Trauma-informed, evidence-based therapy for children, teens, and adults

Trauma-informed, evidence-based therapy for children, teens, and adults in East Sacramento

 

About Me

I am a licensed clinical social worker with 9 years of postgraduate experience providing psychotherapy to individuals, families, and groups. I specialize in treating children and teens with OCD and other anxiety disorders. I use a variety of evidence-based interventions, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure and response prevention (ERP), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and cognitive processing therapy for PTSD (CPT). However, treatment for each client will look different depending on your concerns and hopes for therapy. The most important part of therapy is the relationship between the client and the therapist. I strive to create a safe, nonjudgmental space that welcomes people of diverse backgrounds.

I am originally from Austin, Texas, but have lived in northern California since 2014. Some of my interests include traveling, painting, gardening, and hiking in Northern California with my dog.

I am licensed to practice independently in California. My license number is LCSW #82163.

My Approach

As a therapist with a relational, person-centered approach, I emphasize teaching individuals through their experience in therapy skills including setting healthy boundaries, learning to communicate their wants and needs, and cultivating a healthy interdependence with others in their life. I use warmth and humor to help you feel understood as an individual. My approach blends attunement and caring with creating practical solutions for helping you to deal with your problems. I have been described by previous clients as patient, direct, and warm. I also emphasize social justice in my work, as this is a fundamental value in my own life. I encourage my clients to discuss the effects that oppression has on their lived experiences, and we work together to find new ways to cope. I hope that when we meet, you feel safe, supported, and empowered to make lasting changes.

While talk therapy is a great intervention for many mental health conditions, it is not very effective in treating OCD and other anxiety disorders. When we work on your OCD or anxiety, typically I will use a mix of Exposure and Response Prevention, CBT, and ACT. This helps you to progress quickly in therapy. Research actually demonstrates that typical talk therapy can make OCD worse and prolong your distress, which is why working with an OCD specialist is so important.

Education & Training

I earned a Masters of Science in Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin in 2014, with a concentration in clinical social work. I also hold a Bachelors of Science with a concentration in Human Development and Psychological Services from Northwestern University. During graduate school, I completed internships at a high school and at a residential treatment center for children, where I provided individual and group therapy to children and adolescents. For the past 9 years, I have worked in community-based mental health with individuals and their families both in the Sacramento Valley area and the San Francisco Bay Area. I have been in private practice since 2019.

My continuing education has included the following:

  • International OCD Foundation Pediatric Behavior Therapy Training Institute, 2023

    • Ongoing consultation with IOCDF Faculty, resulting in proficiency in delivering Exposure and Response Prevention for OCD

  • Cognitive Processing Therapy with Dr. Kathleen Chard, 2020-2022

    • 20 weeks of consultation with CPT Trainer, resulting in being named an Approved Provider of CPT

  • University of North Texas Center for Play Therapy Child Centered Play Therapy training, 2020

  • Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT), 2021

I have training and experience in the following areas:

  • Working with children with anxiety and other related disorders including OCD

  • Working with children who have experienced trauma and neglect

  • Working with gender diverse and gender expansive children and teens

  • Working with LGBTQIA+ individuals

    • Including writing letters to support individuals seeking gender-affirming care

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

  • Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

  • Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

  • Dialectical Behavioral Therapy skills training for individuals with emotional dysregulation and/or chronic suicidal ideation

  • Child-centered play therapy

  • Parent coaching