Trauma and PTSD therapists & psychiatrists in Culver City, CA

Hi! Are you curious about what therapy would be like? Or maybe you’ve gone before and are back for more? One of my first goals is to make sure you feel at ease with the therapeutic process. You don’t have to worry about what to say or where to start. It’s my honor and duty to ask the questions and listen intently. I’m here for you!

I’m a California Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist. I am trained in Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR) and have a certification in perinatal mental health (PMH-C). Before I was a therapist, I worked as a preschool teacher. I was drawn to clinical work because of the struggles that I observed in the families of the children in my classrooms. During my clinical training, I worked primarily with couples, teens, and adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Though I love working with children, I am passionate about my work with adults because healthy, supported, and self-compassionate adults are the key to health for future generations.

When I was a kid, I often got in trouble for being too loud with asking questions and calling adults out on things that didn’t seem fair to me. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been an advocate of some kind. A career in social work, then, made total sense to me when I discovered the field as an undergraduate at San Jose State.

Two more degrees and a license later, I still carry the spirit of that little girl, fighting for the underserved. I have a long history of diagnosing and treating adults with severe and chronic mental illness. I take my work very seriously and it’s important to me to help my clients heal, grow, and thrive.

My clients seek my services as a way to recuperate from lifetimes of overworking themselves into worthiness. I guide them toward unlearning the things that taught them they weren’t enough. I give them the tools they need to create wellness and wholeness in a way that’s unique to who they are.

Through my private practice and my brand, Therapy is a Lifestyle, I want to help you see yourself in new ways - without the lens of your trauma. I specialize in anxiety disorders, EMDR, and other trauma-informed approaches to help you do that.

Let’s take the journey toward your recovery, together. Being here is your first step!

My expertise is in child and adolescent anxiety reduction, OCD, autism and ADHD. My goal is to provide education to kids and their parents about anxiety and related and co-occurring conditions. I also frequently treat phobias, separation anxiety, emotion regulation issues, school refusal, learning disabilities, trauma, giftedness and 2e.

I am also experienced in helping adults and children navigate issues related to divorce including coparenting, custody planning, divorce navigation from considering separation (discernment) through divorce mediation/proceedings to post judgment. I also have expertise in helping adults navigate post separation abuse, domestic violence and coercive control.

I'm a licensed psychotherapist with 34 years of experience. I do my best to meet you "where you are" and to offer compassionate presence as you progress through your personal process of self-discovery, self-identification, and evolution.

I'm honored to be part of your journey of transformation. I approach sessions in collaboration, as you learn to free yourself from judgment, criticism, and pain; to change negative perceptions that do not serve; and to experience more ease and peace in life.

I provide individual therapy to adults and teens. I practice therapy from a place of empathy, nonjudgment, warmth and humor. I believe that each person holds wisdom and unique gifts and talents and that my role, as your therapist, is to reflect the light within you. I have been providing therapy for 20 years and worked in community mental health, as a clinical supervisor, for 14 years before fulfilling my dream of opening my full-time private practice in 2023.

Let's start wherever you are. Stressed? Overwhelmed? Anxious? Unmotivated? Feel like you're faking it through life? I'm with you. I welcome you to be heard, to let down and rest. I support you in working through past events, discovering your true self, and learning new skills to empower you. I work with individuals in person in my cozy office in Pasadena.

Seeking therapy is acknowledging you are allowed to take space, time, and care for yourself. Finding the right therapist is an important first step. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) who provides compassionate, evidence-based therapy for adolescents, adults, and seniors experiencing anxiety, trauma, eating disorders, depression, relationship challenges, life transitions, grief, and stress. My approach is warm, collaborative, and grounded in genuine connection. I believe healing begins when people feel understood without judgement. Together, we will work to increase insight, strengthen resilience, and create meaningful, lasting change that aligns with your values and goals.