After twenty-five years of working with teens and young adults in a school setting as a school counselor, I am honored to support families struggling with such issues as anxiety, ADHD, and depression. I love helping parents and teens in high conflict families learn to communicate more effectively and build stronger relationships as well. I find that I am a very effective mediator and am able to support both sides equally in family therapy.

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My passion lies in helping those in the transgender and gender expansive community with co-occurring mental health concerns, transition, family education and acceptance building and referrals to the medical community. Working closely with programs like the Trans-youth Center for Health and Development at LA Children's Hospital and St. John's Well Child and Family Center's Transgender Health program, I strive to provide needed resources and continuation of care if that need arises. I also volunteer my time to our local South Bay PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) Chapter as a facilitator and as a board member. I am a member of WPATH (World Organization of Transgender Heath and CAMFT (California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists.

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Lastly, these past two years have taught all of us more than we ever would have wanted to know about trauma so I decided to become more trauma informed and dive into the practice of EMDR. It has completely changed my work as a therapist now being trained in a somatic based, trauma informed approach that is backed by over 30 years of research. Here I help clients of all ages process traumas, large and small that are holding them back from living a full life.  Read more about it EMDR- click

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My Approach

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My main tenant is the belief that the client is the expert of their own self and that I am merely the guide. There will be no shame or judgement, simply support. I often use laughter and humor as well as a tool to remind the client not to take themselves so seriously. We will laugh and cry in session a lot! 

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My therapeutic style uses person centered and solution focused methods to instill self-understanding among clients and encourage them to learn the best ways for them to react to life situations. I also work from a trauma informed perspective and utilize neurobiological approaches such as EMDR to heal oneself through the power of your own brain. That's the fancy therapy talk.

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What it means is that I do not sit back and nod at you; rather I work hard to be with you in the therapy room or online providing active listening and even gentle challenging you when needed. I use humor. We will laugh, a lot! I will be searching for your strengths and quickly identity those areas where you are excelling and build upon them. For my gender expansive clients, I will also be an affirming ally and a strong advocate for your needs in all areas- social, family, educational, career and medical. My work is also anti-racist informed. By that I mean, I pay black folks who do anti-racism training to continue my education and challenge my privilege. I read extensively and try to advocate using my own privilege. My favorite resource for anti-racism training is www.theblackful.com.

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It is essential to keep in mind that therapy is not a magic pill or a quick fix: therapy is a healing process that necessitates participation and investment from the client and family alike. But in the end, making small changes to self-defeating behavior and coping with feelings of sadness, fear, and pain can bring life-altering results. I love watching the transformation occur as clients learn to cope with their lives in their own way.