My approach to helping people is relational, non-pathologizing, instilled with hope, collaborative, active, and appropriately challenging in a respectful way to help you set and meet your goals. I bring multicultural awareness and sensitivity to understanding your subjective and unique personal experiences. In developing our therapeutic alliance, which is essential to our work together, I will provide a sensitive, thoughtful, and genuinely supportive presence with openness and positive regard. I offer a place where diversity is embraced and where you can feel truly heard, understood, and acknowledged with acceptance and without judgment. Within this safe, empathic space, you may discover, articulate, experience, and honor your feelings and lived experiences, as well as heal, increase self-awareness, and tap into your innate abilities, strengths, and resilience to navigate current challenges or highlight the choices and opportunities available to you in realizing change and personal growth at work, play, and in your daily life. I have experience working with individual adults, couples, adolescents, and older adults. It is my honor to accompany you on your courageous journey toward lasting positive change and increased personal fulfillment.

I work with COUPLES, TRAUMA, and INDIVIDUALS: With Couples I have a game plan and a focus on helping people connect deeper, learning how to help your partner regulate their nervous system, learning how to have the love that you have land in your partner's heart, and learning how to have forgiveness conversations that land. GAME PLAN: Emotional Popcorn, is fun game that helps refine emotional closeness skills. A protocol I created, Couples Anxiety Reduction Technique (CART) uses your partner's love to reduce or eliminates Anxiety triggers. A daily exercise, Holding Time, helps us internalize a felt sense of love and over time heals our wounds that set us up for painful cycles. NEEDS NOT MET = Repetitive fights, Silent-treatments, outbursts, condescending, being right against (rather than really listening) I FOCUS ON SHIFTING THE CULTURE OF YOUR RELATIONSHIP from its current negative painful cycles into being a safe place for both of you to GET YOUR ATTACHMENT NEEDS MET! You can then feel loved while together addressing your pattern. WITH COUPLES: I help you and your partner restore your emotional bond. My couples usually arrive very hurt and hurting. And in that state, they are often very hurtful to their partners. In the first session, I help your partner empathize with what it is like to be you in the relationship. We'll discuss the typical dance you get caught in. Instead of rehashing a fight, I show my couples how to slow it down and be curious and empathic for what your partner is going through. Following the EFT (Emotion Focused Therapy) model, I'll often first have the person who has more of an anxious and pursuing relational style to empathize with what it is like for their partner when they get caught into their painful dance. After it is gotten on a deep level, I'll then help the person who has a more withdrawing and self-regulating style to empathize for their partner. For content, we'll use the typical dance that you get caught into; but what we'll actually be doing is experiencing empathy on a deep fundamental level. This almost always re-invigorates the bond and inspires both members of the couple to be committed to wanting to learn how to shift the culture of their relationship and really show up for each other. Once there is a "team", then we'll focus on problem solving areas of difference. My primary focus is on restoring the bond, I do use psycho-education and help my couples learn communication, conflict management, and emotional attunement skills. WITH TRAUMA: I use EMDR to help my clients process their traumas. I believe that the body is designed to naturally process pain and traumas. When somebody has PTSD, it means that the trauma gets stuck in part of their brain because their particular trauma was so overwhelming to them. By doing bi-lateral stimulation (having the brain be stimulated on the left side and right side at the same time by talking with me about your experience while watching my hands move back and forth) it helps trick the brain into letting the healthier rational part of the brain to self-soothe the part of the brain where the trauma is stuck. Unlike Talk-Therapy, which is ineffective with trauma, EMDR produces rapid results. I am also trained in ways of using EMDR with extremely chronic PTSD from long-term abuse. I use Phil Manfield's Dyadic Resourcing, and Flash Techniques and Jim Knipe's techniques in working with more complex cases. WITH INDIVIDUALS: Unlike most therapy where the therapist just sits there and patiently listens and every once in a while asks a question to show you that they are awake, my style is to be very engaged, real and authentic with my people. Usually my clients come in with a problem (relationship not working, something at work sucks, feeling anxious or depressed, etc). While I do bond with my clients and listen to them; I have found that talking about your problems takes a very long time to create change. What I find more effective is to catch the empowered alive part of my client that shows up (even if it is very brief). I'll lovingly redirect my client's attention to the "state" that they are in when they are paying attention to the empowered part. I help my clients learn how to access this part of them that is already there (but they are in oppressive patterns that prevent them from accessing it). So, the therapy instead of being about learning why you are all "messed up" (where it all came from); instead, it is about learning how to shift your state of mind and choose to engage yourself and the world from your deeper self. My job is to show clients how to live in their empowered selves that they previously didn't know how to access.

