I'm a queer/bisexual, cisgender woman who works with individuals, couples, and relationship clients ages 18 and above. I adjust my approach to draw on skill sets that fit best with a particular client's needs. This may include psychodynamic, cognitive behavioral, mindfulness-based, polyvagal theory, and dialectical behavior therapy, among others. I am currently passionate about learning Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), which focuses on helping people build secure attachments in their relationships, and Internal Family Systems theory, which can help to understand and resolve conflicts within ourselves.
Over the course of 15 years of experience in the field of clinical mental health, I've worked in a variety of settings, including case management for clients with severe and persistent mental illness, non-profit community mental health, an intensive outpatient DBT program, supervised clinical practicum students and graduates toward clinical licensure, and for the past 10+ years have run a solo private practice specializing in sex therapy.
Before starting my career in mental health, I completed a bachelor's of fine art, during which I realized most of my work was about the human psyche and relationships. My major in animation tuned my attention to subtle nuances in how people move and express themselves.
After graduating from art school during a recession (do not recommend!), I found myself deeply curious about studying the human experience and wanting a career more directly focused on helping people. I eventually sought out a Master's in Social Work to become a licensed therapist because the philosophy resonated with me that mental health is inextricably linked to a person's social environment - from family, to community, to society, to globally. Not just our current environment, but past environments in which we spent significant portions of our lives, as well as the environments of our ancestors through the adaptations that became encoded in our DNA. We are social creatures, and the ways we connect with and are influenced by others can have a powerful influence on our well-being.
Early in my career as a therapist, I found that many of my clients were looking for help with problems in their sex lives. Although I wanted to help, my education hadn't prepared me to know how to do that. So in 2013 I began work toward a certification in sex therapy through AASECT, which I completed in 2017. Maintaining this certification means that I am required to complete ongoing continuing education in sex therapy.
I'm also inspired by my other job as a parent. Just like my undergraduate study of art and animation helped me to become a keen observer of people, my “post graduate” and ongoing work as a parent has continued to expand my understanding of relationships and the importance of humility and constant personal growth.
I believe in "walking the walk", so I also engage in my own therapy to help deepen my capacity for this work.
In addition to spending time with loved ones, I enjoy playing the piano, drawing and painting, and going for walks to help me connect with nature and my dogs.
Over the course of 15 years of experience in the field of clinical mental health, I've worked in a variety of settings, including case management for clients with severe and persistent mental illness, non-profit community mental health, an intensive outpatient DBT program, supervised clinical practicum students and graduates toward clinical licensure, and for the past 10+ years have run a solo private practice specializing in sex therapy.
Before starting my career in mental health, I completed a bachelor's of fine art, during which I realized most of my work was about the human psyche and relationships. My major in animation tuned my attention to subtle nuances in how people move and express themselves.
After graduating from art school during a recession (do not recommend!), I found myself deeply curious about studying the human experience and wanting a career more directly focused on helping people. I eventually sought out a Master's in Social Work to become a licensed therapist because the philosophy resonated with me that mental health is inextricably linked to a person's social environment - from family, to community, to society, to globally. Not just our current environment, but past environments in which we spent significant portions of our lives, as well as the environments of our ancestors through the adaptations that became encoded in our DNA. We are social creatures, and the ways we connect with and are influenced by others can have a powerful influence on our well-being.
Early in my career as a therapist, I found that many of my clients were looking for help with problems in their sex lives. Although I wanted to help, my education hadn't prepared me to know how to do that. So in 2013 I began work toward a certification in sex therapy through AASECT, which I completed in 2017. Maintaining this certification means that I am required to complete ongoing continuing education in sex therapy.
I'm also inspired by my other job as a parent. Just like my undergraduate study of art and animation helped me to become a keen observer of people, my “post graduate” and ongoing work as a parent has continued to expand my understanding of relationships and the importance of humility and constant personal growth.
I believe in "walking the walk", so I also engage in my own therapy to help deepen my capacity for this work.
In addition to spending time with loved ones, I enjoy playing the piano, drawing and painting, and going for walks to help me connect with nature and my dogs.