We all get stuck at times in life. Having a person to listen and to guide you through the rough spots can be of enormous comfort. Today’s world is fractured; the digital world, while offering benefits has also served to isolate us physically from our friends and loved ones. Loneliness and depression are at all time high rates because of such factors. Those of us unlucky to suffer from any chronic condition, be it, pain, illness, PTSD or other mood disorders, need extra attention their loved ones may simply be unable to provide.

I am a mature, highly educated, personable woman with life experience, who is naturally empathetic, and I believe a sincere therapist/client relationship is the most important aspect of treatment.    My areas of interest are chronic pain/illness, anxiety, depression, bipolar, and grief and loss. I also specialize in adolescent anxiety, couples counseling, PTSD, siblings of disabled children, phase of life transitions, women’s issues, and stress management.

I began my career in grief counseling, first with San Diego Hospice and then with the Elizabeth Hospice for a total of 5 years. In that setting I develop a passion for end of life issues and the strain of caregiving. I also worked with grieving family members in some high profile homicides and later ran a group for people who had lost a loved one suddenly and violently.

I am also  passionate about working with patients in chronic pain and illness. Currently, an estimated 1 out of 3 adults in America experience some form of chronic pain or illness, and the damage it causes to their work, family and mood are severe.  For me, it is a personal mission to help clients struggling with chronic disability to achieve a full and meaningful life, despite their health struggles, as I know firsthand what it is like to live with chronic pain and its devastating effects on all aspects of life. I help my patients navigate the health system, which often feels rigged and causes immense distress.

Specialties:
CBT
ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)
Chronic Pain and Chronic Illness
Pyschodynamic Therapy
Trauma
Mindfulness
Attachment Theory
Couples and Families
Psychosocial  Evaluation
Sand Tray Therapy
Sudden Loss
Parents and Siblings of Disabled Children
Education:
BS in Geology and Mathematics, University of Miami, 1991
MS in Geology and Environmental Studies, Stanford University, 1994
MA in Marriage and Family Therapy, California School of Professional Psychology, 201