About

First and foremost, I believe in the power of every individual to be able to make long-lasting change in their life. A person is more than just a mental health problem and I take a whole-person approach in my clinical work. We will focus on what is most relevant to you. I have been described as a compassionate, no-nonsense, strong advocate for the people I work with. Some of the feedback I have received from past clients include "I felt understood and heard" and "I didn't know how to cope before, but I do now."

I earned a M.A. and a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Alliant International University, California School of Professional Psychology in San Diego, California. My undergraduate degree in psychology is from San Diego State University. I am a licensed clinical psychologist (#PSY28926) in the State of California. My basic theoretical approach to therapy is rooted in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). This is a philosophy of psychotherapy which looks at the relationship among thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and how they may contribute to problems. I use a variety of techniques in therapy, trying to find what will work best for you. My areas of specialized training and expertise include aging and geriatrics, anxiety disorders (OCD, panic disorder, specific phobia, generalized anxiety disorder ), hoarding disorder, adjustment in the wake of divorce, survivors of trauma, and people in recovery from alcohol and drugs. I have formal training and experience in trauma-focused treatment for childhood abuse, sexual assault, and military/combat trauma and co-occurring substance abuse disorders. Some of the therapies I routinely use for trauma include, but is not limited to, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Prolonged Exposure (PE).