Find a Therapist near Scotts Valley, CA

I am a graduate of University of Southern California School of Medicine and New York University Psychiatry residency. I treat adult patients for a wide variety of mental health issues or disorders. I also welcome patients, who do not have diagnosable psychiatric disorders but are interested in their personal growth. I tailor my therapeutic approach to each individual patient’s issues and goals. Thus, I utilize eclectic style of psychotherapy incorporating various therapeutic approaches based on their effectiveness for individual needs of each particular patient.

Good therapy is all about making connections and building personal awareness. Everyone gets stuck sometimes! Most people at some point find themselves feeling unmotivated, uninspired, isolated, or even completely lost. During times of struggle and overwhelm having another mind to help you think and make meaning within a safe and non-judgemental space can be the key to moving forward. My therapeutic approach is warm, engaged, and non-directive. By listening deeply I strive to meet each person where they are and to help make meaningful links between past and present with an eye toward decreasing emotional and psychological suffering. I love my work as a therapist and I have the utmost respect for every person who entrusts me to do this very important work with them. It is an honor to hold my clients histories, stories, vulnerabilities, and strengths. I am continually awed by the courage and resilience of the human spirit and am grateful to witness these qualities in my clients everyday within a therapeutic context.

Is there a dark cloud hanging over you that makes it difficult to find a reason to get out of bed, go to work, or function on a day-to-day basis? Do you have a hard time relaxing, engaging in activities that once gave you joy, or feeling comfortable in social situations? Has a traumatic event left you in a constant state of fear that prevents you from letting your guard down or feeling safe—even in ordinary situations? Perhaps a recent life transition or change in relationship status has you questioning your identity or plans for the future. Or it could be that a chronic medical condition or recent diagnosis has changed the way you live, and now, you need help navigating that new aspect of your life. If any of this sounds familiar, you are not alone. Dealing with change, mental health concerns, or chronic pain can chip away at you, draining away your strength and resilience. The limitations that they impose upon you can test every fiber of your being and make you feel defeated long before the real fight is over. And although friends and family mean well, it can be painful to see others who are unaffected by and often misunderstand the obstacles you face. The good news is that with the right skills, the right mindset, and the right support, you can learn to handle your life's challenges and demands with more calm, more confidence, and with clear focus. I treat various issues related to anxiety and depression, trauma, complex PTSD, ADHD, medical illness, chronic pain, and job or family stress.

I truly value the relationships I build with clients both professionally and personally. I enjoy bringing creativity, humor, sensitivity, and curiosity into the therapy process. I want to guide people toward their own healing. I help them develop a new narrative for themselves so they can thrive. I strive to support individuals in feeling confident in who they are without judgment. I help them not let challenges or the past define their lives. I believe in overcoming adversity. I believe we can find our capacity for change. I am continually inspired by the courage and resilience I see in people as they navigate life’s challenges and by the way they bravely reveal their vulnerabilities in order to grow. I’m so glad you’re here. I want to hear your story.

We can all benefit from the help of an empathic, understanding and listening other from time to time. With my non-judgmental and thoughtful approach, along with a safe environment for honest self-reflection, you can begin to accept the parts of your life that have brought you to this particular point in time. Together, we will work to further your understanding and acceptance, increase your emotional well-being and personal growth, and help you make the best choices for the futures of you and your loved ones.

I view the difficult challenges of life as openings for profound positive change. Relationship conflicts, separation, bereavement, trauma, job loss, midlife and other life transitions are doorways to deeper explorations that can further your personal growth. Therapy is a powerful way to facilitate that process of healing and discovery. Working with a skilled and compassionate therapist, you can find the courage and freedom to be your true self, enhance the quality of your relationships and bring new meaning and purpose to your work and to your life as a whole. I believe in the inherent strengths, resilience and creative potential of who you are as a unique and valuable individual. I also believe in the ability of couples, families, and work groups to learn the art of clear and empowering communication that facilitates new levels of understanding and cooperation. With over thirty years of professional experience, I'm committed to helping you heal the pain and distress that stand in the way of having your relationships with others, yourself, and your work be a source of joy and fulfillment.

Every positive therapy depends on a good personal connection. I begin by trying to get a clear sense of how your life feels to you, and what you want to change. Regardless of the issue that brings you to therapy, I am committed to discovering together the solutions that work best for you. I have been privileged to witness this process throughout my practice, and I have come to believe that an understanding and connected treatment relationship is a powerful tool for change, growth, and enlivenment. My approach is warm, thoughtful, and engaged. I share my thoughts clearly and openly, and offer tools that I think will be useful, but also recognize that you are the best judge to choose what works for you. I am committed to helping you be more effective and feel in control of the direction your life is taking.

