Hopefully we will have the chance to chat over the phone and get to know each other but before we do that I imagine you might want to know a little bit about me and what exactly it is that I am offering. I am a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), and I received my Masters of Social Work (MSW) from Smith College School for Social Work. I have worked as a psychotherapist for about 8 years, with children from 3 to 18 years old, transitional age people (approximately 18 to 30 years old), adults of all ages, parents, caregivers, families, couples, siblings, and partners. I’ve worked in community mental health in Western Massachusettes and the Bay Area as well as a short stint as a hospital social worker and my current private practice which has me back and forth between Berkeley and Los Angeles.

What I am offering is psychotherapy, which can look and feel different to everyone but in general terms can look/feel like exploring, healing, practicing, and/or changing/growing. More specifically, I am offering a consistent time and space to provide support for anyone that is struggling with some aspect of their life and/or is interested in getting to know themselves better.

I view therapy (the work of exploring, healing, practicing, changing/growing) as an on-going process and something that you have already started, consciously or unconsciously before we meet, as well as something that will continue after we decide to end our work together. I also believe that healing/change are processes that happen in our bodies and our minds as well as in our relationships to others (you can feel it, think it, and see it!).

It is important to me in my role to also spend time and attention on attending to the power dynamics and inequities within interpersonal (two or more people) engagement. For example, I am not a ‘blank-slate’ (devoid of thoughts/beliefs/values/experiences) and I do not believe that our work together is without its own context (our shared and different thoughts/beliefs/values/experiences). I believe that taking all of these things into consideration is a necessary part of doing this work ethically and it is my hope that in naming these things together, we can access even deeper connection and healing.

In that same spirit, a little bit more about me. I have an interest in somatic or body-centered healing practices, and enjoy engaging in and learning about different ways of attuning to our bodies. I also engage in my own psychotherapy and maintain professional community and accountability through consultation and training. I was born and raised in the Bay Area and continue to split my time between there and Los Angeles. I enjoy engaging in various forms of physical exercise including swimming, playing basketball, and surfing. I also have a deep love for film and going to movie theaters.