Education and Experience

I am a licensed psychotherapist (MFT #46343) with a Master’s degree in clinical psychology. I have been practicing for over five years, working with clients of all ages in a variety of settings.

A native of Los Angeles, I earned my bachelor of arts in communications from Pepperdine University, graduating with honors in 2003. I then earned my masters of arts in Clinical Psychology with an Emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from Pepperdine University’s School of Education and Psychology, graduating in 2006. I became licensed to practice as a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) in 2008. Because of an insatiable thirst for knowledge and understanding, I also completed coursework required to be a Board Certified Behavior Analyist (BCBA) through Florida Institute of Technology in 2010.

I have worked in a variety of settings including schools, residential treatment facilities, and intensive outpatient clinics. My special areas of interest and training include mood disorders, trauma, eating disorders, and borderline personality disorder. My practice is rooted in a collaborative working relationship with my clients and is based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy; first understanding how your thoughts, feelings and behaviors affect one another and then how to apply the principles of Mindfulness, Emotional Regulation, Interpersonal Effectiveness and Distress Tolerance Skills. My goal is to empower you to make changes in your life and perspectives that decrease suffering and to assist you in creating a “life worth living”, to learn how to live life with awareness and participation. My work has included leading therapy groups, parenting classes, individual and family therapy sessions, play therapy, behavioral assessments, and professional consultations.

While enjoying private practice, I continue to thrive in collaborative settings. I currently supplement my private practice with work at Westside DBT in West LA, an adherent DBT program in West LA. I also recently, got the privilege of running DBT groups for the Fall 2012 season of VH1’s “Rehab with Dr. Drew” and contributed to an episode of the "Mental Illness Happy Hour" podcast.

I have been very privileged to work with some wonderful people and have enjoyed a wide range of experiences. My passion is for the relationships I get the honor of building with my clients. I pride myself on genuinely respecting, validating, listening to my clients…though most will tell you I rely heavily on wit, humor and irreverence while we approach working with life on life’s terms.