I am a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT) based in Santa Monica, California and have served clients statewide via telehealth. I have worked predominantly with children and teens, families, and adults with dual diagnosis. Much of my work has involved crisis recovery from past and present traumas. Prior to Psychology, I worked in Silicon Valley in business development for 12 years.
My approach is friendly and goal-oriented. I value my clients' experiences with their families, culture, religion, and spiritual history. I gather significant milestones in my client's life, assess skills and needs, set measurable and realistic goals, and move toward growth and stability. I am an educator, advocate, consultant, and therapist. My bird's eye view provides a strategic outline for identifying and prioritizing the next steps in treatment.
My communication style is straightforward and collaborative. I listen and provide timely and relevant input. I enter every relationship with compassion and hope for change by offering an accepting environment free of criticism, judgment, and bias. I have decades of experience working with various cultures, age groups, and economic statuses. I'm often viewed as a professional member of my client's treatment team/family. Our time together should feel welcoming and supportive while producing alternatives to what isn't working well in life.
I am a true "wounded healer." I access my own traumas and challenges to complement my education and experience in professional work with clients. My career in Silicon Valley prepared me well for working closely with individuals who struggle with the fierce challenges in our world today. I am a natural caregiver and tend to those in need.
My first session begins with hearing about what brings the client into this space of seeking professional help. I gather historic information, determine impairments in daily living, and work toward processing the barriers to personal growth. I reflect on what each client shares for clarity and understanding. We establish short and long-term goals and utilize skill-building, role-playing, and thought-reshaping to move the individual forward. I often send texts and emails throughout the week to check in and keep them on track with relevant activities. I welcome input from family, friends, and doctors who also contribute to the client's well-being.
I believe in drafting a roadmap for life's journey, and my strengths are in assessing needs and achieving goals to promote stability and growth. I use basic charts to draft the steps in treatment and adjust them as needed. We will identify goals with timelines and monitor progress weekly.