I work with individuals across the life span using a relational, collaborative and non-directive approach. My goal is to empower others and help them identify dysfunctional relational patterns, recognize behaviors that are no longer working and explore new options for living. As relational trust deepens in a safe therapeutic environment, the healing process begins and creative energies are released. My approach, while informed by attachment and psychodynamic theories, is fundamentally client centered and respects your own innate growth process. I also utilize expressive arts and sand tray when appropriate to facilitate your process. My hope is to empower you to feel more in control of your own life and to make positive choices.

Looking for a new therapist can be quite daunting and time consuming, can't it? I understand how important and crucial it is to find a suitable match. I pride myself on creating a safe, supportive, and open environment for my patients. I am a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, a CADC-II (Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor) with over 17 years of professional experience in addiction and recovery, a Certified Specialist in Anger Management, and a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional. I work with those struggling with depression, anxiety, addiction, trauma, anger, emotional disturbances, change of life transitions, chronic pain, relationship concerns, work burnout, personality disorders, intrainterpersonal issues, and general stressors. I utilize evidenced-based therapy including an inclusive and integrated humanistic model that tailors therapy specific to your needs. I believe that building a rapport is the most important aspect of the therapeutic connection between therapist and patient. I will meet you where you are at! If you are unsure of therapy, we will explore it together and I will assist you on your therapeutic journey! I use a humanistic and cognitive-behavioral model that puts the patient first and includes CBT, ACT, IPT, relapse prevention, anger management, and motivational interviewing. I am here to help you cope with whatever you are experiencing no matter how big or small! I have worked with an array of patients from adolescents to elderly to those in the foster care system, corrections and justice system, detox, residential and outpatient centers, private practice settings, and in-home care. I provide individual short-term and long-term psychotherapy, diagnosis, and treatment planning. Whether you are new to the therapy process or if you are in search of a new therapist, I am here to help guide you on this path! Providers in my office are allies of Racial-Justiced and LGBTQIA+ and also work with law enforcement, first responders, veterans, and medical professionals.

Many couples+ and individuals I work with are on the brink of expansion. Perhaps you are navigating new sexual interests, ethical non-monogamy, or dating for money. Maybe you've been polyamorous for years but are navigating the transition to include new partners into a shared household. Maybe it's time to explain it to the kids. Often there is an income, power, or sexual desire discrepancy causing friction that deserves tending to create sustainable dynamics. Many of the individuals I work with traverse the world with partners, genders, fetishes, or professional experiences that are misunderstood by the dominant culture. I work frequently with people recovering from orthodox experience. I am in service to your healing, keeping you connected to a grounded source of abundance, gaining skills to navigate personal and professional dynamics, and being in keen awareness of your power. I provide sex-positive, body-positive therapy for individuals, couples, and constellations embracing that consensual sexual activities are fundamentally healthy and pleasurable. I support folks navigating their relationship to substances and integrating psychedelic experience. I use emotionally focused, somatic, and attachment-focused evidence-based practices informed by Womanism, Jungian, and Transpersonal Psychology‍. I’m an immigrant. I’m queer. I’m non-binary. I am deeply nourished supporting people therapeutically and consider this work a personal calling. Together we can work to identify values, make meaning, integrate experience, and build you a network of support. Originally an ecotherapist, I now work mostly by phone or by video but continue to encourage my clients to consider meeting me while walking, or moving in their bodies when appropriate. I continue to offer ecotherapy when requested in three locations; San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Humboldt county redwood forest. “The doors to the world of the wild Self are few but precious. If you have a deep scar, that is a door, if you have an old, old story, that is a door. If you love the sky and the water so much you almost cannot bear it, that is a door. If you yearn for a deeper life, a full life, a sane life, that is a door.” ― Clarissa Pinkola Estés

Congratulations on your search for more meaning, more health, more intimacy, or a more vibrant life! I have been a psychologist for over thirty years and am grateful every day to do this work. I have been doing it long enough that I am good at what I do, and know what I can't do. I like to meet with people and assess together whether we are a good fit. I am direct, perceptive, intuitive, and straightforward. I have worked with many different kinds of people with different kinds of problems over the years and especially enjoy working with couples, women, therapists, people from minority cultures or orientations, and people who want to use the therapy relationship to heal. For people who are interested, I also do psychoanalysis, which is a more intensive form of therapy multiple times per week. I am a mother of an adult child, a lesbian, a gardener, and a long-term resident of San Francisco. Give me a call if you feel I might be a fit.