More About Me:
Hi, I’m an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist based in Orange County, California offering telehealth and in-person sessions in Laguna Beach. I take a down-to-earth, supportive approach and aim to create a space where you can feel comfortable being yourself.
My Experience:
Throughout my professional journey, I’ve had the opportunity to work in a wide range of settings supporting individuals and families through meaningful change. During my undergraduate studies, I interned at several sites, including a nonprofit affordable housing organization supporting previously homeless families, a supervised visitation center helping parents reconnect with their children, and as a group facilitator for college student therapy groups. After earning my degree, I worked as an ABA therapist and independent contractor, providing individualized support to people of all ages with developmental disabilities—focusing on personal safety, healthy relationships, communication, and self-advocacy. I also spent several summers at a therapeutic camp teaching children coping and social skills through play and connection. During graduate school, I trained at Hoag Hospital’s Intensive Outpatient Program, facilitating group therapy for teens and young adults. After obtaining my master’s degree, I worked as a therapist at a group home serving children and teens from the foster system and on probation who required a higher level of care, where I provided crisis intervention and ongoing emotional support. Across all of these experiences, I’ve worked with children, adolescents, and adults facing challenges such as depression, anxiety, anger, substance use, self-harm, grief, and major life transitions.
My Approach to Therapy:
My approach to therapy is grounded in compassion, collaboration, and curiosity. I strive to create a safe and supportive space where you can explore your experiences, better understand yourself, and move toward healing in a way that feels authentic to you. In our sessions together I utilize techniques from evidence-based approaches like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). I also view things through a humanistic and existential lens to help you reach your full potential in life. I often blend these frameworks with creative and experiential elements such as art, music, movement, or games to make therapy more engaging, meaningful, and tailored to your needs. My work is strength-based, neuroaffirming/neurodivergent-informed, honoring each person’s unique way of experiencing the world. Through this blend of creativity, evidence-based practice, and a values driven approach, I aim to help clients navigate life’s challenges, manage difficult emotions, and cultivate a deeper sense of self-understanding and growth.
