Trauma Focused Therapists in North Hills, San Diego, CA

Welcome! I love to help couples to reach their highest levels of trust, intimacy and safety together to create the relationship they have always wanted. I take a trauma focused approach, as these traumas and attachment issues can affect relationship dynamics and communication. I work with couples practicing BDSM/kink and also specialize in neurodiversity (ADHD and autism) and mixed neurotype couples. My practice works with LGBTQIA+ couples and polyamorous couples. I am part of both of these communities which makes for a safe and inclusive space.

Many struggle with not feeling connected to others or feeling like we can be ourselves. This comes from our challenges growing up, past relationships, and current experiences. Working with youth and young adults is rewarding as they are figuring out who they want to be in life. As we grow and start to face life’s difficulties, we face tough decisions from college, relationships, and employment. These are the years that are paving the way to the rest of their lives. My goal is to build a strong foundation and the skills to face those life challenges confidently.

After 30 years of practice, I remain excited about new clients, new treatment approaches, and the joy of a client leaving my office with a smile and thank-you. I believe in being in the moment, being present, creating true and authentic contact, and facilitating opportunities for my clients to develop deeper understandings and practical skills. I work with a wide range of human problems, and enjoy the diversity that my practice has deliberately maintained. I work in an eclectic manner. I think meditation, laughter and play, are great for what ails us.

Sometimes the future can seem hopeless. The fact that you're on this site proves you're invested in your mental health - keep going! In therapy, I take the stance that I'm the professional but you're the expert. We'll work collaboratively in order to build skills and encourage communication that fosters rebuilding the connection in your relationships. I primarily work with Couples who are struggling to heal, manage conflict and communicate effectively. I also offer premarital counseling for couples who are ready to equip themselves with tools for prepare for their upcoming marriage.

I currently only offer online and in-home therapy. When we are in the midst of crisis we can question our abilities to overcome. Like quicksand, these self-defeating thoughts pull us even deeper into despair and we may become seduced by seclusion. Instead, I believe we should strive to accept our struggles as the catalysts that can bring us into closer connection with others and thus be more empowered to overcome. My practice of therapy involves helping people realize that to struggle is not unique and that connections with others during those times can be the difference between surrendering to weakness and reclaiming your strength.

It’s tough when you or your relationship feel broken. I’m here to collaborate with you and figure out how to connect those pieces back together so that you feel stronger. It is natural to start questioning yourself and not feel accepted. You may start getting stressed, feeling frustrated, unhappy, and blame yourself/others because there are needs that do not feel met. There can be nagging worries you may have that are preventing you from living your full life. And if we allow ourselves to dig deeper, you may feel invisible, a burden or that maybe you don't deserve better...

I aim to provide you with support and relief from your anxiety and/or depressive symptoms and also offer you a perspective and understanding of your struggles and likely differs from what you might hear from family or friends. I share in the hope you will move forward in ways you might previously feared impossible. Good therapy focuses on maximizing your strengths and reducing your difficulties in the healing process.

I tend to think of therapy as tupperware, it’s the container where we can unload what is weighing us down. Our personal backgrounds; ethnicity, race, gender, sexuality, socioeconomic status, religion, (dis)abilities, to name a few, are integral to who we are. These aspects can have a deep impact on the way we view, think of, the world and experience mental health. This is why a multicultural approach lays the foundation for my work with clients. Navigating healing while at the same time still existing within systemic oppression, marginalization, and erasure/assimilation is not easy. This is a safe container to do so.

Life can be difficult at times and hard to navigate. The good news is it doesn't have to be this way! I assist couples and individuals to work through life's challenges by utilizing their strengths, exploring areas of growth and creating a new chapter in their life. We will work together to understand the patterns that have persisted and work towards healing. Despite the coronavirus regulations, I am an "essential service provider" in California and continue to meet with clients via telehealth. Please contact me to schedule an appointment.