I specialize in relationships and heartbreak issues of all kinds. I offer support and teach clients coping skills for trauma, grief, anxiety and depression. I place a strong emphasis on unleashing positive energy and highlighting strengths to help clients succeed in their relationships and lives. I offer a safe space where clients can explore challenging emotions and understand negative patterns that may undermine their success and happiness. I work with my clients to help them release negative habits and nurture positive change to bring forth greater joy and satisfaction in life. Other areas of expertise include support for veterans, divorcees, first responders, and other survivors of trauma.

My style is warm, down-to-earth, and creative. I try to do my best to provide a welcoming and safe environment for my patients to express themselves. I have a passion for working with patients who are seeking a meaningful life and see value in deepening their self-awareness. I take an integrative approach to treating patients, recognizing the individual needs of each person. I have been trained in a variety of treatment modalities, including EMDR, cognitive behavioral, psychodynamic, guided imagery, expressive arts, and solution-focused therapy. I have experience helping children, adolescents, and adults overcome obstacles such as substance abuse, anxiety, trauma, depression, grief and loss, difficult life transitions, relationship dysfunction, spiritual confusion, parent-child issues, and ADHD. Recognizing the need for help is the first step. Call to set up an appointment to continue the journey! “Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.” - Rumi

Are you feeling overwhelmed with anxiety and/or depression? Are your relationships unsatisfactory or dysfunctional? Is it a struggle to juggle work and family responsibilities? Do you long to be less exhausted and have more energy? These questions may describe how you are feeling or there may be other issues that concern you. Sometimes guidance and a safe place to talk about those feelings and experiences can help make some sense of how you may be affected the way you live your life. My goal is to create a warm, non-judgmental environment to safely explore innermost feelings in order to gain new insight and trust in your intuition. Together we look at both positive and difficult feelings in ways that foster fulfilling and healthy relationships with self and therefore, others. My hope is that our work together will help support you in finding new purpose in your life's journey and restoring hope that your dreams are possible. I am committed to helping you deal with challenges you may face that include dealing with life transitions, launching careers, or perhaps confronting feelings of depression, anxiety, loneliness, confusion and/or anger. My training and experience also includes working with individuals coping with issues related to aging, disabilities, bereavement,eating disorders, addictions and/or death and dying. I also integrate knowledge from my studies in yoga and meditation into my work with clients. My work with clients incorporates an eclectic approach (psychodynamic, humanistic, cognitive behavioral and narrative, and somatic experiencing). I often utilize tools such as art therapy (no artistic talent needed), sand tray, journaling, meditation, creative visualization, inner child work, role playing, and dream exploration in the therapy process. I have completed the first level of training in Senorimotor Psychotherapy which utilizes somatic techniques. This modalities works well with issues related to trauma. .

Is your life on a satisfying path? Are your relationships working the way you want them to? Do you take good care of yourself? Through compassionate listening, searching questions and practical ideas, together we can get you heading in the right direction. We can reduce pain and anxiety, clarify your choices, examine the forces that drive you, and help make your relationships more fulfilling. I use Emotionally-Focused Therapy in my couples work, which is a profoundly powerful approach to helping gain or regain a secure loving bond.

