My approach

I received my doctorate in psychology (PsyD) from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology- Chicago campus, an APA-accreddited program. I am a licensed psychologist in California (PSY#33965). I have extensive experience working with adults across the lifespan on issues such as anxiety, depression, PTSD & Complex-PTSD, addiction, OCD, grief & loss, attentional difficulties, and ambivalence related to career, identity, and relationships. Being a psychologist, I take time conceptualizing the nature and source of my client’s suffering, as well as their strengths and values. When salient, I also provide diagnostic clarification to inform treatment. At the same time, my clients are the experts of their own experience. Working collaboratively, my clients and I develop a shared understanding of what makes them tick and how they might re-calibrate.

At the core of my clinical approach is humanistic-existential psychology. Humanistic refers to the premise that people have an intrinsic tendency toward growth, which can be realized when a person is provided safety, empathy, and a sense of belonging. As a humanistic psychologist, I foster a genuine, non-judgmental environment that helps clients learn to trust their own experience. Existential psychology believes that emotional pain is a natural byproduct of the human condition, which includes having to make choices in the face of uncertainty, and confront existential givens such as death and dying. It recognizes how people are “thrown” into situations, yet have the capacity to make meaning. As an existential psychologist, I help my clients come to terms with things outside of their control, while also finding purpose in things like creativity, community, and daily life.

I have training and experience in a number of clinical modalities, allowing me to tailor treatment to the unique needs and interests of my clients. This includes interpersonal psychology (IPT), various behavioral approaches (CBT, DBT, & ACT), Adlerian psychology, expressive arts, harm reduction psychotherapy, and mindfulness-based interventions. Whether you are seeking short-term treatment focused on concrete behavioral change, or longer-term treatment to address underlying dynamics, I will structure treatment to help you achieve your goals.

At the start of treatment, clients may complete quantitative and qualitative measures to establish a “baseline” of their psychological functioning. Throughout treatment, we re-administer these outcome measures to monitor progress, adjust treatment, and highlight successes. I strive to help my clients reach a point where they no longer need my services. This means facilitating clients in developing the skills, insights, and self-confidence to manage life effectively following the conclusion of therapy.

Each person's lived experience is shaped by intersecting factors including race and ethnicity, age, gender, sexuality, socioeconomic status, immigration and acculturation, and ability. By integrating multicultural factors into our treatment planning, I ensure that therapy is personalized, relevant, and effective for each individual. I practice cultural humility, an ongoing process of critical self-reflection and commitment to challenging power imbalances.

I am passionate about my vocation. Bearing witness to people confront their challenges, develop self-compassion, and start the process of change is an honor. While I may share my professional knowledge when relevant, I believe some of the most powerful moments in therapy occur when two people (or several people, in the context of group therapy) approach the dilemmas of existence with openness, curiosity, and a sense of solidarity.