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My Background and Story 

I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area in a blended and multicultural family. I have always been fascinated by people, psychology, storytelling in all its forms from art to music to dance, and trying to understand and bridge the differences between people and communities around me.

 

I discovered my own ADHD later in life after I had already completed my graduate degree. I am passionate about supporting my clients in their process. I bring lived experience along with professional education and training to help others who may be late to identifying being neurodivergent or who may be learning what it means to have more support after growing up masking their challenges while dealing with stigma.

 

Learning how to work with my brain rather than against it has been freeing (and at times challenging), and I love to help my clients experience relief and freedom as well. I often connect well with quirky creatives and multi-interest/polymath types. I love to weave in my clients interests and we get so see how things do actually make sense in the big picture. Many neurodivergents share feeling like misfits growing up, including those who have masked their symptoms exhaustively to fit in, and it can be challenging in a society that isn't generally kind about differences. Understanding that with diagnosis there are complex feelingsand learning curves, I can better help my clients through the natural feelings of grief as well as relief from having answers.

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My Practice

As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, my practice specializes in helping teens, young adults, adults and families who are dealing with overwhelm and exhaustion that can come with ADHD and/or Autism, anxiety and depression. I have been a psychotherapist since 2015 and have worked in school-based community mental health and simultaneously in private practice. Previous to this focus on mental health, I worked for over seven years in education and art, teaching and supporting children, adults and families, some of which was overseas. These experiences have helped inform my work and toolbox for supporting my clients who my have or continue to struggle navigating education and/or their authentic creative expression. 

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Education and Certifications

I received my Master's degree from Saint Mary's College of California. I have a background in art, with my B.A. in the History of Art and Visual Culture, with a Minor in Education and Teaching from University of California, Santa Cruz. I also hold a Certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESOL) from Trinity College through their program in Barcelona, having taught inglish in Madrid for a year. This background gives me a unique perspective of the impact of culture, political climate, and media on our social and psychological development and how we all navigate these influences. 

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Additional Training

I have pursued additional training in trauma, ADHD and Autism, LGBTQI+ affirming care, Internal Family Systems, creative arts, nervous system/neurobiology-informed therapy, family systems, recovery from high conflict relationships, multicultural and culturally affirming therapies, and the history of racism, colonialism and social justice's place in therapy. I am constantly learning and working to stay up to date on new research and my communities.

 

Women and BIPOC populations were often not included, were mistreated, and/or were subject to deep biases in relevant research through the 2000s, which has impacted to biological, social, psychological views and treatment in healthcare and related systems. This is part of why we are seeing a lot shifting in our understanding of so many areas of mental and physical health. I am passionate about continuing to educate myself in the areas that directly and indirectly impact my clients and community to be of better service.​

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Relevant Interests

Additional interests of mine include complementary and traditional folklore, mythology, indigenous medicine, spiritual traditions, cross cultural wisdom, nutrition, lifestyle, meditation, and the interconnected relationship to mental health and social justice. If these are things that you would be interested in discussing and integrating into our work together, I welcome you to share your experiences and beliefs!

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Additional training 

• Practicum with Lincoln Families' HOPE program, Oakland 

• Post graduate training and internships at Bay Area Community Resources and CASSY

• Private practice internship supervised by Rebekah Balboni, LMSW

• Additional training includes, but not limited to multicultural responsive care, particularly Latinx, Southeast and Asian communities, LGBTQ+, ADHD, Autism, mindfulness, the neuroscience-informed trauma and neurodiversity-affirming approaches, parts work, mind-body integrative care, feminist and anti-oppressive care.

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Perhaps less relevant interests

I am an elder emo, love pop culture, music in general, and have a background in dance.

I find a hike in nature with a good playlist can be a great reset.

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