Strength-Based Therapists in Kensington, CA

I have extensive experience working with individuals, couples, and families struggling with addiction and mental health, utilizing a variety of counseling approaches. These include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Solution-Focused Therapy. My approach is relationship-focused and Strength-Based with a healthy dose of humor. I am dedicated to creating a supportive environment for my clients to thrive.

During these stressful times, more than ever people need support for positive change. Being able to connect with someone can open up the possibilities for better relationships, and a better life. Finding someone to partner with can help make the shift from suffering in silence to working together to create solutions.

The care and support that allows each person to grow and thrive is unique. Whether you're hoping to reduce the impact of life’s stressors, heal from traumatic experiences, improve your sense of self-worth, or explore your relationship with drugs and alcohol, our work together will recognize your individuality and be driven by your goals. I focus on building a relationship in which you feel you are treated with respect, understanding, and compassion, where you can experience a sense of safety in sharing about sensitive parts of your life.

My approach to psychotherapy is collaborative, empathic, and oriented toward achieving the results my clients desire. I provide skills to increase awareness of problematic patterns that can lead to feeling stuck. Left unaddressed, these patterns can take a toll on relationships, work, health, and self-worth. My goal is to create a non-judgmental and supportive space for exploration and change and to help people get back to living a more meaningful and enjoyable life. In addition, I emphasize a "strength-based" approach, in which I help clients identify and build from strengths and other positive qualities they already have.

Your child is struggling with anxious or sad feelings. Irritability, defiance and outsized anger are prevalent in many of your interactions. Children often "hold it together," at school and then fall apart at home. As a parent, you feel triggered and at the same time hopeless when your attempts to understand or comfort fail. Feeling seen, understood and validated are imperatives for healthy development and self esteem. Parents struggling with patience and reactivity to challenging behaviors will find difficulty providing consistent communication and empathy. You seek for your child positive coping skills so that they flourish.

I care about helping you feel better in your work, romantic relationships, family, school, friendships, or any other areas that are important to you. Clients have described me as thoughtful, creative, and reliable with a calming demeanor and a steady strength-based supportive presence. It takes courage to take the leap and set up an appointment, but weekly counseling sessions together can develop a foundation to make lasting changes in your life that your future self will be grateful for.

If you've stumbled upon my page, you're likely seeking emotional support and helpful skills to navigate life's challenges. Perhaps you've been feeling stuck, anxious, overwhelmed, or disconnected to your work, relationships, or even yourself. This can be very painful to navigate alone. In therapy with me, you can work through negative thinking patterns or habits, common stressors, and allow room for acceptance of things you cannot control. In therapy, you can gain new skills as we talk through your lived experience. Your story is unique, so we will work together to navigate treatment goals that can improve your quality of life.

I work with individuals of all ages, including couples and families, to foster emotional health and equilibrium. Together, we build a positive therapeutic relationship to explore patterns and find solutions. I bring a tailored approach to treatment that draws on elements of attachment theory, strength-based therapy, mindfulness, ACT, and CBT. I apply these approaches to support clients, including teens and young adults facing anxiety and depression, adults and couples navigating relationships, couples preparing for children, and parents seeking support in achieving work-family-personal balance.

Everyone goes through challenging situations in life, and while you may have successfully navigated through other difficulties you've faced, there's nothing wrong with seeking out extra support when you need it. My approach is to be warm and deeply interested in both your struggles and your strengths. I work with clients who wish to understand and shift their anxiety, depression, self-criticism, and relationship difficulties. I particularly enjoy working with clients who carry marginalized identities including women, queer, trans, and POC clients. Central to my approach is the belief that cultural and environmental factors deeply play a role in our development.