ExperienceI received my Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Alliant International University in San Diego, California and completed my undergraduate work at the University of Nevada, Reno with specialized training in substance abuse and addiction counseling. I have clinical experience in a wide variety of mental health settings including crisis call centers, substance abuse treatment facilities, group homes for foster-youth, inpatient psychiatric hospitals and both the public and private school sectors providing psychoeducational assessment and intervention.
Prior to transitioning to full time private practice, I served as a staff psychologist in the University of the Pacific’s Counseling and Psychological Services Department for nine years providing individual, group, couples counseling and educational presentations to the Pacific community. I am invested in the training of future psychologists and served as a primary supervisor for the doctoral psychology interns and facilitate seminars within their training program (Therapy Modalities & Assessment Seminar and Outreach and Programming Services Seminar). I continue to serve as a mentor for young professionals, as well as students who are considering a career in psychology. My professional interests include culturally sensitive service delivery, developmental issues across the lifespan, attachment formation, anxiety disorders including Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and perinatal/postpartum mood disorders. In my role at Pacific I also served as the Safe Zone Coordinator. Safe Zone is a program that aims to increase awareness and sensitivity to issues faced by the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, and Intersex communities (LGBTQQIA) and promote a climate of inclusion and value for diversity within a campus community and beyond. Within this arena I have served as a consultant to institutions of higher education including Sonoma State and Delta Community College. |
Goals for Therapy
I strive to create an environment where patients feel respected, understood, and heard. I believe that feeling comfortable is a necessary pre-requisite for exploring and addressing sensitive issues - and attending therapy for the first time or with a new therapist can often feel awkward and vulnerable. In order to help you feel comfortable, I initially spend time just getting to know you, your situation, your strengths, unique characteristics and what you would like to accomplish from our work together. No matter how many times I have worked with someone around a similar issue, the way you experience that specific issue - your thoughts, feelings, the impact - is unique.
With this in mind, I work with patients to identify goals and then use tailored strategies to effectively address the issues for which they sought therapy. To support you in working toward change, it is my job not only to provide a compassionate ear, but also to bring perspective, instill hope, to appropriately lighten the mood through laughter, and to actively provide information that I have gained through my training and experience. My investment in this process is to help you capitalize on the strengths and resiliency you already possess, to learn new skills to surmount new challenges, to have meaningful, fulfilling relationships and to believe in your ability to be healthy and happy. |