Psychotherapy
I believe in people’s ability to create lasting and powerful change in their lives. The way I see it, we are all born with the innate capacity to thrive. This ability is always within us, although life's inevitable challenges can sometimes make it hard to tap into. As a therapist, my role is to assist you in uncovering your inherent wisdom and the well of internal resources that exist beneath your conditioned responses. I am convinced that with appropriate guidance and support, anyone can learn to trust their intuition, embrace their strength, and discover meaning and beauty in this unpredictable journey of life.
It's certain that at some stage in life, we will experience feelings of stagnation or being trapped. This can manifest as confusion, a sense of purposelessness, feelings of isolation or loneliness, depression, anxiety, and dissatisfaction with life circumstances or the world in general. It might seem strange, but I view this state of being stuck as an opportunity. I believe that a crisis can actually be our soul's call for growth, evolution, and awakening. I believe that within the stagnation lies a powerful decision: to either sink into our old, habitual ways of functioning or muster the courage to forge a new path forward.
My Philosophy
How I Can Help
Holistic Psychotherapy
I offer holistic, somatic, and mindfulness-based psychotherapy to individuals aged eighteen and above, with a specialization in trauma therapy. The perception of trauma is highly individualistic, meaning an event that is traumatic for one person may not be for another. Trauma can take many forms, ranging from attachment trauma to physical trauma, and I believe that everyone has encountered some form of trauma in their lives.
When addressing trauma, I typically employ a somatic approach, focusing on the body. This includes tuning into physical signals, implementing mind-body interventions, and breath work. Recent research indicates that our bodies retain imprints of past traumatic events, suggesting that talk therapy alone may not always be sufficient. Body-oriented psychotherapy has been shown to be highly effective in treating trauma, and I have witnessed significant success with clients using this approach.
Parts Work
In cases of relationship-related trauma, it's common for a part of you to remain anchored in the past, unable to heal from the hurt inflicted by others. This part may continue to replay the same emotions, thoughts, or behaviors from that time, even when it's no longer beneficial.
Parts Work involves understanding the various aspects of ourselves, including those that are hurt or stuck, as well as those that can aid in healing. The goal is to learn how to harmonize these parts. Parts Work facilitates healing and enhances our ability to transition between different states as needed.
What sets Parts Work apart from conventional therapy is its focus on core healing. Instead of merely managing symptoms, such as reducing immediate anxiety (which Parts Work also addresses), it delves deeper. It targets the aspects of us that are immobilized and trapped due to past traumas, equipping us with the tools to heal. This enables us to navigate our daily lives, relationships, and communities in healthier ways.
EMDR
Under the guidance of Dr. Philip Manfield, I have been trained as an Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapist. EMDR is an intense, body-oriented, eight-phase trauma therapy that can yield quick and effective results when properly administered. This approach is designed to ease distress and reshape negative beliefs associated with trauma. EMDR is a structured therapy that requires clients to briefly revisit a traumatic memory while simultaneously undergoing bilateral stimulation (such as eye movements or tapping), helping to maintain focus on both past and present moments. This highly effective trauma therapy is endorsed as a leading treatment method by the World Health Organization.
Clients often report a heightened sense of calm at the close of EMDR treatment. They also note reduced sensitivity to memories of traumatic experiences, enabling them to be more present and receptive to positive experiences in life.
Building Healthy Coping Strategies
Throughout life, we may develop unhealthy coping mechanisms, some examples of which include substance abuse, which can lead to addiction and worsen mental health issues; avoidance and denial, which can increase stress and anxiety; self-harm, which can cause physical injuries and emotional turmoil; negative self-talk, which can lower self-esteem and heighten depression; emotional or binge eating, which can lead to guilt, shame, and self-hatred; isolation, which can lead to mental health issues; procrastination, which can increase stress and guilt; overworking, which can lead to burnout and various health problems; aggression, which can strain relationships; and excessive screen time, which can lead to addiction and neglect of daily tasks and self-care.
These coping mechanisms often start as protective strategies but can become maladaptive and exacerbate the initial problem. Together, we can work to untangle old patterns and begin to develop new, healthy coping strategies that will better serve you and improve your quality of life.
“The wound is the place where the light enters you.”
— Rumi
Frequently Asked Questions
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No, I only work with adult individuals at this time.
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I offer a sliding scale to my clients that ranges from $150-$180.
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Currently, I am only contracted with MediCal/Carelon as an accepted insurance provider. A portion of my caseload is dedicated to clients with this specific insurance coverage, although availability is limited and openings rarely occur.
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I am only able to work with clients who reside within my state of licensure, which is California.
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I work with a hybrid model to meet my clients’ unique needs. I offer video, phone, and in-person sessions.
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Sessions are usually 50 minutes but can be extended if necessary.
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Our initial sessions will focus on understanding your background, current challenges, and therapy goals, which will guide the creation of a personalized treatment plan. Regular therapy sessions will then involve discussions, explorations of past experiences, learning coping mechanisms, and progress tracking, and using techniques tailored to your needs. My role is to support and guide you through life’s challenges towards your goal of managing your mental health independently and effectively. The process looks a little different for each person.
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Typically, at the onset of therapy, I prefer to schedule sessions at least once a week. As my clients start to experience improvement, I can adjust the frequency of sessions to suit their individual needs, potentially reducing the number of sessions as required.