Photo taken in Napa, California, one of my favorite cycling spots where I go to find peace and serenity. Photo credit: Stephan Adams.
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. ”
I take pride in my capacity to build relationships with my patients that are based on respect, compassion, and empathy. Relationship quality is one of the strongest predictors of treatment outcome; growth and change occur within a safe and non-judgmental therapeutic alliance. I have learned that people approach therapy for a variety of reasons but primarily for symptom relief and to gain an understanding for the meaning of these symptoms. I support patients through a journey of self exploration based on the belief that our past informs our present. Obtaining this insight frees us to move forward.
I am a licensed clinical psychologist with over 20 years of experience currently working in private practice. My practice primarily focuses on treating individuals and families around issues of depression, anxiety, trauma exposure, and life transitions. My wealth of clinical experience working in medical settings, community based organizations, and professional athletic teams along with consulting to educational organizations and the child welfare system has enriched my ability to navigate a range of clinical presentations and to understand different walks of life. I view my role as a psychotherapist as helping people with unpacking the core of their pain and turmoil, whether it is an acute event or longstanding suffering and discomfort. I provide insight and tools to empower patients to regain their functioning in the world.
For 20 years, I have supervised psychology and social work interns at the Child Trauma Research Program, at the University of California, San Francisco, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Part of my passion is to provide professional development to trainees who may be first generation graduates as they embark on the beginning of their careers. I enjoy transmitting my knowledge of Child-Parent Psychotherapy, a specialized trauma-informed treatment model for young children, to community-based mental health clinicians who are front-line service providers to families in need.
I enjoy outdoor activities including cycling, running, and gardening. I am also training to be a popcorn connoisseur.
My training is informed by the lenses of two disciplines: clinical social work and clinical psychology. I received my Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Arizona in sociology. I went on to obtain my Masters of Social Work from San Jose State University and my Doctorate of Clinical Psychology from the Wright Institute.
My work in the past 20 years is based on a trauma informed model for young children ages 0-6 and their caregivers. Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) is a relationship based model utilizing the attachment relationship between the young child and their caregiver to heal after a traumatic event. My experience in implementing, supervising, and consulting within the CPP model forms the foundation of my approach with children and families who may be coping with trauma, depression, or anxiety.
My 20 years of private practice has afforded me the opportunity to work with a range of patients from young children to adults. My relational approach combines psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral strategies embedded within culturally and linguistically-appropriate frameworks.
For 9 seasons I had been the primary mental health clinician for the Oakland Raiders. I coordinated and taught NFL mandated life skills trainings to incoming rookies on topics including managing relationships, domestic violence, stress/time management, decision making, discrimination, and harassment. Currently I am on the clinical team for the San Francisco 49ers. I provide mental health services to the athletes and coaching staff along with their families and significant others. My services include clinical assessments, crisis intervention, consultation, and psychotherapy.
