Trauma and PTSD therapists & psychiatrists in Palo Alto, CA

Hello,

I'm a licensed marriage and family therapist in California. My goal as a therapist is to support you in your journey to regain trust in your unique strengths and overcome life's challenging situations, and help you make your life happier and more meaningful. My style is warm, collaborative, and culturally sensitive.

I have been in practice for over a decade, and work with a wide range of conditions including trauma, depression and complex life transitions.

Welcome! I specialize in medication management (psychopharmacology) of depression, anxiety disorders, OCD and ADHD of adult patients. I graduated from the Stanford Psychiatry Residency Program in 2004 where I served as chief resident and have been in private practice since 2005. You may learn more about my practice at https://sfpsychiatrylaw.com. Please note that the first appointment is done in my office in Belmont. I talk to prospective clients on the phone before booking the inital intake appointment. I am not able to take all the patients who wish to schedule.

Being a therapist and helping people overcome feelings of isolation and conflict is one of my life's greatest joys. I specialize in helping individuals, families, and couples work through depression, anxiety, grief, and relationship issues. I also provide critical assistance through domestic violence and rape counselling. It is important to me to help patients along on their journey through professional, evidence based counselling.

I'm an open minded individual and welcome any topics in treatment

Please note that although I enjoy working with couples, I will no longer be able to offer couples therapy due to insurance reimbursement issues.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC II) with over 25 years of experience supporting individuals, couples, and families as they navigate life and the concerns that arise. I specialize in addiction, trauma, and co-occurring mental health challenges. I bring a deep commitment to meeting people where they are in their process. In my practice, I offer a warm, collaborative, and trauma-informed space where clients feel seen, heard, and supported. I believe meaningful change happens when we honor each person’s lived experience and work together toward self-identified goals at a pace that feels safe and manageable. I meet clients where they are, whether they are just beginning to explore change or looking to deepen their healing and personal growth.

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My Training

I am a licensed clinical psychologist and a graduate of the PGSP–Stanford Psy.D. Consortium, a program known for its rigorous academic training and emphasis on evidence-based care. There, I received instruction and mentorship from some of the leading clinicians and researchers in the country. My practice draws on specialized training and extensive experience in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) for couples, and comprehensive psychological assessment.

My Approach to Therapy

My clinical approach is focused, compassionate, and results-oriented. I work actively with clients to identify what’s holding them back, and to build the tools and insight needed to move forward with clarity and confidence. For individuals, I use CBT to help shift unhelpful thought and behavior patterns. For couples, I use EFT to deepen emotional connection, improve communication, and restore trust. Whether I’m working with a client facing anxiety, burnout, or relationship conflict, my aim is always the same: to help you reconnect with your strength, values, and capacity for meaningful change.

My Professional Background

Before becoming a psychologist, I served as a U.S. Marine Corps officer, including deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Leading diverse teams in high-stress environments taught me how to connect across differences—with people of all backgrounds, beliefs, and personalities. That experience continues to shape my work today. I bring a grounded, nonjudgmental presence to therapy, and I take seriously the responsibility of earning each client’s trust. My passion—both then and now—is helping individuals become the strongest, most authentic version of themselves.

My passion is to help others find more joy and meaning in their lives. I work creatively and collaboratively with adults, teens, and children to explore the heart of the matter. I have experience working in the schools, with a team at a counseling clinic, and in private practice. I specialize with teenagers and their families and moving into couples work as well.

My therapy style is compassionate and supportive. Clients find me engaging, warm and friendly. I've been a licensed psychotherapist since 1987 and I have experience with a variety of clients from differing age groups, ethnicities and cultural backgrounds. During my career I've helped clients with relationship challenges, the expression and management of emotion, and improving their quality of life.

I’m a licensed therapist trained in somatic psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies. I work with individuals, couples, and men, supporting clients with anxiety (including social anxiety), depression, ADHD, relationship challenges, trauma, and life transitions. I also help people navigating loneliness, work-related stress, and cultural or identity-related experiences, including multiracial relationships. My goal is to help people better understand themselves, their patterns, and how they relate to others. I tend to be warm, down-to-earth, and collaborative, while also being direct when it’s helpful.

Do you carry the weight of your responsibilities home? Does it impact your relationships, your sense of peace, or your ability to recognize yourself beneath the demands of daily life? Growth and healing take courage, and I admire your willingness to prioritize your well-being.

My practice focuses on three areas:

• Individuals in high-pressure helping and public service professions, including first responders and those working in EMS, Fire, Law Enforcement, Corrections, Dispatch, Judicial settings, Healthcare, Mental Health, and Education. My dual Master’s degrees in Marriage and Family Therapy and Trauma & Related Conflict, combined with lived experience, allow me to offer a culturally informed understanding of the unique challenges these roles carry. Together, we address operational stress, strengthen resilience, and support sustainable well-being.

• Adults navigating identity, authenticity, creativity, and life transitions, including LGBTQ+ individuals and those seeking to reconnect with themselves, clarify their values, and build lives that feel meaningful and aligned.

• Older adolescents and emerging adults preparing for graduation and the transition into college, vocational paths, or adulthood as they explore who they are, what matters to them, and how they want to move through the next chapter of their lives.