You know something isn't working. Maybe you're successful on paper but feel disconnected from your partner, your kids, yourself. Maybe anger keeps showing up when you don't want it to, or you're stuck in a cycle of anxiety that you've been powering through for years. Maybe you're going through a divorce and the ground has shifted under your feet. You've been handling things on your own for a long time. But "handling it" isn't the same as actually dealing with it and you're starting to feel the cost. Here's what I want you to know: You don't need to have it all figured out before you call. You don't need to know the right words. You just need to be willing to be honest about where you are. I've spent 20 years working with men who are navigating exactly these kinds of crossroads, relationship breakdowns, career pressure, identity questions, the weight of being the one who holds everything together. I'm direct, I'm practical, and I won't waste your time. We'll figure out what's actually going on, what you want, and how to get there. My approach draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, and Gestalt, but what that means in plain language is this: we'll look at the patterns driving your behavior, understand where they came from, build real skills for managing your emotions and relationships, and get you moving toward the life you actually want. I also work extensively with couples. If your relationship is strained and you're not sure whether to stay or go, that's exactly the kind of moment I help people navigate. Ready to talk? Call me at 858-901-6274 for a free 15-minute consultation. You'll tell me what's going on, I'll tell you how I'd approach it, and you can decide if it feels like the right fit. No pressure, no commitment. Just a conversation.

When your attempts to feel better about yourself or to calm your nervous system lead to obsessing about what you eat or what you weigh, you're left depleted, disconnected, and frustrated. Small missteps lead to huge feelings of failure and inadequacy. Your family and friends see you as "the strong one," and assume you've got it all together, but honestly, you feel on the edge of losing it. You want to be spontaneous and intuitive with your food, experiencing real satisfaction (not the fleeting kind that comes from "following the rules"). You want to befriend your body, respect, and appreciate it...maybe for the very first time. You want to release perfectionism and self-doubt, and honor your sensitive nature. I'm here to help. I'm a trauma-informed therapist who specializes in working with highly sensitive people coping with difficult relationships with food and their bodies. I believe that full recovery from the captivity of chronic dieting and eating challenges is absolutely possible. I believe your sensitivity is a gift, and I believe that you can move from just surviving to truly thriving.

My integrative approach blends evidence-based practices such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure and response prevention (ERP) with mindfulness, insight-oriented exploration, and elements of existential psychotherapy. Together, we’ll discover new ways of thinking and acting that, over time, help you feel more grounded, lighter, and more intentional. I’m collaborative and experimental, and I’ll work with you to find the right mix of approaches that fits your personality and life circumstances. During our sessions, we’ll work together not only to develop concrete strategies to manage everyday stress, but also to zoom out from your daily problems and reflect on your core life goals and values.

