I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in counseling psychology from Santa Clara University.
I began as a therapist in 2004, gaining extensive training and experience while working for The Bill Wilson Center in Santa Clara County. As a residential case manager for their teen homeless shelter, I counseled teens and parents in crisis to find new ways of communicating so that they could reunify as a family. Working under the county’s Restorative Justice program, I counseled teenagers with active criminal cases in the juvenile justice system to help them build coping strategies and change maladaptive behaviors. I also worked under the Child Abuse Treatment Act providing trauma-informed counseling to adolescents dealing with the effects of victimization. As manager for their Centre for Living with Dying’s Healing Heart program, I gained certification in grief and loss counseling. I lead grief groups for children of all ages and counseled adults who lost loved ones. Concurrently, I provided Parent Child Interaction Therapy to court-ordered families and taught parenting classes for caregivers wanting to become foster parents to children in the court system.
Working with families, children and teenagers in these capacities sparked a drive to further develop my skills in support of child development and family interaction, and to open my own practice with this as my focus.
· Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist #86186
· UC Davis Certified Parent Child-Interaction Therapist
· UC Davis Certified Parent-Care Therapist
· Certified Clinical Telehealth Provider
· Member California Association of Marriage & Family
Therapists (CAMFT)
I have been working as a therapist for over 20 years and raising my family for 15. As a mother of 2, I understand the joys and challenges of parenting. I am passionate about supporting you and your children in reducing stress, building coping strategies and confidence, and reinforcing your connection as a family.
As owner of South Bay PCIT, I specialize in online Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) and Parent-CARE Therapy (PC-CARE). I utilize these therapies, along with a direct, strength-based approach to problem solving, behavior therapy and interpersonal therapy. Together we identify your strengths and determine which short-term or long-term therapy will best support your goals and your family.
For Parents & Children:
I welcome you and your children (ages 12 months -10 years) to join me in PCIT and PC-CARE. These evidenced based therapies are proven to increase your child’s focus, confidence, compliance and impulse control, while decreasing their anxiety, tantrums, attention-seeking and aggressive behavior.
PCIT and PC-CARE are beneficial for all parents wanting to learn skills to manage a range of childhood behaviors and are recommended therapies for children diagnosed with high functioning ASD, ADHD, learning differences and ODD. With the skills you learn in our time together, you will feel more confident in parenting. You will gain practical tools to help manage your child's behavior and improve patterns of communication that make your family unit stronger.
For Tweens & Teens:
I also enjoy working with your tweens and teens (ages 11-17) for individual counseling to help them build resilience and find coping strategies to manage peer relationships, LGBTQ+ issues, ADHD, learning differences, academic and social pressures, anxiety, anger, grief and loss, and budding independence. They will walk away with a greater sense of self and self-confidence as they learn new ways of managing their emotions and gain life-long problem-solving skills.
I value human experience, individuality, inclusivity and the therapeutic connection. I am a people-lover, and I truly enjoy getting to know you and your children. My clients describe me as positive, warm, flexible and understanding. This feedback means a lot to me because I take pride in collaborating with you in an enthusiastic, sensitive and non-judgemental way.
In my spare time, I love being with my own family and our fur babies, learning new things, cooking, traveling, listening to music, going to the theater, watching a good TV series, and singing (when no one’s listening).
I look forward to meeting you and your children and supporting your goals as a family.