Family therapy and counseling in Hawaii

Are you feeling anxious, stressed, or just need someone to talk to? You've come to the right place. Throughout our lifetime, we are faced with many challenges, barriers, and successes that can all have their own level of overwhelmingness and joy. Whatever you are going through, let's work through it together.

Client-focused, not one-size fits all. It's all about relationships. I'm here to listen and perhaps gently guide. I use psychodynamic, cognitive behavioral and Gottman technique with couples.

My communication style is nonjudgmental, authentic, and grounded in honesty, empathy, and respect. I believe that meaningful therapeutic work happens when clients feel safe enough to be themselves and know they will be met with understanding rather than criticism. My goal is to create a space where you can openly explore your thoughts, emotions, and experiences while feeling genuinely supported throughout the process.

I take a holistic approach to therapy and believe it is important to understand the whole person, not just the challenges that bring them to treatment. Together, we may explore areas such as work-life balance, childhood experiences, relationships, physical health and well-being, cultural influences, personal values, and future goals. By considering the many factors that shape your life, we can develop a deeper understanding of your experiences and create a path toward meaningful, lasting growth.

I strive to balance compassion with honesty, offering both support and thoughtful feedback when appropriate. My goal is to help you gain insight, strengthen self-awareness, and make choices that align with the life you want to create.

As a Marriage and Family Therapist, I work with the whole system -- the relationships -- both INTRApersonal and INTERpersonal relationships. I support individuals with their own internal landscape as well as their way of connecting and relating with others. I was trained as a Deaf Educator and can support people with various learning styles and needs. I also work with mindfulness, yoga, breathwork, and Reiki to bring in a holistic approach to mental health.

I am open, approachable, and committed to listening carefully to your experiences without judgment. I believe that each person carries a unique story, and my goal is to provide a supportive space where you feel heard, understood, and encouraged as you navigate life’s challenges and opportunities for growth. Together, we can explore what is most important to you and work toward creating a life that feels meaningful, authentic, and aligned with your values.

My background includes earning a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, along with a lifelong appreciation for personal growth, nature, and the healing power of connection. Growing up learning to surf fostered a deep respect for the ocean and the lessons it offers about resilience, balance, and adapting to life's changing conditions. These experiences have shaped my belief in the importance of honoring each individual’s journey and recognizing that growth often comes through both challenge and reflection.

As someone who has gone through years of therapy myself, I am very passionate about working with you for your highest good. With a background in meditation, conflict mediation, somatic work, spirituality and psychology, I have a solid toolkit that is at your service. My undergrad degree from Berkeley is in Media Studies, so we will also explore how media shapes us and the current culture we live in.

I work with all different ages, ethnic/racial backgrounds, social groups, nationalities and orientations!

I have over 30 years of clinical, counseling and administrative experience working with individuals and couples, addressing the unique issues related to their unique life experiences. I have extensive professional and personal experience with military families and veterans. I understand first-hand the struggles of grief and medical conditions that impact all aspects of life. I have supported chronically and terminally ill patients, individuals living with cancer or chronic medical diagnoses, as well as parents experiencing infertility, peripartum, and postpartum depression. Whether dealing with life transitions, parenting, depression, anxiety, or divorce, or simply seeking to express yourself and feel more confident, I am here to walk with you, provide insights, and support you toward lasting change.

If you've been holding a lot for a long time, therapy can be a place where you finally exhale. I work with women and teens who are feeling overwhelmed, stuck, anxious, or simply not like themselves. Whether you're navigating stress, relationship struggles, life transitions, or that constant sense of emotional overload, our work together can help you feel more grounded, supported, and clear about what comes next. Clients often describe me as compassionate, calming, and easy to talk to.

I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with experience in outpatient behavioral health and healthcare leadership in Hawaiʻi. I work with adolescents and adults facing challenges such as anxiety, depression, stress, life transitions, relationship concerns, and difficulties with self-esteem or emotional well-being.

I believe people are capable of growth and resilience, even during difficult periods of life. My goal is to help clients gain insight, develop effective coping strategies, and move toward lives that feel more balanced, fulfilling, and aligned with their values.

Please use the links below to see when I was featured on KHON News Ask A Specialist Segments

https://www.khon2.com/video/ask-a-specialist-new-years-resolutions/9287495

https://www.khon2.com/video/depression-in-adolescents-the-queens-medical-center-ask-a-specialist/4033756

https://www.khon2.com/video/ask-a-specialist-depression-in-children-and-adolescents/4277749

Starting therapy can feel vulnerable, and finding the right therapist matters. My goal is to create a safe and supportive space where you feel heard, respected, and understood.