Anxiety and depression therapists and psychiatrists in El Cajon, CA

I am a licensed marriage and family therapist. As a culturally competent therapist, my mission is to empower individuals to harness their inner strength and create transformative change in their lives.

For the past year, I've worked with adults facing serious mental health challenges at one of Los Angeles's largest public health systems, and what I've learned is that lasting change comes from relationships built on trust. Now I'm bringing that experience into private practice, where I can focus on what matters most: your individual progress. I work with people navigating anxiety, depression, and PTSD, and I offer flexible evening and weekend availability via telehealth throughout California. As a PMHNP, I'm here to support your whole mental health journey.

I draw strongly from decades of my own personal growth work. Psychology is not a theory for me. It is a daily practice, a way of life. I help people focus on what they can control, what is most important currently and how they can work through whatever they are facing.

I subscribe to cognitive behavioral therapy, emphasizing the rational behavioral therapy modality. I hold a doctorate (EdD) in counseling and educational psychology from the University of San Francisco, where I also earned my Master's in Marriage and Family Therapy. I earned a Master's in Divinity from the Franciscan School of Theology at the Graduate Theological Union. I have been practicing since 1987 and am a seasoned therapist.

What patterns keep repeating in your life, even when part of you wants something different? I work with infants, children, adolescents, adults, and seniors, with a particular focus on experiences that are hard to put into words: the quiet accumulation of feeling disconnected or unseen, questions around adoption and family origins, infertility, the emotional weight of becoming a parent, and the grief that comes when life takes an unexpected shape. A lot of what brings people to therapy is not a single event. It builds. I trained at UCLA and bring both clinical depth and genuine warmth to this work.

Reaching out for support is a brave first step, and you don’t have to navigate things alone. My approach is warm, collaborative, compassionate, and solution-focused. As a current school-based mental health clinician, I have experience working with elementary through college-age youth across a variety of emotional, behavioral, academic, and life challenges. My primary focus is supporting adolescents as they navigate emotions, relationships, school stress, self-esteem, and major life transitions. I believe every person’s story matters, and I strive to create a safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental space where clients can feel comfortable being themselves. Together, we’ll build on your strengths and work toward growth, healing, and meaningful change.