about me
Born and raised in Southern California, I knew I wanted to help people and give back to my community since I can remember. As a proud child of immigrant parents, I learned the value of grit, resilience, perseverance, problem-solving, and adaptability early on. I also felt quite confused about my identity and where I fit in. Little did I know that the tension between the culture I was immersed in at school and the one my family kept alive at home would lay the foundation for my desire to help others who may have also felt lost navigating two worlds or who just struggled to find their place in the world.
I graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and in Sociology. I received my Masters in Social Work degree from the University of Southern California.
I have worked in various outpatient clinics where I’ve had the privilege of working with diverse populations from different ages, sexual, gender, ethnic, racial, socioeconomic, and religious backgrounds. I provided individual and group therapy in English and Spanish at the AIDS Service Center in Pasadena and Downtown Mental Health Center. Upon earning my master’s degree, I worked at the Child and Family Guidance Center where I received extensive training in providing individual, family, and group therapy to children, families, and adults in the CalWORKs program.
I have worked in various outpatient health settings and in educational settings, most recently providing therapy to UCLA students.
Over the years, I have received great training, experience, supervision and support. I have also sought my own treatment and know how challenging and empowering it can be to talk to a therapist and overcome challenges that might be leading to feeling down, stuck, lost, and unfulfilled.
My experience has allowed me to say with confidence that I specialize in the treatment of anxiety, depression, and trauma. I also have a lot of experience working with immigration challenges, various forms of abuse, work issues and burnout, grief, difficulties setting boundaries, and relationship difficulties.
I am certified in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)- both highly effective treatments in weakening the effect of negative emotions. I truly believe in both treatment models, but I recognize that there’s no one-size-fits-all, especially in therapy. I have an eclectic style and incorporate a lot of mindfulness, self-compassion, skills-building, communication and assertiveness training, and collaborative goal-setting.
I know that finding the right therapist can feel overwhelming. In order to help you feel more comfortable in determining whether I’m a good fit for you, I am happy to provide a free 15-minute consultation. I want to know why you are seeking treatment now, what you are expecting in treatment, and talk about how I can help you achieve long-lasting results.
Education
University of California, Santa Barbara, 2006 Bachelor of Arts, Psychology | Bachelor of Arts, Sociology.
University of Southern California, 2011 Master of Social Work
License California Board of Behavioral Sciences Licensed Clinical Social Worker (License# LCSW62868)