Values

My journey to becoming a therapist is inextricably bound to my journey in understanding what social justice means to me. I found myself returning again and again to the idea (which later became a belief) that change happens in relationship, whether that’s on an individual level or as a society.

What I love about therapy is doing exactly that and having the honor of being invited into your journey. I am here to wade with you through the messiness of your complex reality and help facilitate movement towards liberation, as you define it.

My professional stance is driven by my values of anti-oppression, feminism, community, and respect. I work most often with queer and/or trans folks, people of color, and folks exploring their identities (including those on personal journeys with unlearning racism, transphobia, ableism, homophobia, etc.).

Approach

I would describe my therapeutic style as relational, flexible, person-centered, and humorous. I believe in your inherent strength, capacity, and resilience and see my task as working alongside you as you manifest the life that you want to lead.

I aspire to practice through an anti-oppressive lens and to be radically present with you. This will also involve flexibly applying evidence-based tools and techniques that I have cultivated over years of training across a range of medical and mental health settings.

For those of you who love the jargon – I have training in and integrate aspects of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, Internal Family Systems, Cognitive Processing Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing.

Experience

I received my Masters of Science and Doctorate of Clinical Psychology from PGSP-Stanford PsyD Consortium and completed my predoctoral internship at Cambridge Health Alliance/Harvard Medical School with a focus on adult outpatient and primary care behavioral health integration. I also completed a postdoctoral fellowship specializing in addiction and trauma at the Palo Alto VA Healthcare System where I founded a multi-tier multicultural program in Addiction Treatment Services. I have trained in a variety of other settings as well including gender and sexuality clinics, latinx mental health, infectious disease and liver clinics, general outpatient mental health, and an eating disorder enhanced outpatient program.

My training and experiences have focused on marginalized populations who experience chronic disease, trauma, addiction and suffering in the context of intersecting systems of oppression. I have co-authored book chapters, facilitated workshops, and provided trainings on race and gender in the therapeutic space. Additionally, I have served as Chair of American Psychological Association’s Committee on Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity (CSOGD).

Land

Though all of my services are virtual, I must honor that I am a settler and uninvited guest on shared territory that was stolen from the Muwekma and Ramaytush Ohlone peoples. I have benefited from colonial practices and the genocide and displacement of indigenous people.

I am committed to continue unlearning and disrupting my own colonial conditioning through listening to indigenous peoples, paying Shuumi for the land that I live and work on, honoring the ancestors who care for this land, and supporting indigenous-led and indigenous-benefitting organizations.