Pronouns: she/her

Work schedule: Sun - Th

Therapist in Sacramento, CA

My approach to counseling for adults

You’re thoughtful and caring, and always try to show up for others, but you struggle to show yourself the same care. You can anticipate others’ needs but you have trouble recognizing and prioritizing your own. Maybe you’ve learned that the most important thing is to be available to others and put your own needs on the backburner. You feel depleted, overwhelmed, scattered, and sometimes taken-for-granted. I totally get it. It’s exhausting being there for everybody but yourself. Things end up this way for complicated reasons. Together, we can gain clarity and perspective, so you can start to feel more centered and secure within yourself. 

I help adults explore and heal from the lasting impacts of childhood pain and the systems that have shaped their lives. Together, we look at how family, culture, religion, and society can influence how we relate to our emotions, needs, and sense of self. We will explore the values you absorbed from your environment as well as the values that are unique to you and will help you find your center when you feel lost. 

I believe healing begins with understanding and compassion, not judgment or striving for perfection. In our work, we’ll focus on getting to know and appreciate all parts of you, building self-acceptance and greater ease with uncertainty and discomfort. I incorporate mindfulness and self-compassion practices to help you build internal security so that you can better navigate life’s natural ups and downs. 

Our imaginations have the power to make us anxious and also to bring calm and clarity. I welcome dreams, metaphors, and creative expression as ways to connect with your inner world and uncover deeper meaning in your life. More than anything, I want our time together to feel like a safe, collaborative space where you can embrace your full humanity—where vulnerability and imperfection are not weaknesses, but vital parts of living a fulfilling, authentic life.

my specialties include young adults, low self-esteem, and trauma therapy:

• Adults in their 20’s, 30’s, and 40’s (i.e. young adult counseling)

• People who struggle with boundaries, perfectionism and practicing self-acceptance & self-care

• Individuals experiencing low self-esteem, feeling like they’re “never enough”, or not confident

• Trauma therapy for individuals who have experienced CEN (Childhood Emotional Neglect), complex trauma (CPTSD), complex family relationships, painful life events (even if you’re not sure it qualifies as a trauma)

• Therapy for anxiety (generalized, acute, social anxiety, worry, rumination)

• Friend and sibling pairs who want to work on their relationship

some of my therapy approaches:

• Person-centered, relational, and humanistic therapies

• Compassion-focused therapy

• Feminist therapy

• Trauma therapy

EDUCATION/Previous counseling experience

I received my master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from John F. Kennedy University and worked for two-and-a-half years counseling children and their families in Citrus Heights before starting at Thrive in 2020.

WORK IN EDUCATION

I enjoyed six years working in the public school system as an instructional aide for teens with special needs. During my time in special education, I enjoyed coming up with creative ways to connect with students and help them learn. I also enjoyed assisting students to express themselves creatively through art.

I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Sacramento.

I am a LMFT #129032, Program Manager, and a Supervisor at Thrive.

More about me

When I’m not working, I love watching movies at home or at Tower Theatre, walking, bird watching, exploring Sacramento, or relaxing with my family (kitty, gecko, and human loved ones). I also love journaling, painting, podcasts, and getting comfort and inspiration from reading Maria Popova’s blogs on The Marginalian. I believe laughter is a powerful connector and healer so I try to laugh as much as I can.

Pronouns: she/her