Get To Know Me
My journey into the world of mental health started as a high school senior. I first found a love for the topic while taking AP Psychology. The textbook for this class was the first textbook I ever enjoyed reading. After high school I completed bachelor’s degrees in both International Studies and Linguistics at the University of Utah. Through these programs I learned about the special relationship between language and cognition as well as the way culture and communication intersect. As part of my undergraduate studies, I lived in China for six months and taught English. I also spent a year living in Argentina where I learned to speak Spanish and enjoyed experiencing one of many Latino cultures.
After graduating from university, I moved to Texas where I put my husband through his graduate program by working multiple jobs. It was during this time period that the COVID-19 Pandemic began. My positions put me in contact with individuals with disabilities, who were some of the most at risk from the virus. Seeing the effect this had on the mental health of these individuals and their families greatly impacted me.
A couple of years later I would move to California. Through a friend, I would be introduced to the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at Palo Alto University. Helping people is something I have always been passionate about. Throughout the positions I have held as an adult, the common theme has been serving people and helping them accomplish new things. I look forward to using my skills and abilities to support people in living the lives they want to live.
When I’m not working, you might find me enjoying a cup of coffee at a cafe, reading a book, going to the beach, or playing with my goofy golden retriever Gambit.
Who I Work with:
Youth
Minors aged 11-18. This can include individual and family sessions.
Young Adults
Ages 18-25. Individual sessions. Family members can be included at client’s request.
Adults
25+. Individual sessions.
Specialties
As a mental health professional, I am equipped to work with individuals with a variety of presenting issues. Individual therapists also have special niches in which they have more knowledge and experience. My specialties include:
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This includes individuals who have experienced something traumatic such as the loss of a family member, a natural disaster, abuse, and other situation that overwhelmed their ability to cope with the situation.
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Feeling fearful of places, people, things, events, or situations. The fear may or may not have a clear cause.
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Feeling down, sad, or numb for extended periods of time. Inability to feel joy. Feeling helpless or hopeless about the future.
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Individuals leaving high-demand religions. Feeling adrift or without purpose outside of religion. Feeling fearful about the end of life or afterlife. Dealing with shame surrounding purity culture. Reevaluating beliefs and belief systems.
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Patriarchy, gender roles, purity culture, systemic oppression, self-esteem.
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School issues, peer pressure, identity formation, future planning, anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, family issues.
Therapeutic Style
There are many different types of therapy. Over time therapy has evolved from the stereotypical image of the client laying on a couch while the therapist asks them, “how does that make you feel?” Now there are a number of different theories and methods that therapists can utilize. As a therapist I utilize a humanistic, narrative, and feminist approach.
Humanistic approach: I believe you are the expert on your own life. As the therapist I am not the expert on our work together. Many of our wounds happen in the context of relationships and a humanistic approach seeks to heal them through a supportive and positive relationship.
Narrative approach: As humans we are constantly trying to make meaning out of the events in our everyday lives. The stories we tell ourselves about our life have a large impact on the choices we make. Narrative therapy works to expand someone’s life from a single problem story to a richer and more nuanced story that allows us
Feminist approach: Many people approach this theory with caution as feminism has become a buzzword in the last several decades. The feminist approach is not dedicated solely to feminism, but to examining the structures and features of society and how they help or harm mental health. It focuses on what systems are in play in a person’s life that might cause injury to a person’s mental well-being.