I received my Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California and am licensed in the state of California (LCSW87309). I have spent the past two decades working in various health care and mental health facilities including: Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Alta Bates Comprehensive Cancer Center, El Camino Hospital, DaVita Dialysis and Private Practice. The privilege of being present with my clients who are facing personal crises continues to serve as my daily lesson in humility, empathy and compassion.

Each of these experiences provided me the opportunity to work with diverse populations of individuals (teen-elderly adults) and their families.

In addition to my professional training and experience, I am a working mother of two amazing young men who are wired differently than I.

I view therapy as an interactive and collaborative effort. My therapy practice offers a safe and nonjudgmental environment where individuals or couples are free to explore and express their feelings. I offer a source of support, guidance and compassion as you explore new ways to manage your depression, anxiety, perfectionism, ADHD, life transitions, grief, parenting and/or marital issues.

Professional Experience: Clients for whom I am best matched are those seeking direct, empathic and insightful feedback.  I am not afraid to tell people what they may have been afraid to hear or admit to themselves. I do not believe in dragging out treatment and prefer to make the most out of each session. Believe it or not, my goal is for my clients to no longer need therapy.

I am confident that together, we can create lasting change by transforming pain through a combination of skill-building, education, connecting to values, fostering awareness and feelings. I tell my clients we need to “Name it to Tame it.”

Specialties: Life Transitions, Anxiety, Depression, Adult ADHD, Perfectionism, Parenting Issues, Codependency, Grief, Food Weight and Body Image Issues, School Issues, Learning Differences, Neurodiversity, Stress Management, Workplace Difficulties, Couples Therapy and Addiction.

My clinical focus is on life transitional issues. Life is ever-changing, sometimes these fluctuations lead to anxiety, disorientation or challenges. What transitions do people come to therapy for? Most recently COVID-19 has provided quite a bit of change for us all, confronting racial inequities and BLM, concern surrounding the future both personally and societally, the list is endless. I am passionate about supporting people when they feel their life has presented them with a fork in the road and are feeling stuck.

My Story: Social work enticed me from a young age. I was drawn to people who shared their stories freely. I found I was able to learn about them and their unique perspectives. I wanted to become a therapist but was apprehensive because I didn’t think I was a good enough student to obtain a master’s degree. But I took the leap and during my MSW program, I realized I enjoyed school and learning.

I have struggled with perfectionism, codependence, and finding my voice.

I was presented with one of the most profound challenges of my life when my oldest son was diagnosed with autism. I mourned the dream of the child I had expected, my husband and I struggled to become the parents he needed us to be.

Our partnership also faltered. We sought counseling which allowed us the safety to speak our truth and be heard. It was hard and painful yet loving and renewing and allowed us to reconnect. Through my own experience, I understand the importance of working on myself so I may be a better wife, mother, daughter and most importantly my best self.