Teletherapy for Pasadena, CA

Do you feel stuck and unable to move forward in your relationship? Do you need help resolving conflicts? Are you and your partner caught up in a negative feedback cycle that doesn't end in resolution just more anger and frustration? People want to communicate and connect deeply to their partners but often lack the skills and sometimes even the language to do so. With a little guidance, I believe that you and your partner have the capacity to achieve a full and satisfying partnership. Inevitably, all relationships face conflict when differences arise. Relief and resolution are possible. I see it everyday in my practice.

I really enjoy helping people who are entering counseling for the first time because I get to show them what a safe place it can be to receive personal support during challenging times. Counseling isn't meant to be "forever" -- but it can be a powerful, transitional tool to help you when breakthrough feels elusive and you feel like you've tried everything. It can be just the boost you need to get going again on your journey!

Whether you are struggling with trauma, anxiety, or depression, going through a difficult life transition, having trouble with relationships, or simply want to leave behind some habits that are no longer serving you, participating in psychotherapy sessions can make all the difference in helping you achieve your wellness goals. I am certified in Trauma Focused CBT and the Positive Parenting Program. I specialize in providing all parents with the support they need. This may be in maternal mental health, or in managing challenging situations or behaviors. I also offer holistic practices such as meditation, mindfulness, and yoga.

I specialize in working with individuals and couples, many of whom are dealing with the stress of life transitions, relationship issues, and identity formation.

For 23+ years I've specialized in working with children, adolescents, adults, couples and families to help them live with more confidence, connection, and aliveness. I bring extensive experience in therapy, supervision, consulting, and research in the areas of child, teen, & family life, social and emotional development, and building solid and nurturing relationships. I work with clients in a talk therapy approach that is warm, interactive, and active, but that is also flexible in including support for new behaviors, creative expression, and practical help in developing new skills for living.

"I'm not enough" - smart enough, attractive enough, successful enough, popular enough, loved enough, or happy enough. Have you ever had these thoughts? Sometimes our stories are full of shame and scarcity. We feel unworthy, but don't understand where these feelings come from, what drives them, and how to let them go. Therapy is a process of uncovering underlying issues and finding practical ways to provoke change. I will walk alongside you in your loneliness, challenge, or fear, and help you safely overcome struggles.

My clinical experience has focused primarily on helping individuals in the adolescent to young adult age, which is a critical phase of development, addressing issues around identity formation and family conflict. Diagnoses and presenting problems most prevalent for this age include major depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, oppositional defiance, ADHD, schizophrenia, self-harming/high risk behaviors (cutting, eating disorders, and substance use) and suicidal thoughts & behaviors. My work with this particular age population often includes helping the family system in areas such as conflict resolution, family communication patterns and repair in attachment & connection.

Are you a spiritual person wanting psychotherapy that addresses all of who you are? Are you looking for healing painful past issues that keep surfacing? Do you suffer from childhood traumas that have been difficult to heal? Do you want to have better relationships, more meaningful work? Do you want a deeper spiritual life? I would be honored to be of service! I love working with clients that want an integrated psychotherapy that deals with mind, body, and spirit. APPLYING LOVING TO THE PLACES INSIDE THAT HURT LEADS TO HEALING!

By now you probably know that fighting about the dishes is never just about the dishes, issues in the bedroom are never just about sex, and infidelity is never just about an affair. Each of these are but tiny reflections of larger dances we do with our partners that give light to how we fight, how we communicate, and ultimately how we learned to love.

Maybe today's struggle feels bigger than your ability to cope. Asking for help may make you feel a little sick, but more of the same just isn't an option. Your self-esteem has bottomed out; a harsh inner critic is running the show. Maybe you’re experiencing grief after a death or the loss of a relationship. You’re getting pushed around by anxiety or depression; you've reached mid-life and are asking, is this it? You’re dating and wondering why nothing seems to work out. Your relationships cause more stress than fulfillment and you want marriage counseling or pre-marital counseling. Whatever the reason, welcome.

Are you ready to grow, move forward, make a change? Are you fully living or just existing? Does life seem overwhelmingly difficult at times? Or maybe just the opposite and it seems rather underwhelming and meaningless? Are you struggling in your relationships with friends, family or romantic partners? Wondering if some relationships are fading out for good or if it can be revived after all this time? Wherever you currently are, I can help. Together, we can create a plan and I will provide a counseling experience that meets your specific needs and helps you grow to your fullest potential in all aspects of your life.

Grief, anger, relationship struggles... whatever is going on, you want to feel better. By being here and taking such a proactive step means that you believe that is possible. My aim is to build on that belief, be there for you, and help you make sense of what you're feeling and experiencing in session, where we unpack what is going for on for you safely, non-judgmentally and with great care and compassion. With me, you can be however you need to be and talk about whatever you need to talk about. That's how we get the best results. (Sat appts now available!)

Currently on leave and scheduling consults for those seeking therapy to start in July 2023. The lotus flower is the only flower that seeds and blooms simultaneously. The lotus is rooted in muddy water, developing in the midst of thick struggle and obstacles. When the lotus emerges, it cleans the water, transforming its environment. This is where it blooms seeking the light of the sun while sending out seeds of possibility into the world. The lotus symbolizes cause and effect teaching us that each action we take will produce a result and that we contain all the material needed to mend/heal unresolved wounds and traumas.

Welcome. Are you struggling in your relationship? Do you feel alone, frustrated, or overwhelmed? Perhaps distance, criticism, or conflict have taken over and you no longer feel connected to yourself or your partner(s). You may worry that confusion, anger, grief, and loneliness are the new normal in your life. Perhaps you feel something special has been lost, and you want to find it again. Whether you are going through a major change like having a baby, recovering from a betrayal or loss, or simply facing the challenges of everyday life, you may find yourself longing for a feeling of wholehearted connection and belonging.

I have over 20 years of experience helping people reclaim their personal power and live a life of greater authenticity and fulfillment. I support clients to heal past wounds, build self-esteem, and begin saying "yes" to their dreams and values in their relationships, careers, spritituality, etc. I use a blend of traditional psychotherapy, life coaching and spiritual teachings to support my clients in self-actualization. For LGBT clients and family members dealing with coming out issues I support them in authentic self-expression, honesty, and self-acceptance.

We all need extra support at various points in life. If you're feeling stuck, exhausted, frustrated, or struggling to feel like yourself, you are not alone. Therapy can be an effective and meaningful way to address such issues, learn new skills, receive support, and unpack all of life’s complexities alongside a therapist you trust. I believe when we show up for ourselves and make space for our full humanity to be met with compassion, powerful shifts can occur.

Have you been struggling with negative beliefs about yourself? Or maybe not sure what to do for your teen or young adult who's struggling? Do you need help moving on from something you just can't seem to get over? What about your relationships? Do you need healing and wholeness for yourself and those you love? I'm here to help. You don't need to have everything together before we meet. It's ok. We'll sort it out together. All you need to do is show up. Let's start with where you're at and we'll find a way to get to where you want to be.

I work primarily with men, teens, and their families. Those I work with often feel stuck in some way, whether that is stuck in a job, or in depression, or with anxiety, or negative patterns in relationships. It is a privilege to walk alongside those who come into my office, to learn their stories, their strengths, and their struggles, and to give them a safe place to learn about themselves and move toward growth and thriving.