involuntary disconnection from reality as a means of coping with stress and trauma. Occurs along a spectrum or continuum, but can have a serious impact on daily functioning and healthy relationship-building.
Sex Addiction
Though not a formally recognized disorder in the DSM-5, sex addiction is characterized as an intimacy disorder in which an individual engages in a compulsive pattern of repetitive behavior directed toward sexual gratification that may lead to negative role, social, safety, or legal consequences. It is a progressive and pervasive condition in which one continues to chronically engage in sexual behavior despite the consequences.
Sexual Harassment & Assault
Sexual harassment is more verbal in nature and entails offensive sexual remarks, unwelcome advances, and/or requests for sexual pleasantries. Sexual assault involves the action of any sexual behavior or contact that occurs without explicit consent or against the wishes of another. Both are unlawful and may lead toward potentially severe psychological distress.
Substance abuse
Substance abuse is the intentional misuse of a substances (e.g., alcohol, prescription drugs, OTC medications, recreational and street drugs, household chemicals). This may include binge drinking or taking twice the prescribed dose of painkillers. For substances considered illegal and/or extremely detrimental to well-being, using even once may be considered substance abuse. Because of the addiction potential for many substances, abuse oftentimes leads to addiction.
General Expertise
Depression
Depression often causes people to feel sad, empty, or hopeless, and can cause a lack of interest in life. It can also affect a person's thinking patterns and physical health.
Anxiety
Anxiety can mean nervousness, worry, or self-doubt. Anxiety disorder is a mental health disorder that entails excessive, repeated bouts of worry, anxiety, and/or fear.
Work Stress
Workplace issues are a common source of stress and can include interpersonal conflict, communication problems, gossip, harassment, discrimination, low motivation and job satisfaction, performance issues, and poor job fit.
Addiction
Regular involvement with a substance or activity in a compulsive, hard to control way that often has harmful consequences. Often refers to substance use, but can include compulsive behaviors such as sex, gambling, or shopping.
Attachment issues
Children that experience parents and/or guardians that are avoidant, ambivalent, or resistant from an early age, may develop attachment issues. This can manifest as difficulty forming or maintaining friendships, romantic relationships and empathetic bonds throughout life, as well as other issues.
Fees
$100
First Session
$100
Couples Therapy
$100
Individual Therapy
Types of Therapy
Individual Session
Clientele
Parents
Young Adults (18-24)
Adults (25-65)
Seniors (65+)
Treatment Approaches / Modalities
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Gestalt Therapy
Internal Family Systems Therapy
Motivational Interviewing
Somatic Therapy
Training / Certifications
Institute for Sensorimotor Art- Healing Trauma with Guided Drawing- still in progress (21hr program)
Trauma Research Institute Certificate in Trauma Studies- still in progress (70hr program)
Peer Counseling Training 2020- 72hrs
EMDRIA- EMDR Simplifying Case Formulation 2020-3 hrs
EMDRIA- EMDR Transgenerational Impact of Trauma 2020- 3 hrs
EMDRIA- EMDR Facilitated by Internal Family Systems 2020- 3hrs
Strangulation Summit 2020- 16 hrs
EMDR Training Course: Integrating EMDR Into Your Practice 2019- 50 hrs
Advanced Topics in Clinical Supervision 2019- 6hrs
Supervision in the Recovery Field 2019- 7hrs
Supervision in Social Work Practice 2019- 3 hrs
New Directions in Prevention- 2019 2hrs
Use of Animated Pornography Among Sex Offenders 2019- 3hrs
Effective Forensic Reports and Documentation 2019- 3.5hrs
Motivational Interviewing: Breaking through Resistance 2019- 3 hrs
Engaging Resistance 2019- 3hrs
Level of Service/ Case Management Inventory training and re-certification- 2019 4hrs
Stable 2007 training and recertification- 2019 4hrs
Confidentiality in Psychotherapy and Counseling: Ethical, Legal and Clinical Issues 2018- 6 hrs
HIV/ AIDS Assessment and Treatment 2018- 7hrs
CASOMB Treatment Completion Guidelines 2018- 5 hrs
Sexual Coercion: From Persuasion to Sadism 2018- 3.5 hrs
EMDR Certificate 2017 – 40 hrs
Trauma Informed issues, Assessment, and Intervention for Sexual Offenders 2016- 3hrs
Writing Treatment plans and Identifying Responsivity 2016- 3 hrs
Ethical Concerns in the Treatment and Management of Individuals who have Offended Sexually 2016- 3.5 hrs
Practical Approaches and Implications of Sex Offender Assessment and Treatment 2016- 4.5 hrs
2015 CCOSO conference- 13 hrs
Domestic Violence Update with emphasis on LGBTQ population 2014- 4 hrs
Domestic Violence Update with emphasis on trauma informed therapy 2013- 6 hrs
Licensure
CA, LMFT, 100183
Education
MA, Psychology with emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy, Chapman University
BA, Psychology, California State University Sacramento
Work History
I love the blend of working in a community agency, and having my own private practice. Prior to the agency I currently work for, I worked with clients who were mandated by the court to come to therapy. Many of those clients broke the law in violent and/or sexual manner. I eventually became a director at that agency and over saw the treatment of those on probation and parole. As you can imagine, working with that population means treating various mental health and behavioral management issues. I stayed there for about 7 years, until I moved to be closer to my family. In my current agency work, I work with victims of domestic violence and sexual assault and supervise other therapists who are gaining their hours towards licensure. All the while I have maintained my own private practice helping clients who have experienced trauma in a multitude of ways, as well as other mental health issues.