What does a first session with you look like?
The first session is all about getting to know each other! We’ll discuss what led you to decide to seek therapy and what your expectations are. Additionally, we’ll talk about your background, family, interests and hobbies, and previous experiences in therapy (if any). We’ll also talk about what social supports and coping skills you have available to you. Once we have a better idea of what the focus of therapy should be, we’ll set some short-term and long-term goals. I’d also be happy to answer any questions you have about the process of therapy and what to expect.
If there was one thing you wish people knew about the therapy experience who might be hesitant to try it, what would that be?
You do not need to be in crisis to seek therapy (although if you are, please do reach out)! It’s easy to feel like our problems are not significant, or that we need to be more “grateful” for what we have, but if you are struggling or not feeling your best, that is a perfectly valid reason to seek therapy and help is available to you. Your therapist is not here to judge you or the severity of your problem, but to be on your team and help you lead a more fulfilling, authentic life.
What is your style/approach to therapy?
My style of therapy is eclectic or “multi-modal.” This means I’m able to draw from multiple theoretical orientations and techniques to best fit your individual needs. Therapy is not “one size fits all” and each person has different goals and expectations for what they want to achieve from therapy. If we decide you could benefit from a short-term/“goal-focused” approach, we could use a solution-focused or cognitive-behavioral approach. If not, we would use a psychodynamic approach, where the goal is to help you increase insight and become more self-aware. For family therapy, I use a systems approach, that is, operating from the belief that all members of a family contribute to the dynamic of whether the family is functioning in a healthy or dysfunctional way.
Specialties
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.
Adolescent mental health
Adolescent mental health focuses on adolescent-specific experiences including physical and cognitive development, social and environmental factors, sex, sexual identification and orientation, emotional processing, and substance use. Given the influence that parents/guardians have on adolescents, home life is a particularly important consideration.
College & graduate student issues
Issues arising from being in a new environment or away from home for the first time. College-aged kids have the highest rates of mental illness, suffering things like stress, anxiety, depression, learning disabilities, and substance abuse.
Suicidal ideation
Suicidal ideation may occur passively or become something in which one devises a plan, means, and intent to act. For some it may occur infrequently, perhaps after a tragic event. For others, it is frequent—occurring weekly or daily. Oftentimes these individuals experience ongoing struggles with mental health. Whenever one experiences suicidal ideation, it is recommended to speak with someone immediately.
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.
Relationship Issues
Refers relationship issues with a partner or spouse. Can include issues related to relationship distress, relationship satisfaction, communication, intimacy, etc.
Self-Esteem
Self-esteem is the degree to which a person feels confident, valuable, and worthy of respect. Feeling low self-esteem can influence overall well-being and be linked to anxiety and/or depression.
Race & Cultural Identity
Challenges around race and cultural identity vary enormously, including issues related to discrimination, racism, and intergenerational trauma.
Fees
$160
First Session
$200
Family Therapy
$180
Couples Therapy
$160
Individual Therapy
Types of Therapy
Family Session
Couples Session
Individual Session
Clientele
Young Adults (18-24)
Adults (25-65)
Adolescents (13-17)
Treatment Approaches / Modalities
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Strength Based Therapy
Culturally Sensitive Therapy
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Family Systems Therapy
Marriage and Family Therapy
Person-Centered Therapy
Psychodynamic Therapy
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
Structural Family Therapy
Licensure
CA, LMFT, 121425
Education
Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology, Pepperdine University
Work History
I began my clinical work in community mental health agencies working with survivors of trauma, domestic violence and sexual assault. I was also able to work with high-risk youth and run several community-based groups focused on anger management, parenting, batterers' intervention, and trauma resilience. From there, I moved to teen treatment centers where I was able to work with adolescents and families in a variety of settings, including residential, partial-hospitalization and outpatient. Most recently, I served as the Program Director for a partial hospitalization program. My specialties are listed above.
Location
Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, 91367, CA