Licensed Marriage + Family Therapist (LMFT 101252)
"When the night has come And the land is dark And the moon is the only light we'll see No, I won't be afraid Oh, I won't be afraid Just as long as you stand, stand by me." ~ Ben E. King
Life can have many winding roads, peaks, and valleys. There are times when we find ourselves in the midst of changes and transitions. Some of these life-altering experiences come because of decisions we make. Some changes are out of our control. Throughout our lives we enter new phases which require us to adapt and grow. And there are times when we can experience disconnect from ourselves and others and we can feel alone.
Some of us have experienced loss, and some have not had the support from others that we have needed emotionally and/or practically. We find ourselves lost without a stable grounding place from which to explore and experience life—success, failure, improvements, and setbacks. Often, we cannot give ourselves what we need to move into next life phases alone. Therapy can be a place to experience this solid ground. A therapist can serve as a partner – a confidant to help us reach our potential.
As a therapist, I value walking alongside others, supporting growth, and holding others’ experiences with them.
I am fundamentally eclectic in my orientation, influenced strongly by attachment and developmental approaches. Through these influences, I understand and respect the role of relationships in our lives to impact us deeply. I consider the ways that not having support or experiencing negative, traumatic events can impede our growth. But I believe these factors do not need to stunt us from living full, connected lives. I aim to be alongside you no matter what your experience has been – to discover together strength and resources within you for the life and relationships you would like to have.
I received my Masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Azusa Pacific University. I have experience in public mental health settings for nonprofits in the Los Angeles area working in schools as well as community mental health settings – where I have been trained in multiple evidence-based practices related to treating mood disorders (anxiety, depression) and trauma. I have experience working with people of different backgrounds, orientations, beliefs, cultures, and ages. I value continually learning and working toward communities of connection, equality, and justice inside and outside of the therapy office.