Somewhere safe with someone good.

Why go with an evidence based and mindfulness trained therapist or life coach?

Because sometimes we need someone with expertise and because most of us don’t have time, energy, or money to waste! I am trained in 8 evidence based practices (EBPs) which are therapeutic interventions that have been researched, tested, and scientifically proven to work!

Because sometimes we need someone with expertise.

With over 15 years of experience as a counselor, psychotherapist, and life coach, I have used my training to specialize in the treatment of:

• Social Anxiety

• Weight loss

• Panic Disorder

• Depression

• Trauma

• Grief/loss

• Immigration and Mental Health

• Addiction

• Relational/Family problems

• Psycho-Spiritual Dilemmas

• Co-dependency

• Anger

• Parenting

• Suicide and Crisis intervention

• Dating

• Work & Life

• Low Self-esteem

Human beings have literally evolved to survive best in groups, which means that if something is too hard or overwhelming to do on your own, getting help is NOT a sign of weakness or failure. Getting help from the right person is a function of survival and a sign of courage and intelligence!

Not all therapist or life coaches are built the same.

I obtained my bachelors from UC Berkeley, my Masters from the University of Southern California, and am formally trained in:

1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), 

2. Mindfulness Practice and Meditation

3. Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT).

4. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)

5. Seeking Safety - 1st stage treatment for trauma and substance abuse,

6. Problem Solving Treatment (PST), 

7. The Positive Parenting Program (Triple-P), 

8. Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)

However, my command of these practices primarily serve a supporting role to my fundamentally humanistic and mindfully wholistic approach. What does that mean? It means I will never force you or your problems into a conveniently neat theoretical box! Ultimately, everyone has specific needs and goals, and your treatment with me will reflect that!

Helping others is my life’s passion, and finding effective and efficient ways to do so is my life’s work!

Outside my private practice, the bulk of my work has been with English and Spanish speaking adults and youth, and the severely and persistently mentally ill (SPMI) population. For over 10 years I have facilitated groups, provided individual counseling, and mental health consultation as a Psychiatric Social Worker for the largest public mental health provider in the United States—the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LAC-DMH). I also currently work part-time as a crisis responder for the Psychiatric Mobile Response Team. Needless to say, there is very little I have not seen or treated in my line of work.

Good therapy can feel like work, especially at the beginning. However, I promise to support and work with you every step of the way until it, and life, start feeling easier! No one can “fail” counseling or coaching. Working for you means it’s my job to figuring out how to help, and to also be honest when something isn’t working and why! Freeing ourselves of emotional pain, cognitive dissonance, or physical ‘ugh-ness’ will take personal effort and commitment. But I promise I will do my best to find you the right resources, tools and techniques to empower YOU the most!