Book a therapist or psychiatrist in Mission Viejo, CA covered by Cigna

A lot of young men grow up getting the message that they're supposed to have it handled — keep it together, don't make it a big deal, figure it out on your own. So when anxiety, anger, low motivation, or just feeling lost starts piling up, reaching out for help can feel like the last thing they'd want to do. If that's you, or if you're a parent watching your son struggle and shut down, I get it — and I can help.

I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and I work primarily with teenage boys and young men. I've spent years working with guys in some of the hardest settings there are — residential treatment, high-acuity programs, and intensive work helping young men take an honest look at their choices, their patterns, and who they want to become. That experience taught me how to actually connect with someone who doesn't necessarily want to be in therapy, and how to make this feel less like a lecture and more like a real conversation.

My style is warm but direct, and I don't think therapy has to be heavy or stiff to work. I'll meet you exactly where you are — no judgment, no pressure to have it figured out — and we'll get into the real stuff at a pace that feels right. I also work with adults navigating anxiety, life transitions, and figuring out who they are, bringing that same grounded, real presence to the work.

I am a licensed psychotherapist with 20 years of clinical experience working with anxiety, depression and complicated relationships among many other concerns. I tend to use a more logic-driven, analytical structured approach with my clients where together we try to understand and analyze patterns of behavior that are causing problems and getting in the way of their lives. As a result, neurodivergents and people who work in the hard sciences, technology fields, or are business executives tend to respond very positively to my style and approach. I also work with mood disorders, unconventional or complicated relationships, historical spiritual abuse and military veterans.

Specialty in AI and technology:

I also specialize in the psychology of AI, technology and how it affects society and relationships. For 7 months last year, I spent extensive time within AI-user online communities to learn about their firsthand experiences involving AI-related harm and parasocial relationships. I was featured in the 2026 title How to Talk to AI (And How Not To) by BBC journalist and author Jamie Bartlett, where I discussed parasocial relationships in AI use.

Hobbies:

I love the outdoors, backpacking and going on road trips with my dog. I teach outdoor skills in a wilderness class each winter. I also love California native plants and am a trained naturalist.

Tired of feeling like you have to educate your therapist before you can actually begin? You deserve a therapist who actively celebrates who you are. I specialize in LGBTQI2-S affirmative care and work with individuals, couples, and families navigating identity, relationships, and the lifelong work of becoming more fully yourself. With over 8 years training mental health professionals in gender-affirming practices, you won't spend our sessions explaining the basics. You can just show up, exactly as you are.

Hello...thank you for visiting. I am a graduate of Pepperdine University's Masters in Clinical Psychology program with an MFT emphasis, and did my undergraduate studies at the University of California - Santa Barbara. I am also a member of the Psi Chi International Honors Society in Psychology, am trained in Gottman Method Couples Therapy, and have experience working with a range of therapeutic approaches, including Attachment Theory, Narrative Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Family Systems, Positive Psychology, Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), and Mindfulness models.