About Me

Education & Qualifications

I am licensed to practice as a psychologist by the state of California (CA PSY29555). I graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. I earned a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology and a Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University, Los Angeles — an American Psychological Association (APA) accredited graduate program.

Honors

I completed graduate school as a lifetime member of Psi Chi, The International Honor Society in Psychology — an affiliate of the American Psychological Association (APA).

Publication

My doctoral dissertation, The Effects of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Women Breast Cancer Survivors, was published in 2015.

My Approach To Psychotherapy

I use a collaborative, empathic, strengths-based approach to psychotherapy, respecting each person’s autonomy and personal choices as they work towards achieving their goals in therapy. Therapy is individually tailored to each client, while taking into account various factors such as the client’s personality, presenting problems, and expressed preferences. Treatment may also focus on improving relationships with others, occupational and/or academic functioning, and, most notably, your relationship with yourself. Non-judgmental self-acceptance (which integrates aspects of the self, including self-confidence, self-esteem, self-respect, self-worth, and self-compassion) can only be achieved through an in-depth understanding of the ways in which our life experiences, and the meanings we have attributed to those experiences, have influenced our lives today. By identifying what is working for you and building upon your strengths while also undoing any identifiable patterns of functioning that are no longer working to your benefit, you’ll have the tools you need to be your best self. The keys to unlocking a happier and more fulfilling life are within your reach.

Clinical Specializations

I specialize in providing individual psychotherapy to adults and older adults with mood disorders (including depression and bipolar), anxiety, and trauma-related disorders. Other areas of specialty include, but are not limited to, adult ADHD, issues specific to the LGBTQ+ population, relationship problems, marital problems, bereavement, grief and loss, health psychology, healthy aging, mindfulness, academic achievement, work-related problems, career development, anger management, and stress management.