Welcome

“People start to heal the moment they feel heard.” -Cheryl Richardson

Welcome! I commend you for taking a step toward enhancing your personal growth and accomplishing your goals.  Whether this is your first time seeking assistance through psychotherapy or you have found therapy to be helpful in the past, I believe in making the process as comfortable as possible.  I strongly believe in going at your pace and empowering you to manage your life more effectively. As a licensed psychologist in San Diego, my specialties include working with addiction (e.g., alcohol, drugs, porn, gambling, etc.), mild to severe depression, and anxiety.   I work with teens, adults, and families.

My Philosophy

Change is difficult, emotional, and rewarding all that the same time.  I realize that not everyone is at the same level of readiness when beginning therapy and I am skilled at working with various levels of motivation.  I believe that therapy has two main beneficial components: 1) learning and practicing coping skills and 2) healing through having a reparative judgement-free, loving, and safe relationship.  The therapeutic relationship, the fit between you and your therapist, is the most influential aspect of therapy that aids in change.  I encourage you to ask for what you need from me and to keep an open dialogue about our work and relationship.  It is important to me to give individualized support and first-rate care.  I am honored to do this work and help you.

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Services

While my main specialties are addiction, depression, and anxiety, I am also able to treat an expansive range of emotional issues.  I have extensive experience in working with individuals that are suicidal and am also skilled at working with unmotivated adolescents.  I strive to make sessions feel comfortable and emotionally safe at all times.

About

Over the past 11 years, I have honed my specialties in addiction, depression, anxiety, and relationship difficulties. Additionally, I am one of the few therapists in California that is trained in CRAFT (Community Reinforcement and Family Training), which is an empirically supported individual treatment for the loved ones of people struggling with addiction. I conceptualize cases through a psychodynamic and humanistic lens. My approach is individualized and centered around where an individual is at on their journey.  

Contact

My office is centrally located in West Clairemont, which is up the hill from Pacific Beach and is about 15 minutes from La Jolla. There is ample free parking in the lots around the building.  The office is wheelchair friendly.