LGBTQ+ Therapists in Los Altos, CA

I enjoy working with clients around themes of depression, anxiety, anger management, relationship/couples therapy, LGBT concerns, polyamory, kink/bdsm concerns, transgender and non-binary concerns, substance abuse, and codependency. I am licensed in California, New York and Washington States, as well as having the Florida Telehealth registration; and I am happy to serve clients in each of these areas. I am passionate about social justice causes in both my professional and volunteer pursuits.

You may be feeling stuck, adjusting to a transition or loss, feeling depressed or anxious, questioning who you are in this world, frustrated with relationships, or seeking personal growth. As a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, my ideal clients are individuals motivated to engage in self-reflection to better understand themselves--both in their struggles and in their resilience. Therapy can be hard work and has the potential to be rewarding. I support that journey with my clients. I have extensive experience working with LGBTQ + and multiculturally diverse/intersectional clients.

If you are seeking counseling, you have come to the right place. In my counseling practice I will help guide you through sessions, and help you craft a life for yourself that brings you joy. In existential counseling, we will focus on getting the most out of this life no matter what challenges we face. I believe you can show up for yourself through therapy. As we gain knowledge, we are free and responsible to direct our narrative by making changes in our lives to better fit our needs and lifestyles. My specialty is in sexual health, however I offer psychotherapy for both non-sexual and sexual issues.

I appreciate the time you are taking to find a clinician, as this relationship is essential to addressing your therapy goals. I work with clients across the lifespan, including preteens, teens, adults, couples, and families. My clients are often at a crossroads, deciding the next steps regarding life transitions, changing behaviors that are no longer serving them, or desiring to deepen their relationship with their selves and those close to them. I consider it my role to act as a consultant and guide as you utilize your strengths, skills, and resources to build the life you have envisioned.

We face so much pressure from work or family. Sometimes we have to hide parts of ourselves to fit in. And we lose touch with who we are and what makes us feel alive. Are you feeling lonely or not good enough, and longing to feel accepted for who you are? Together, we can explore what matters most to you, so you can create more of the life you want. I can support you in transforming patterns that lead to feeling stuck or overwhelmed. I offer Internal Family Systems, Emotionally Focused Therapy, Somatic Therapy, Hypnotherapy, and Brainspotting, which are all proven approaches for healing trauma and reducing anxiety and depression.

I can help with challenging relationships, retirement problems, post trauma and acute stress; also substance abuse issues, problem gambling, grief or loss, as well as problems with past childhood abuse and neglect, as well as facilitating better adjustment with general life transitions.

Our experiences form an unconscious ‘blueprint’, which shapes our beliefs and aspirations, but also the fears and challenges we face. Gaining a deeper understanding of yourself and the patterns that run your life allows you the freedom to make new choices and respond differently, transforming your relationships with yourself and others. In our work together, I will support you on your journey towards self-awareness that can lead to a profound change. My therapeutic approach is warm, direct and authentic. I believe feeling safe, accepted and heard are all critical elements for therapy to succeed.

Are you and your partner stuck repeating the same arguments, ones filled with defensiveness, blame, and complaints? Do you yearn for the blissful early days of your relationship? If you and your partner are struggling to feel connected, please know that it’s possible to get back on the same page again. I've helped countless couples (and triads/polycules - non-monogamous, queer , and kinky folx, you're welcome here!) on the brink of divorce rediscover what made them fall in love in the first place.

Throughout our lives, we all have experienced feelings of depression, anxiety, and anger. These emotions leave you feeling insecure, shameful, lonely, unworthy and stuck in unhealthy patterns of behavior. Trauma can have negative emotional and physical effects and can lead to family/relationship issues. I specialize in solution-focused brief therapy, motivational interviewing, mindfulness and CBT. These approaches allow me to work with the client to decrease symptoms of anxiety and depression and other health/behavioral issues.

“Meanings are not determined by situations, but we determine ourselves by the meanings we give to situations.” —Alfred Adler. My approach to therapy is person-centered and trauma informed. I tailor my therapeutic interventions to individual needs through a variety of frameworks and modalities, including psychodynamic, humanistic, family systems, and narrative therapy. I received my BS in Human Services and my MS in Counseling with a concentration in marriage, family, and child therapy from University of Phoenix.

Do you experience low desire, lack sexual confidence to communicate regarding need, premature ejaculation, erectile dysfunction? Wanting to reclaim fun, intimate sex life following transitions such as children, work changes, medical issues or trauma. Self-critical, worried all the time. If these words (or others) describe you, let's talk. Do you say hurtful things to yourself you would never say to someone else? I can help provide the safe space and direction including evidenced based practice of ACT as well as self compassion. I also work with folx on the LGBTQ + spectrum to support your wellness as well as identity exploration.

Congratulations on taking the first step toward feeling better and living a better life! While it can be overwhelming to contemplate trying therapy, with a little time and energy, therapy can make a positive difference in your life. I look forward to meeting you and supporting you in overcoming challenges and making positive changes in your life. Perhaps you are experiencing anxiety, depression, difficulty connecting with others, or you are navigating a life transition. I love to work with parents and children to help create a more peaceful home life.

Are you suffering and struggling in the living nightmare of an anxiety problem? Perhaps you are avoiding people, places or activities because of fear, panic or obsessive worrying. Maybe you have been suffering from a lack of sleep and feeling stressed and tired most of the time. Sleep medications and advice from friends or the internet might just make the problems worse. Maybe you're stuck in the never-ending rut of a bad habit or addiction that you can't seem to stop turning to for relief from your problems. Maybe you're unsatisfied in your relationships, overwhelmed by conflicts and a lack of closeness with people you care about.

Here we go again, another day of feeling on edge, tense in your stomach or body with uncomfortable feelings and intrusive, racing thoughts that feel like they have hijacked your brain and there is no way to make it stop or escape it! You are exhausted by the anxiety or depression, triggered and angry; you feel irritable, startle easily with noises, you feel short-tempered. You can’t seem to turn off worries, overthinking. You're always expecting something horrible to happen or waiting for “the shoe to drop”. You feel like you are at war with an invisible enemy. You are tired of watching life go by while you are missing out.

I work with men and women who are seemingly successful and happy but deep down inside feel lost, alone, even if they are in a relationship, and struggle to be present in life or often feel like they don't belong. I treat anxiety and depression through examining unconscious cognitive distortions and repetitive coping mechanisms as well as deep-rooted inner conflicts, insecurity, guilt, shame, family of origin and childhood trauma that manifest in perpetuating self-doubt, career dissatisfactions, and relationship/intimacy difficulties. Clients with prior therapy experiences often report making progress in our initial work together.

Congratulations on making that first step toward getting help! I offer in-person and online psychotherapy for individuals, couples, and teens. My goal is to help you overcome obstacles, navigate stressors and reach your full potential by tapping into your strengths, values and resilience. Some of the issues I work with are anxiety, relationship difficulties, social difficulties, depression, parenting difficulties, grief and loss, trauma, life transitions and career change.

During the over 20 years I have been in practice I have witnessed how profoundly helpful it is for a person to be listened to with care and attention. My commitment to you is to create a setting that helps you share yourself with someone who initially you don't know - but will come to know. I want to help you feel safe and comfortable enough to speak about your concerns. In addition, we will address your issues with the objective of getting to the source of the problem so that you can feel more long-term relief.