“The goal of practice is always to keep our beginner’s mind. In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s there are few.”
― Shunryu Suzuki |
“Mindfulness has never met a cognition it didn't like.”
― Dan Siegel |
My Approach |
I work collaboratively with my clients. In the beginning I'll take some time to get to know you and your concerns. I strongly believe that everyone is doing their best in this life. I want to know about your efforts and where you are getting stuck. Everyone gets stuck at some point or other in life. The first couple of sessions our focus will be on understanding your perspective and connecting with each other around these challenges.
After two or three sessions together, I will have a rough "outline" for you of what I think is happening. We call this a clinical formulation. It may include a diagnosis and it will definitely include a conceptualization of the dynamics at play. I'll present these hypotheses and ask for your opinion on its accuracy. Next we will create a treatment plan together. I will give you my opinion on the complexity of the issues at hand and provide you with an estimate of how long services may take. For therapy services, this will be at least 1x per week in the beginning. If there are more serious concerns we may meet more often. As a mindfulness instructor, my role will be more as a teacher and guide. Unlike therapy, we won't delve deeply into your personal history in the same way. Instead, I will provide you with opportunities to use meditation as a way of self-healing, answering questions to help this process. A good indicator that therapy may be called for is if you are seeking a deeper relationship and I invite you to contact me if you have questions about the difference and what may be right for you. Change is difficult. As humans we tend to resist modifying our behavior. As they say "old habit are hard to break." This can be especially difficult if the behavior or problem has been around for years. In therapy, I will be clear with you about where we stand as treatment progresses and check in about planning. You can always ask me for updates. Ultimately the decision on how to proceed is yours to make. |
“When you plant lettuce, if it does not grow well, you don't blame the lettuce. You look for reasons it is not doing well. It may need fertilizer, or more water, or less sun. You never blame the lettuce. Yet if we have problems with our friends or family, we blame the other person. But if we know how to take care of them, they will grow well, like the lettuce. Blaming has no positive effect at all, nor does trying to persuade using reason and argument. That is my experience. No blame, no reasoning, no argument, just understanding. If you understand, and you show that you understand, you can love, and the situation will change”
― Thích Nhất Hạnh |
Education
Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself
--Rumi |
Experience & Training
Level 3 Certified in Game-to-Grow Method |
Game-to-Grow is a non-profit organization that has developed tools and methods for bringing table top role-playing games to therapy. This system Integrates knowledge from developmental psychology, drama therapy, and the TTRPG community. The amazing Game-to-Grow folks have created a genius system to help young people and adults alike explore their identities, their relationships and conflict resolution strategies. I have reached level 3 in the training program and participate in regular consultation groups.
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Mindfulness Meditation Teacher |
I have completed the 2-year intensive Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program. While I have been teaching mindfulness for years as part of my training as a psychologist, I am honored to be a formal student of Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach integrating formal traditions into our western lifestyle. As a certified mindfulness teacher, I now provide mindfulness training to a broader audience and consult with organizations on mindfulness.
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Private Practice |
I have served the Palo Alto and Menlo Park communities in private practice since 2015. In that capacity I have worked hundreds of individuals and families. In addition to my clinical work with clients I also serve as a resource to the broader community offering consultation to providers of all types including mental health workers, physicians, specialists and teachers. I am currently active in two consultation groups and frequently meet with other practitioners offering my expertise. I also occasionally serve as an advisor and consultant to startups globally that are interested in mental health and digital health having previously founded and exited a mental health start-up.
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Children's Health Council |
I spent nearly four years at CHC in Palo Alto as a staff psychologist. My therapy work with children, teens, families, and parents in the community focused largely on addressing issues of ADHD, anxiety, depression, and especially post-traumatic stress. I also conducted hundreds of assessments with families including multidisciplinary psychological evaluations. I specialized in differential diagnosis of complex cases especially when there were questions about trauma, psychosis, ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders, learning disorders, and mood disorders. I conducted presentations to the community including to mental health professionals, parents and teachers on a range of topics. I also taught a trauma seminar for predoctoral psychology interns during their training at Stanford University's APA accredited internship.
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UCSF - HEARTS |
The Healthy Environments And Response to Trauma Schools Project provided consultation to school staff of the San Francisco Unified School District working with students impacted by community violence and trauma. In addition to individual, family, group therapy and crisis support, I also provided holistic assessment services to parents and school staff. I provided continuous training and support to school staff on trauma sensitive practices. My consultation with teachers focused building Restorative Practices in the classroom and implementing wellness strategies for self-care. I also provided consultation to the administration, developing systems and policies that supported Restorative Practices and encouraged teacher wellness.
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UCSF - CAS |
An APA-accredited internship, Child and Adolescent Services is an outpatient clinic in the department of Psychiatry at UCSF. I provided trauma sensitive treatment using individual, play, family, group, and dyadic therapy. My consultation with teachers, and school specialists revolved around providing accommodations to children with mental health needs. While my work on the units in SFGH was with physicians, social workers, nurses, and psychiatric staff to provide on-site integrated support for people undergoing mental health problems while admitted or during an outpatient visit. I also conducted therapuetic psychodiagnostic assessments.
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IFR + Wright Clinic |
A large portion of my doctoral training was conducted at various practicum sites over a three year period. This included work in outpatient clinic settings in San Francisco (Instituto Familiar de la Raza) and in Berkeley (The Wright Clinic). My work was primarily with adults of all ages in these settings including couples. It was at these sites and under the guidance of outstanding psychoanalytic supervisors, whom I met often, that I developed my style as a clinician.
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Teaching |
Prior to my career as a psychologist, I trained to be a teacher working with elementary aged children. In addition to attaining my masters of education, I also taught in schools for three years. This was where I first learned to appreciate human development as well as how to work with parents and teachers.
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You can read more about my experience on my LinkedIn profile:
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