ABOUT ME
I received my doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the PGSP-Stanford Psy.D. Consortium and completed my predoctoral internship at the VA Long Beach Healthcare System and postdoctoral fellowship at The Seattle Clinic. My speciality areas include using mindfulness and compassion-based interventions to treat various conditions including anxiety (panic, health anxiety, social anxiety, etc.), OCD, insomnia, anger, perfectionism, and chronic pain. I have trained in a variety of clinical settings including hospitals, schools, and outpatient clinics. My approach uses evidence-based treatments including cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, exposure-based therapies, and mindfulness-based interventions. I particularly enjoy working with individuals struggling with shyness or social anxiety. Helping individuals find their voice while building more resilience and self-compassion is a passion of mine. Coming from a multicultural family, I have a strong interest in working with individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds. I speak conversational Spanish and Mandarin and have lived and worked internationally. Additionally, I love learning about the brain and enjoy incorporating this research into therapy.
MY APPROACH
My approach to therapy provides a compassionate space where individuals can become more aware of the connection between their thoughts, feelings, and actions. From here they can begin making changes towards greater health. I believe healing and growth occur when we recognize that we are imperfect human beings and begin to meet ourselves with more kindness and acceptance. Another important aspect of change is learning to be with pain and difficulties in a skillful way. This involves changing our relationship to difficult emotions such as anxiety and fear so that we are not run by them. My practice incorporates Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and mindfulness and compassion-based treatments. Using these evidence-based therapies, I work with each client to create a personalized approach that best fits with their learning style and goals for therapy. In addition to learning about my clients’ struggles, we will also identify their strengths and what they care most about in life. In this way, clients can begin aligning their lives with what matters most to them. My style integrates warmth, humor and authenticity to foster growth.
