Book a therapist or psychiatrist in El Cajon, CA covered by Aetna

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist based in Sonoma County with six years of clinical experience working with young people and families. I've worked across a range of settings including intensive residential treatment, county behavioral health, and outpatient care, and I bring that breadth of experience into my private practice. I specialize in navigating anxiety, trauma, identity, family conflict, and life transitions.

I believe meaningful change begins with feeling genuinely seen, heard, and understood. As a queer therapist, I recognize the importance of having a space where you can show up authentically, without fear of judgment. My goal is to create a warm, affirming, and collaborative environment where you feel comfortable exploring your experiences, navigating challenges, and discovering new ways of understanding yourself.

I enjoy working with individuals navigating anxiety, relationship challenges, identity exploration, self-esteem, and significant life transitions. I am especially passionate about creating an affirming space for LGBTQ+ individuals and others who may have struggled to feel fully understood or accepted.

My academic background combines neuroscience, which I studied during my undergraduate education, with my graduate education in clinical psychology. This foundation has shaped my curiosity about the connections between the brain, emotions, behavior, and the experiences that make us who we are. I bring this perspective into my work, balancing an understanding of the science behind mental health with an appreciation for the complexity of each person's individual story.

Above all, I believe therapy is a partnership. You are the expert on your own experiences, and my role is to walk alongside you with empathy, insight, and genuine curiosity as we work toward greater self-understanding, emotional well-being, and a life that feels more authentic, aligned, and fulfilling.

Life is about maintaining balance in all aspects, through love. There is so much out there to learn and grow from, so why not have fun doing it? A little about me: I love going to CrossFit every morning. I am a huge nerd, constantly listening to audibles and/or podcasts such as Huberman Lab and non-fiction books. I enjoy being outdoors: snowboarding, motorcycle/dirt biking, hiking, any movement &traveling. My parents are from Peru, so I visit there often. Tambien hablo español! Therapy can help your understanding of where your emotions come from connecting the past to the present, and decreasing the intensity by making sense of it.

Currently, I am offering tele-health sessions only, with availability M-TH from 9:00am to 2:30pm. I am unable to offer appointments outside of these hours. If that works for you, let me know if you’re interested in booking a session, or if you’d prefer to start with a brief 10-15 minute phone consultation!

Prior to starting my private practice, I practiced for several years at a mental health agency. I accumulated experience working with children, adolescents, and adults while using individual therapy, couples therapy, and family therapy in an effort to meet each client's needs and allow for maximum growth and overall well-being. I’ve always wanted to help individuals around me evolve and overcome difficult situations that life puts people in and felt that marriage and family therapy was the field that encompassed most of the practices I wanted to expand on. I am certified in several evidence-based practices (EBP), which is the concept that occupational practices ought to be based on scientific evidence for maximal progress and successful outcomes. I am certified in the following EBPs: Cognitive behavioral therapy, trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, positive parenting, and managing and adapting practices.

We all reach seasons of life that feel bigger than what we expected to carry.

Maybe becoming a parent has felt more overwhelming than you imagined. Maybe your baby spent time in the NICU, and life after coming home hasn't looked the way you thought it would. Maybe you're a new dad trying to find your footing, feeling anxious, disconnected, or unsure of where you fit. Maybe you're worried about your child's development, or maybe you're navigating anxiety, relationship challenges, or a major life transition of your own.

I work with children, adolescents, adults, and families, with specialized experience supporting early childhood mental health, developmental differences and neurodiversity, pregnancy and postpartum, and families navigating NICU stays and medically complex journeys.

Whatever brings you here, my goal is to help you better understand what's happening, feel more confident moving forward, and create meaningful change that lasts beyond the therapy space.