Find a therapist in California — covered by insurance

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with over 25 years of experience providing compassionate, trauma-informed care across diverse clinical settings. Licensed in both California and Oregon, my career has been dedicated to supporting individuals and families navigating complex life challenges, including trauma, anxiety, depression, and substance use. I am also Native American and can often relate to clients coming from that community.

My background is uniquely broad, ranging from medical social work and home health to forensic mental health within state hospitals and correctional facilities. I have extensive experience working with Tribal communities in rural Alaska, California, and Oregon, providing culturally sensitive psychotherapy and advocacy. Prior to 2000, my foundational work spanned forensic inpatient care, day treatment, and residential programs.

In my practice, I utilize a collaborative, biopsychosocial approach to help clients adapt to changing health statuses and life transitions. My goal is to provide a safe, supportive environment where patients feel empowered to access resources and achieve meaningful change. I am committed to delivering evidence-based interventions that honor each individual's unique history and readiness for growth.

Maybe what aches most is not the change itself, but the fear that someone you love is slipping out of reach — even if that someone is you. Everything feels different, yet somehow the same. One minute you are putting on pajamas, and the next you are spiraling because it is the first moment of quiet you have had all day. There is this gut feeling that your heart can no longer be bound with band-aids, but soul-searching is a lot before the alarm goes off tomorrow. You do not have to make sense of it all alone at midnight — that is what I am here for.

Life is full of ups and downs, and I have learned from both personal and professional experience that 'suffering in silence' is not really sustainable or healthy for anyone. You deserve to feel heard and to function at your best level. I have 6 years' experience post-graduation from the University of Texas with helping folks do just that. From nonprofits, to medical clinics, to correctional facilities, to teletherapy, I have connected deeply and partnered with many clients and families to trudge through some of their darkest hours and find more validation, calmness, and acceptance. My fluency in Spanish has given me opportunities to break down walls and connect with hundreds of clients whose cultural background is different than mine. I would be honored to have the chance to see if working together is a good fit for your healing journey.

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.

I work with individual adults and certain families who are feeling stuck, overwhelmed, sad, lonely, sensitive, anxious, or defeated. If you're feeling heavy by everything going on, or feeling frantic, or having conflict in your relationships or are just feeling lost in any way, I would love to see if I can help! I also work with family units going through transition or strain, such as conflict between a parent and their adult child, or supporting parents who are experiencing difficult things with their child or teen.

I have a lot of experience helping people through loss, whether it's a breakup, losing a job, or a loved one - including loss of a pet, which is a specialty of mine. I have special interest in supporting other therapists, and also community organizers and activists who are engaged in social justice work. Many of my clients are trans or NB, and others are gay, lesbian, or queer. Poly and kink affirming.

I offer telehealth services to clients in California, Idaho, Washington, or Virginia.

The focus is to help individuals heal, energize, and become aware of their inner strengths. I achieve this by providing a neutral safe space, listening to your concerns, and customizing a treatment plan. I help individuals focus on the Solution.