My Approach

My life’s path as a psychotherapist has been influenced by many life experiences.  I grew up in a single parent home, due to my father’s death when I was 6.  Growing up, I witnessed my mother’s strong character, and at the same time, witnessed her struggles because she did not ask for help.  I watched her suffer more than she needed to.    As a young adult, I braved reaching out for support, and I received it!  I learned that asking for help was not as scary as I had perceived it to be.  In fact, it was very empowering.   This was a powerful life lesson and has helped me stay open to change and growth.    
     I have always been attuned to the emotional energy around me. At times, it has been confusing, and I needed someone to help me understand my thoughts and feelings. I sought therapy, and because I had a compassionate, knowledgeable, and warm hearted therapist, I let my guard down and opened up my heart and mind to new ideas.  This journey led me down a path of wanting to help others understand their own thoughts, feelings, and beliefs; to think freely and not be afraid of their feelings; to live authentically.

I work well with all ages. Not only do I have educational knowledge in therapeutic work, I have life experience.
    After earning an undergraduate degree in Sociology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), I enrolled in California State University Dominguez Hills Master’s of Social Work program. During graduate school, I interned at Locke High School in South Central Los Angeles and Barton Hill Elementary School in San Pedro.  I learned so much about myself through my experiences with the most amazing youth and their families.  They taught me about inner strength,  perseverance, about hope, about dreams; and I knew I wanted to work with people to encourage them to use all the strengths they have to become all they can be.  
    Following graduate school, I began my journey in becoming a licensed clinical social worker.  In the state of California, we are required to have 3200 hours of in-depth training in various capacities of social work.  My training consisted of face to face psychotherapy, focusing on trauma informed care, post traumatic stress, psycho-education, anger management, parenting, domestic violence, grief and mourning, depression, anxiety, marital and pre-marital counseling, sexual trauma,  self-esteem, self harming behaviors, attachment issues, suicide ideation and mindfulness.  My experience of  “in-the-trenches” social work has given me an invaluable perspective on human resilience. My desire is to help any age achieve balance, hope, and motivation in everyday life.

  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker, (LCSW) for the State of California – December 2015
    Lic. # 70020
  • Pupil Personnel Services Credential – 2011
  • Prepare & Enrich Certification – 2014
  • Mediation Certification – 2014
  • Domestic Violence 40 Hour Training – 2016
  • Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy TFCBT) (online certificate)
  • Expressive Healing Arts with the Traumatized Client Mediation Training, City Attorney’s Office
  • Dispute Resolution Program, Los Angeles, CA (certificate)
  • Prepare & Enrich Certification  – for pre-marital or  married couples
  • 40 Hour Domestic Violence Training (Certificate)
  • The Neuroscience of Attachment and Love- with Dr. Marc Milstein
  • A Child’s Developing Brain and the Impact of Trauma Across the Lifespan – presented by The Los Angeles Child Guidance Clinic