Book a therapist or psychiatrist in Oakland, CA covered by Aetna

Introduction

I primarily use a cognitive behavioral approach. My focus area of practice is helping clients improve their lives and find meaningful change.

My communication style

My sessions are calm, collegial, interactive, respectful, directive, and helpful.

How I help clients reach goals

Change does not necessarily take a long time. We're 'shooting for the moon' right away. What's the worst that could happen?

My journey to becoming a provider

Helping others help themselves is an absolute privilege! I'd pay them to do this work (but please don't tell them that.) How did I get here? It's a long story. I originally went to college to be a journalist, but changed to broadcasting. Dumb. I needed to jumpstart my life, so I changed to this profession. Talk about purpose and meaning!

I use family systems thinking to understand how relationships shape your experiences, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to address thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. I'm also interested in how attachment styles influence your choices and connections. I believe in meeting you where you are and tailoring our work to what fits you best.

It is my prayer to build a practice that helps you reach a place where your mental health is truly at the forefront. My hope is that with each appointment—and each day—you feel supported in moving closer to the best version of yourself.

I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California. I’ve worked 10+ years in community mental health and social work in the Central Valley. I work with trauma, feeling stuck, depression, anxiety, adhd, relationship challenges.

As a Board-Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with over a decade of clinical experience, I bring something distinctive to mental health care: a research-informed approach grounded in real-world compassion. My background as a Sub-Investigator in psychiatric trials keeps me current with the latest treatment innovations, while my Master's from Western University of Health Sciences and ongoing Doctoral studies ensure I'm always expanding my expertise.

I specialize in the conditions that require specialized understanding: ADHD, autism, complex patients, OCD, personality disorders, PTSD/trauma, schizophrenia/psychosis disorders, and substance use disorders, alongside comprehensive treatment for depression, anxiety, panic, mood disorders, and bipolar disorder. What excites me about this work is that every client teaches me something new about resilience and recovery.

My clinical experience spans diverse settings, from outpatient care to cutting-edge research, giving me a unique perspective on evidence-based treatment. I combine thorough psychiatric evaluations using DSM-5 criteria with personalized medication management, always staying current with the latest advances in psychiatric care.

What I want you to know is this: your mental health journey matters to me both professionally and personally. I'm committed to providing care that's not just clinically excellent, but deeply respectful of your individual experience and goals.

You're here! Right here, right now! You may not be where you want to be yet, but you have already taken a step towards facing challenges with a strength you never knew you had. Besides, it doesn't hurt to get a little assistance on the way. I'm here to help you. Let me tell you something. Nothing is as remarkable as seeing positive change in my client! Helping you make even the smallest steps towards your goal every day brings me joy and I make sure to let you know when I've noticed your progress. Even when they seem too small to notice, I'll notice! You’ll be surprised how much a little positivity can help.

I am a licensed professional counselor and a certified rehabilitation counselor with additional experience in helping individuals get back to work to attain the highest success possible after experiencing any life changing issues. I have helped people with almost everything you can think of. I have helped those with mild and severe mental health concerns.

When I counsel, my style is energetic, compassionate, and supportive. I praise your progressions, and I can show you how to be proud of your efforts and steps in the right direction. I am client-centered and I want to listen to you and be as helpful as is humanly possible. I love to empower my clients. I can't wait to meet you!

You may have held doubts about talk therapy and perhaps are thinking therapy may not work at all for what you are dealing with. Psychotherapy like all science is continually changing. Both new and long held approaches to well-being are vast. I invite you to consider Brainspotting before you rule out therapy entirely. My role as a Brainspotting clinician is to offer you support, as you discover your innate capacity for positive self change. I specialize in trauma focused therapy, specializing in treating anxiety disorders. I focus on various forms of addiction, OCD, behavioral issues, depression, bi-polar and mood disorders.

I am a masters level trained Brainspotting clinician and a U.S. Army veteran. I believe in facilitating change in a supportive environment, following and observing your amazing capacity to heal from trauma in your therapeutic work. I work with veterans, first-responders, and other populations struggling with unresolved trauma and anxiety disorders.

Your unique circumstances are to be understood, honored respected and explored in a judgement free, supportive and caring environment. The issues that you bring into therapy remain entirely up to you. I will listen to your wants and needs; joining you on the journey towards your desired sense of well-being.

I was always drawn to people who went unseen or unheard. Others told me I had a calm voice and that they could tell me anything. That led to a lifelong study of how people free themselves from their own patterns, later deepened by psychoanalysis and professional work in eating disorders, addiction treatment, and managed care settings like Kaiser.