about

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I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MFC 41937) in the Los Angeles and Pasadena area. I have over ten years of experience working alongside women, adolescents, families and couples as they wade through the murky moments of life to discover their whole and authentic selves.

My practice focuses on issues related to maternal mental health, women's issues, life transitions and relationship challenges.

 

 

Specialties

  • Skill building, and coping techniques for recovery from anxiety and depression.
  • Assessment and treatment of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.
  • Navigating the challenges of new motherhood and pregnancy including struggles with infertility and healing from birth trauma.
  • Thoughtfully managing life transitions such as the transition to young adulthood, relationship changes, and new and young parenthood.
  • Strengthening the couple relationship into parenthood and beyond. 
  • Mindfulness in parenting.

Additional Experience

My love for working with girls and women began in my very first experience as a clinician at Girls Incorporated of Greater Santa Barbara. After completing my internship hours at Aviva Family and Children's Services I got my dream job as a founding therapist at the Institute for Girls’ Development, an innovative psychological corporation in Pasadena. Over the nine years of working with the Institute, I was able to nurture my dedication for working with women, girls and families. After becoming a mother myself, I discovered my passion for helping women and their partners navigate the difficult transition to parenthood. At the Institute I created and coordinated the New and Young Families Program and developed a unique model of therapy groups for pregnant and new moms, Motherhood Journey Groups. 

I seek to make a difference in the larger arena of perinatal health and awareness through my recent participation on the board of directors for Postpartum Support International.  My passion for fostering growth and wellness in new and young families extends to the community through workshops and support groups. Some include, the Moms in the Making Classes at the Family Room in San Marino and the Northeast LA Fertility Support Group with Abigail Morgan, La.C. at Float Chinese Medical Arts in Glendale.  I have also facilitated groups for new moms in collaboration with BINI Birth and Women’s Birthing Health (now Del Mar Birth Center.)

My expertise in mindful parenting and the transition to parenthood has enabled me to speak on a wide range of topics for the community including a six-part Mindful Parenting Series for Nestle Corporation in 2013/2014. I served as a coordinator for the San Gabriel Valley Chapter of The Motherhood Consortium, an inclusive community of individuals who provide care and nurturing for mothers, families and their babies either through education, enrichment or social/emotional support. I have also served as a “Parenting Expert Columnist” for Macaroni Kid Pasadena and for the Institute for Girls’ Development Newsletter – providing tips, tools and resources to empower parents and help families thrive.

Professional Affiliations and Memberships

California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists; International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy (ICEEFT); Los Angeles Center for Emotionally Focused Therapy (LACEFT); Selective Mutism Group; Postpartum Support International; California Maternal Mental Health Collaborative; iDream For Racial Health Equity.

Education

Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology: Antioch University Santa Barbara

Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences: University of California at Santa Barbara.

Special training

Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) Advanced Training/Core Skills and 4-day Externship; Mindful Self-Compassion Core Skills Workshop; Postpartum Support International 2-day Perinatal Mental Health Certificate Training;  Los Angeles County Perinatal Mental Health Task Force Bringing Light to Motherhood 2-day Certificate Training, Mindful Motherhood Professional Training, UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center - Mindful Awareness Practices (MAPs) .