A little about me and my clinical approach
I'm a licensed psychotherapist in California. I have a couple decades of experience as a therapist and social worker. Beginning in the 1990's, I've worked with individuals, couples, teens, and families in private practice as well as a variety of community mental health and social service settings.
I'm white, slightly beyond middle age, fat, femme presenting, child of a refugee immigrant, buddhist student in the Soto Zen tradition, living and working in the unceded land of the Muwekma Ohlone people in the East Bay of the SF Bay Area. I believe that each of us has history and heritage, a life that gives us skills as well as situates us in a our own unique continuum of privilege and oppression.
My own background in social justice and social work practice means that I understand the impact the world around us and our multiple identities have on our experience. I also believe we are at our best when we utilize and recognize our unique gifts and strengths. Even when you can't see your own strengths, my goal is to discover them and find ways to build on your strengths in our work together.
I'm a licensed psychotherapist in California. I have a couple decades of experience as a therapist and social worker. Beginning in the 1990's, I've worked with individuals, couples, teens, and families in private practice as well as a variety of community mental health and social service settings.
I'm white, slightly beyond middle age, fat, femme presenting, child of a refugee immigrant, buddhist student in the Soto Zen tradition, living and working in the unceded land of the Muwekma Ohlone people in the East Bay of the SF Bay Area. I believe that each of us has history and heritage, a life that gives us skills as well as situates us in a our own unique continuum of privilege and oppression.
My own background in social justice and social work practice means that I understand the impact the world around us and our multiple identities have on our experience. I also believe we are at our best when we utilize and recognize our unique gifts and strengths. Even when you can't see your own strengths, my goal is to discover them and find ways to build on your strengths in our work together.
Effective therapy is goal-oriented, which means we work collaboratively to determine what success would be and what changes you want therapy to support. I also pay attention to research and empirical study of what works best with the issues I treat most, and I'm happy to offer a variety of tools and approaches to see what resonates most with you.
Education & Advanced Clinical Training
You can verify my license with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.
I have a strong belief in the benefit of lifelong learning. I also work as a supervisor, and I've found that I learn a lot from teaching and coaching others. I have participated in advanced clinical training over the years in a variety of evidence based, research informed practice methods, including a variety of relationship counseling, behavioral, and attachment based interventions as well as mindfulness and emotion regulation.
Please see below for a sample of my clinical training:
I have had a personal meditation practice for over 10 years, and my work often includes a mindfulness and awareness practice. I have participated in meditation practice, silent retreats, and workshops locally. Additionally, I have participated in many trainings over the years on mindfulness based therapeutic approaches to treating depression, anxiety, stress, and emotion regulation. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) both use mindfulness practice as a core component.
- Bachelor's of Science in Medical Anthropology, University of Michigan, 1996
- Master's in Social Work (MSW), University of Michigan, 1999
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCS22837), State of California, 2005
You can verify my license with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.
I have a strong belief in the benefit of lifelong learning. I also work as a supervisor, and I've found that I learn a lot from teaching and coaching others. I have participated in advanced clinical training over the years in a variety of evidence based, research informed practice methods, including a variety of relationship counseling, behavioral, and attachment based interventions as well as mindfulness and emotion regulation.
Please see below for a sample of my clinical training:
- Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for anxiety
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills training
- Evidenced based treatments for insomnia
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for depression
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
- Gottman Method Couples Therapy, Level II
- Non Violent Communication and Mediation
- Mindfulness and Meditation Training
I have had a personal meditation practice for over 10 years, and my work often includes a mindfulness and awareness practice. I have participated in meditation practice, silent retreats, and workshops locally. Additionally, I have participated in many trainings over the years on mindfulness based therapeutic approaches to treating depression, anxiety, stress, and emotion regulation. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) both use mindfulness practice as a core component.
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Areas of Specialty
I have specialized skills and experience in the following areas:
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