My mission is to help you unleash your potential. I offer a safe space to work through any trauma or fears that stand in your way. I want to help you remove any barriers between you and the person you want to be. It is an honor to work with you to help you discover your highest self. I am here to be present with you on your journey, whether you are looking to unlock your unrealized possibilities as a person, a couple or as a whole family.

Relationships are incredibly complicated, and relationship issues can have profound impact on your quality of life. Anxiety and depression may be the result of unhealthy relationship dynamics, or may be caused by typical stressors such as financial problems or disagreements about raising children. If you are having difficulties in your current relationship, or if you are trying to understand past relationship struggles, I am qualified to help you. I work with couples and individuals engaging in high conflict, affairs, issues of past trauma, parenting, depression, anxiety, substance addiction, divorce, or criminal concerns.

There’s a lot happening in our world right now. If you’re finding yourself struggling with adjusting to life changes, experiencing low mood, or feeling challenged in a relationship, you don’t have to hold this alone. In therapy, I create a space where you can be your authentic self, in the safety of a therapeutic relationship where you feel heard, understood, and cared for. I have a warm therapeutic approach that is collaborative as we work together towards the heart of what you're needing.

Trauma can fracture who you are as a person. It can make you feel unlike yourself, distant from others, changed forever. This does not have to be permanent. I can help you cope and heal from sexual and relationship trauma. Together, we can build resilience, access your strengths, and free you from your past. Learning to understand your trauma, manage symptoms, change unhealthy relationship patterns, and increase self-esteem can help you cultivate the life and meaningful relationships that you want. Most of my clients have experienced rape, sexual assault, childhood abuse, systemic oppression, and/or violence from a partner.

Welcome! I'm a military veteran specializing in military and veteran advocacy, stress-related issues associated with military and post-military service, and treating military and veteran families. I also offer my services to any other person, couples, or families seeking supportive therapy. I consider myself to be a "generalist" and use a variety of therapy styles to suit every individual's needs.

I understand that life happens to all of us. You can feel overwhelmed by unexpected situations, unfortunate losses and unendurable psychological pains. Exposure to high levels of prolonged stress can lead to feelings of hopelessness and helplessness. Intense anxiety or panic attacks and social isolation are common experiences. Seeking help means that you are ready to work and bring your life into a healthier balance. Through self-acceptance and care, you can gain more tools to improve your lifestyle and relationships. By listening attentively with non-judgmental empathy, I provide ongoing support with therapeutic insight and expertise in a confidential setting.

Trauma is an event that has a strong emotional response to experiences, such as grief and loss, accidents, assault, natural disaster, violence or long-term abuse. It can leave you feeling shocked, overwhelmed, disoriented and hopeless. As a Marriage Family and Child Therapists I can guide you to manage your feelings and cope with behaviors following a traumatic event.

We will work together to help navigate life stresses and upsetting events in order to find your healing journey. Through our time together we will explore past/current wounds, life's difficulties, and future desires to help build mind, body, and spiritual connections. If you are seeking and wanting to integrate faith into our time together, I am honored to have this as a centering piece of our time together.

I am committed to use my extensive experience and the effective skills I have developed throughout my professional career in mental health to help you feel better in a short time. I have a deep understanding of why we end up suffering or are stuck and unable to get to that state of well-being we all deserve and are capable of achieving. Sometimes one just needs a little help from an expert. At a minimum, my aim is that you leave having more insight into what the problem is and how to resolve it. We can do the rest together or you can try on your own. I am confident that you will not regret the experience.

Do you find yourself constantly worrying about the next thing or like you can't shut off your mind? Are you feeling hopeless in dating and fearing you will be forever alone? Are you disconnected to your partner and desperate for things to go back to how they used to be? Are you a teen feeling misunderstood? If so- I can help. I’m so proud of you for coming this far and seeking out support. Finding a therapist that is the right fit for you can be challenging. Whether you are 13 or 65 I will connect with you on the deepest level. I work with couples, teens, women struggling with toxic dating patterns and more. Together we will