“Discovering the truth about ourselves is a lifetime’s work, but it’s worth the effort”
-Fred Rogers
About Me
No human is one dimensional and I am no exception. My practice is shaped by my life experiences, values and identities. Some of my many roles include parent, partner, animal caregiver, crafter, and athlete. I am driven by my values of equity, inclusion, safety, accountability, acceptance, advocacy, and accessibility. It is deeply important to me that client’s not only feel safe and respected, but also seen as their whole selves.
As a member of the San Lorenzo Valley, I experience the joys and challenges that come with living in the mountains and being a part of this close community. With my office being in Ben Lomond, I often share with my clients the experiences of power outages, road closures, wild weather and so on, reinforcing that we are all, very much, in this together.
Background and Training
I received my Masters in Science, Psychology from Cal Poly State University. I began working with youth who experienced trauma during graduate school and continued working with this population in different ways since then. In 2021 I left my job with Santa Cruz County Children’s Behavioral Health to share my skills and experience with members of my community through private practice. I am trained in EMDR therapy, IFS informed, experienced working with youth and families in the foster-care system, and completed my adoption competency certifican training through the National Training Initiative (NTI) in 2018. I am also experienced in incorporating expressive arts, narrative approaches, sandtray, and mindfulness in the therapy process. I continue to grow and develop my skills through reading, trainings, seminars, and peer consultation to remain up to date with best practices, and continue building cultural awareness.
My Approach
You are a unique individual, and it is important your therapy process reflect that. Client’s goals, interests, strengths, culture and resources are typically incorporated in their therapy process. I consistently check in with clients throughout their process to assess progress towards goals, adapt and adjust the approaches being used, and update goals as needed.