“Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing,
wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating;
there is really no such thing as bad weather,
only different kinds of good weather.”
—John Ruskin
welcome
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice. Currently, I offer services via telehealth to those living in the state of California.
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Rooted in postmodern philosophy, I incorporate emerging concepts from neuroscience, attachment theory, Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB), mindfulness, resiliency models, and somatic methods, including EMDR. I work primarily with adults who struggle with complex symptoms that are often the result of adverse or traumatic childhood experiences including attachment disorders, betrayal trauma, religious or cult trauma, abuse, neglect, etc
Every human being has unique strengths, talents, and resources that are often obscured or minimized amidst an onslaught of persistent and pervasive life distress. Uncovering and unleashing these resources is a big part of the work of therapy.
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Most of us have the ability to work through our daily challenges by leaning on our support systems and drawing upon our own internal strengths. When those challenges become more complex or more prolonged, our usual strategies are no longer helpful.
Many clients report that they experience enduring "stuckness." Some have even described it as feeling paralyzed. But stuckness has many faces: persistent depression and anxiety, extreme emotional dysregulation (mood swings), crisis and trauma, fear, helplessness, or hopelessness, relationship concerns, etc. These often show up during difficult life transitions or as we age.
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Those who experience the complex trauma that can emerge from deeply guarded adverse or traumatic childhood experiences often find it unbearable to address certain pieces of their life experience. For that reason, my primary focus is emotional safety. You are always in charge of the process.
Also, I do specialized work with clients who are partners in relationships with a sex addict to address the individual and relational trauma resulting from this deeply painful intimate betrayal.
Education
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Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology Graduate Institute—
2007: Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in MFT -
University of California, Santa Barbara—
2002: Bachelors Degree in Psychology
Additional Work Experience
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Phillips Graduate Institute of Campbellsville University—Core faculty, Associate Professor,
Co-Director of Clinical Placement -
Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology—Adjunct faculty
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California State University, Northridge—Adjunct faculty
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California Family Counseling Center (CalFam)—
AAMFT-Approved Clinical Supervisor
Former Director, Trauma-Informed Traineeship program
Former Director, Postmodern Associateship program
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Specialized training and certifications
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EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
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AAMFT-Approved Supervisor
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TRM (Trauma Resiliency Model)
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Gottman Method Couples Therapy (Levels I & II Trained)
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Imago Relationship Therapy (Levels I and II Trained)
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APSATS (Association of Partners of Sex Addicts Trauma Specialists)—
Partner Trauma Specialist Candidate -
Prepare-Enrich Premarital/Relationship Assessment— Facilitator
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For a full CV, please email me directly.