I work with intelligent, insightful individuals who, despite their best efforts, feel stuck when it comes to their relationships and self-esteem. Often admired for their competence and charisma, it may not be apparent they’ve experienced early trauma, emotional neglect, abandonment, or loss. They struggle privately with overthinking, self-criticism, and intense feelings like guilt, shame, sadness, and anger. Dynamics with romantic partners, family members, colleagues, or friends can be painful and confusing, resulting in conflict, anxiety, or distance. Coping mechanisms like perfectionism, control, avoidance, and people-pleasing provide a false sense of safety while actually sabotaging intimacy and inner-peace. Introspective and motivated, my clients crave deeper connection—with others and themselves—they just need a little help to get there. Specialty populations: LGBTQIA+, creatives, therapists, individuals practicing Ethical Non-Monogamy (ENM), those experiencing pet loss and grief, adult children of emotionally immature parents, loved ones of those exhibiting traits consistent with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD), or Substance Use Disorder (SUD). As we are hurt in relationship, so too do we heal. My approach to treating attachment and relational trauma is grounded in attachment and relationship. This means that my greatest priority is building safety and trust with my clients so they feel seen, heard, understood, and held in their experience in the ways they may not have in the past. The power of secure therapeutic connection alone can be transformative. Along the way, and depending on their needs, I address with my clients any immediate problems in their lives, using behavioral techniques and strategies to decrease mood or anxiety symptoms, and teaching skills to help with distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. When trauma enters the room, we work with it. Sometimes for a moment, sometimes for a session, and sometimes for weeks at a time. Experiential techniques are integrated here to facilitate emotional and somatic processing. We decide together how far to reach, and there’s no rushing the process. In fact, slowing down is often the key to progress. Over time, my clients develop a more secure sense of self, a deeper trust in their intuition, and greater self-compassion. They learn to communicate their needs clearly, set and maintain boundaries, and build healthy relationships. They increase their capacity to feel difficult emotions and make room for painful experiences without being consumed by them. In the safety of our relationship, my clients heal the wounds of the past, integrate the protective and vulnerable aspects of themselves, and build a future aligned with who they really are. Starting therapy is a revolution. You don’t have to settle, and you know it. You believe an examined life is an empowered life, so you’ve chosen curiosity. What’s working for me? What isn’t? Can I look closely at myself with compassion? At the same time, can I challenge myself to move through the world in a new way? My work is to join you in yours. To guide you through this conversation with yourself and enrich it with clinical expertise. To give you the support you need to be courageous. And to be as invested in your journey as you are.

My goals are to empower individuals struggling to make meaning from their lives, and ultimately, helping those who have a desire to embark on the road to feeling better about themselves, and their relationships with others. I am passionate about accompanying individuals on their journey to understand and take ownership of their destructive or dysfunctional behaviors, and accept that they can reconcile their thoughts, andor feelings. You do not have to travel this road feeling all alone; you can choose to correct your course and make a first step in a new direction seeking help in an atmosphere that is safe, non-judgemental, and foremost, confidential and private. My treatment modalities consist of counseling for individuals, couples, and families. I specialize in treating maladaptive thought processes and cognitive distortions, however, my services are available to anyone wishing to gain a better understanding of their world, and their environment whether it be at home, with family, or in other social situations. I understand firsthand that the path to wellness and healing in our life is a process fraught with challenges and difficulties. My own experience with depression, cognitive distortions, and anxiety provide me with an insight into the insidious cycles that we can find ourselves feeling trapped within. I welcome the opportunity to offer you guidance and support while on your journey to wellness. Make the decision to feel better starting today. Call me for an initial consultation.

Are you busy caring for others but running on empty? Do you manage a lot, but underneath struggle with your own anxiety, depression, grief, relationship issues, food or body image issues or unresolved trauma? Does a part of you long for more connection in your close relationships (partner or friendships)? Are your struggles needing your attention? Let's give you the attention you need and deserve. I look forward to creating a safe, attuned therapy relationship with you in which you can feel seen, understood and cared for. We will listen closely to your feelings, actions, thoughts, bodily sensations and even your dreams to foster greater self-awareness and self-compassion. We will work with 'difficult' emotions, helping you to process them. We will also track your patterns in intimate relationships and your attachment styles to help you become more secure and free to give and receive love from a place of greater health. We can use the therapy relationship as a context to experience how you relate and what you need. We can discover not only what keeps you stuck in your struggle but also what will help you find relief and connection. As needed, I can help you process trauma (single incident or repeated, complex) with a gentle, steady approach. Together we can listen to the mind and body to understand the negative beliefs you hold as a result of the trauma. We can also use different methods for working through the unprocessed pain. EMDR (eye movement, desensitization and reprocessing) is one specific form of trauma treatment I incorporate, as appropriate. For those who desire spiritual integration, I can help people understand themselves as it pertains to their faith journey. I can be a safe place to deconstruct harmful beliefs andor reconstruct helpful beliefs and practices. In all of these processes I trust that the rest, intimacy, acceptance, change, relief and creativity you desire will emerge.