I have successfully empowered my clients to face their fears of getting off the diet roller coaster and significantly decrease the incessant thoughts about what they should look like, be achieving, saying, eating and so on. The fear of failing or feeling out of control is no longer a constant luminous cloud hanging over them. I feel very passionate about the work that I do and believe my clients sense this, and thus are able to take risks, opening themselves up to the possibility of positive change.
I am licensed in California as a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFC 52030). I graduated from the University of San Francisco with a Master’s in Counseling Psychology and earned my Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin. Prior to earning my Master’s degree, I completed a post-baccalaureate internship with the University of California San Francisco’s AIDS Health Project as well as earned certification as a domestic abuse counselor. My traineeship hours were gained school-based, where I provided elementary aged children and their families therapeutic and case management support within USF’s Center for Child and Family Development. I completed my internship hours at La Ventana San Francisco, a partial hospitalization (PHP) and intensive outpatient (IOP) eating disorder treatment program. During my four years there, I provided individual, couples and family therapy and held the positions of Lead Therapist and Program Director. In addition, I conducted assessments, utilization reviews and facilitated meal and psychoeducational groups including Relapse Prevention, Body Image and Food and Feelings.
Currently, I hold the position as On Call Therapist for Center for Discovery, a residential treatment center for women and teens struggling with eating disorders. I am also a coach with ThriveOn, an online program promoting mental health, anxiety management and healthy body image. The intensity of my work at these programs have greatly informed my work in private practice. I understand how difficult it is for someone to put their lives on hold to prioritize recovery, especially when they are unsure if they actually want it or believe that it can happen. The time commitment, involving family and friends and the financial toll can be a strong deterrent to seeking treatment. Yet, I have witnessed many clients stop their eating disorder behaviors entirely, find their authentic voice and transform their lives. The path towards recovery contains many ups and downs, but it is so worth it!
I am a warm, practical, and non-judgmental clinician who is active in the therapy room. My belief that we are all in search of inner growth fosters a trusting and respect-based therapeutic relationship.
