Couples therapists in California

Whole-Hearted Therapy Centered on Genuine Connection. Ever had therapy that feels like it drags on without any results? Research shows the Power of Connection drives roughly 60% of Therapeutic Success. My Compassionate Therapy Style focuses on Building Bridges of Trust and cultivating a meaningful connection with positive outcomes. I also use holistic practices that dramatically reduce symptoms of depression & anxiety as well as trauma/grief.

I’m here to make this journey feel gentle, welcoming, and human. I keep things clear and simple so you can focus on what matters, not the overwhelm. My style is warm, encouraging, and a little poetic—because softness helps us breathe. Let’s take this step together, one calm moment at a time.

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the Coachella valley. Going into private practice was not an impulsive decision. It is something I have thought about carefully, and I am committed to making it work well for the people I work with. My background includes clinical work with adults and families

across a range of settings from psychiatric hospitals, to non profits and private practice. I am based in Palm Desert for in person sessions and serve clients throughout

California via telehealth.

I work with adults navigating anxiety, trauma, women navigating Postpartum and those facing life transitions. I also work with people dealing with chronic stress, relationship challenges, and the kind of emotional weight that builds up when life keeps asking more of you than you feel you have to give. I have a

particular connection to working with Latino and bicultural clients, single parents, and people who are navigating coparenting and the identity shifts that come with it. I also provide Immigration mental health evaluations for those seeking cancellation of removal, hardship waivers, U-Visas or VAWA evaluations to support their immigration case.

I believe therapy should feel like a space where you can finally exhale. I strive to create an environment that is supportive, honest, and free of judgment; a place where you feel truly seen and emotionally safe. My approach is collaborative and practical. I don’t just help you understand why you feel the way you do; I help you build real tools to navigate it.

I earned my degree from Cal State Fullerton and have extensive experience working in addiction treatment, eating disorder recovery, and women’s issues. Supporting women is especially meaningful to me. I am deeply passionate about helping women navigate challenges related to self-worth, body image, relationships, boundaries, life transitions, and identity. I understand how trauma, societal expectations, and relational dynamics can shape how women see themselves, and I approach this work with both compassion and clarity.

Together, we focus on strengthening mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and communication skills in ways that feel realistic and sustainable. I blend insight-oriented exploration with concrete strategies, because meaningful change happens when insight meets action. My goal is to help you better understand your patterns, feel more confident managing your emotions, and move forward with greater clarity, self-trust, and resilience.

There's a point where you've already tried to think your way through it. You've read things, talked to people, maybe even tried therapy before. And what you're carrying is still there, just underneath everything.

I work with adults navigating trauma, anxiety, depression, and the stretches where life stops making sense for a while. I also work with couples, specifically the moments where things break down and the longer work of finding your way back to each other. My background is unusual for a therapist: before this field I spent years as an English professor and academic dean, and I came into this work through music and filmmaking. That path still shapes how I practice. I especially enjoy working with artists, musicians, and anyone whose creative life and mental health are tangled up together.

I am dual board-certified as a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner and family nurse practitioner with a passion for functional medicine. I believe mental health is best addressed by looking at the whole person—mind, body, and soul. I’ve been working in healthcare for over 20 years. Through my experience in mental health, I have the privilege of working with adults aged 21–60. I support individuals navigating anxiety, depression, ADHD, PTSD, OCD, mood disorders, and eating disorders, offering a safe and respectful space for growth and healing.

I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Dance from San Francisco State University and my Master’s degree from Antioch University in Santa Barbara. I am a licensed therapist with over 15 years of experience supporting individuals and families as they navigate life’s complexities.

My practice focuses on trauma, ADHD, and mood disorders, while also providing support for parenting challenges and relationship stress.