I have been passionate about helping kids and families since I was a kid myself. For as long as I can remember I have been interested in understanding people, their thoughts and feelings, hearing their stories and understanding what makes us who we are. When I was 11 years old I remember asking my mom about the difference between a Psychologist and a Psychiatrist. Looking back I would say that I developed such an early interest in Psychology because I grew up in a family that experienced multiple sources of stress. My Mom was a single parent, she went back to school after having children, we didn’t have much money, and my sister had learning disabilities. I have always felt a lot of empathy for kids growing up with this kind of stress, and learning Psychology seemed like a way I could help. Also I seemed to have been born with a passion for figuring out this journey of life, and I enjoy sharing the insights I have gained.

When I became a parent myself I realized how much support parents really needed. Kids don’t come with instruction manuals and we aren’t born with innate knowledge of child development. As I read more and more about child development the more I learned about how childhood experiences impact our brain development, our problem solving skills, impulse control, and our future relationships. I have always said that if a kid is misbehaving it’s because something is wrong, and what I was learning seemed to reinforce this belief. I have become passionate about sharing this information with parents so they can better understand what is behind their child’s behavior. Then we collaborate to teach your kids better problem solving skills and self-discipline so they will be able to better regulate their behavior. I understand that parenting can be a tough job and I always strive to maintain a collaborative and non-judgmental relationship with parents.

My Credentials: I have a Bachelors degree from Smith College. My major was Psychology with a focus on Child Development. I got my Master’s degree from the California Institute of Integral Studies, in Counseling Psychology. I have been licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist since 2013.

About my approach: I consider my approach to be Holistic and client-centered. What that means is that I draw on a variety of psychological theories to create a highly personalized therapy based on your needs. In addition to my knowledge of psychology, I also use information from other types of personal growth work and from various spiritual practices if we decide that they will be helpful to your growth and healing. We can use art, play, and sand tray, as well as talk to process feelings or learn new skills. I also work with parents or the whole family through coaching sessions. These sessions can focus on strengthening relationships and preventing problems or addressing a specific problem. I look forward to helping you and your family in any way I can.