Find a Therapist in Redwood City, California.

My approach to psychotherapy is very customized. Every individual comes with their own beliefs, values, and family of origin. Because of this, one size does not fit all. I am very careful to take the time to learn my clients and their needs. I help my clients walk toward the directions they desire. I come to you with over 35 years of experience in helping others to heal. Whether it is addiction, abuse, grief, relationship struggles, or stress, I can help. I look forward to assisting you with your life challenges.

My approach to therapy is grounded in the belief that by uncovering the source of our problems, we can work together to heal and find a sense of confidence and clarity. I provide unique and tailored psychoanalytic therapies to help my clients make sense of their lives and better understand the source of their issues. When the source is identified, a path to wellness can be established. My goal is to provide a safe and supportive environment, free of judgment and pressure, where my clients can look into their emotions, experiences, and behaviors to gain insight and clarity. I believe that understanding our emotions is the key to unlocking our potential and finding relief and healing.

What is psychotherapy? It is a space that supports you in working through the pressures of anxiety, depression, grief and loss, relationship struggles, work/life stress, and even to explore life enhancement and goal achievements. It is a judgement free place where someone listens, gives you space to tell your truth, seeks to understands what you are going through and is specially equipped to support you with processes to move you beyond these challenges.

You don't need to do it all alone. And turns out, as more and more brain research is showing us, you're not meant to. Many of our original wounds, with echoes in our current lives, come from past and often early relationships. And while there are many valuable paths to healing, psychotherapy provides a special safe relationship in which these past experiences can be rewired and new aspects of yourself can be discovered or rediscovered. With compassionate reflection, encouragement, and challenge, transformation can happen!

I love doing psychotherapy with individuals. It is an exploration of who you are, your stengths, where to you get stuck? Many issues you may be struggling with just vanish with a new understanding of your life and your body's responses to stress and trauma. Sometimes, specific tools and skills need to be learned and practiced. Safety and confidetiality are the first requirements in working well together. Next comes attunement. Have you ever felt like someone really really gets you? That is what good therapy does. Being really understood by someone makes us feel better about ourselves and removes our shame, allowing us to connect with others and enjoy our life rather than be burdened by it.

In psychotherapy, the therapist and the client build a unique relationship. Like most positive relationships, it is centered on caring and trust. Unlike other relationships, this one exists solely to meet the needs of the client. It can be very helpful to talk with friends and family when you’re struggling, but friends and family have a vested interest in the outcome of your struggles. They are familiar with who you are, so it is usually uncomfortable for them if you change, even when the change is positive and needed. As an unbiased professional, your therapist focuses on what is best for you, whether it is making big changes, small changes, or no changes.

Feeling stuck in a cycle that is causing you pain or a lack of fulfillment leaves you open to increased stress, followed by more pain and lack of fulfillment. This puts a strain on your relationships and your sense of well-being. Maybe you feel stuck in addiction, depression, anxiety, a relationship you want to change, a job that doesn't satisfy you anymore. Maybe you have specific ways of interacting with people that you find doesn't serve you anymore- yelling, arguing, passivity, keeping your guard up. We explore your patterns, your symptoms and the reasons they were useful to you. I will teach you knew ways of managing your emotions and ways to diminish patterns that no longer serve you.

Are you interested in getting relief and finding solutions? Would you like to feel good about your life and relationships? I use empirical research and science across multiple disciplines to show clients just like you how you can get real-world, tangible, time-tested, and long-lasting, results that lead to optimal mental and relational health. Mental and relational health is not just a reduction in symptoms and problems. Instead, they are increases in self-control and empowerment, as well as acceptance, freedom, kindness, compassion, safety, and understanding - for yourself and others.

I am a Holistic Psychotherapist meaning I work with my clients Mind-body-spirit complex. I have created a process that I call “from Mindfulness to Soulfulness" that combines Soul work/Inner child healing with cutting edge law of attraction techniques that allow you to heal at a deep level, harness your untapped potential, and create your desired reality. You learn how to get out of survivor mode and let your soul lead. My process involves identifying your core wounds and negative stories and thought patterns, over writing the scripts and healing your inner child. I use somatic techniques for deep healing such as guided visualizations, and the EFT (tapping technique) for trauma release.

My clients often find me easy to talk to and say they feel comfortable with me, trusting quickly. This can make the psychotherapeutic process easier and more effective for my clients, especially if they are nervous or don’t know what to expect. Therapy with me can range from just talking casually with each other, leading to insights, increased self awareness, and processing through emotional issues, or it could be more intensive deeper therapy like EMDR.

Because I work with clients regarding a variety of issues; my first goal in therapy is to discuss what is bringing you into treatment and what you hope to gain from your time with a therapist. Together, we will develop a plan for how to work on the issue you are seeking to address. My training includes therapies such as : DBT, CBT, EMDR, and compassion focused therapy to name a few. I believe in getting to the root of the issue and exploring what therapeutic intervention would be the best fit to meet your needs. It is possible to experience a positive change when going to therapy.

Entering psychotherapy can provide and rich and healing journey of understanding of yourself and moving past stuck places right now and from times earlier in your life. I am delighted to be your guide in this powerful process that can get you through old trauma, gently move you forward from belefs and behaviors that feel toxic or unnatural to your mind and body, and bring your thoughts, emotions and physical self into a healthier place. Some individuals benefit from discovering origins of where their struggles came from, understanding and clearing that, and others get a lot out of adding ways of moving in new directions inside and outside right here and now. Relief can be enjoyed!

I have 20 years of diverse professional experiences and extensive training. I am a published writer, lecturer and passionate about my field. I specialize working with Individual Adults and Teens. My style is conversational, and I strive for a collaborative and compassionate practice with my clients. Though, I am trained in a variety of therapies, I primarily work in narrative and psychodynamic theory. Additionally, I may draw upon other similar or complimentary theoretical approaches to create a highly personalized treatment plan based on your needs and goals.

I approach psychotherapy as a collaborative process between therapist and client in which you will gain insight into your inner truth and engage your own innate healing capacity. Together we will explore and honor the amazing inner landscape that makes you uniquely you. If past trauma or difficult childhood experiences are impacting your life today, I can help you transcend your past and engage more joyfully in your present life. I offer a safe, respectful, compassionate place to discover and resolve whatever is holding you back from the authentic life you so want and deserve.

Therapy is hard! But it can also be nice. Sure, it starts out strange enough; sitting with a stranger and talking about personal issues is not what most people want to do, but give it time. Soon enough, that therapist won't be a stranger, he'll be a trusted confidant. Once you're at that point, you'll know the difference it makes to spend an hour each week reflecting on your life with someone who has experience working through all sorts of issues! That hour can be life-changing.

We are all born with the capacity for joy and love, but sometimes, as adults, we forget the wondrous sense of possibility or dreams we once had for our lives. Psychotherapy can help you reconnect with yourself and your hopes and aspirations for your life. It can also help you: (1) Develop more awareness about your needs (2) Express yourself more openly and authentically (3) Understand the ways your childhood impacts your experience of yourself as an adult (4) Cope with circumstances such as loss, illness, disability, anxiety, depression, parenting, marriage, aging, care-giving or conflicts in the workplace. If you would like to discuss your needs, please call me at 415-533-9724.