about me

I was born and raised in the San Fernando Valley. Through out my teenage years I struggled with depression and finding ways to cope with life. From the outside looking in I appeared to have a normal life, but I always felt things deeper than the average person. I was highly sensitive, struggled with my weight and self confidence. My grandparents were Holocaust survivors and I felt their pain and couldn't understand anti semitism. I turned to self destructive behaviors to find temporary relief from my existential pain.

I saw therapists and psychiatrists trying to make sense of who I was and teach me how to cope with life. I am grateful to so many healers who helped me on my journey. I was 25 years old when something clicked and I was no longer a slave to the dark side.

I decided that I wanted to be a therapist to help people and give them hope. I finished my B.A. in Psychology and went on to get a Masters in Clinical Psychology in Marriage and family therapy. I worked in treatment centers all over Los Angeles for many years. I realized both in my private practice and at the treatment centers that most people had some unresolved trauma that was preventing them from healing. I eventually became trained in EMDR and later certified. I wanted to be able to take people on a complete journey of healing.

Currently I see clients in person and via Zoom. I work with trauma, addiction, relational issues, grief and loss, depression and anxiety. I see individuals, couples and families. I love the work I do and get excited about helping heal the world one person at a time!

  EXPERIENCE

2007- I completed my Masters degree in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy, from Pepperdine Graduate School.
2006-2011 Primary Therapist at Beit T' Shuvah a Jewish treatment center in Los Angeles, CA. I worked extensively with addicts and their families. Redeveloped their family program and worked with pre teens and teens in their drug prevention program.

2013- Present Private Practice in Culver City, CA

2013-2014 Primary Therapist at La Fuente Hollywood Treatment Center. Treated primarily gay men and their families. Issues treated were sex, love and drug addiction.

2014-2015 Primary Therapist at Cliffside Malibu. Treated people for addiction and trauma. Facilitated several groups, developed and led their family program.

2016-2018 Primary Therapist at Passages Venice IOP. Treated people for addiction and trauma, grief and loss and relational issues. Supervised several therapist interns.

2018- Completed EMDR training with Dr. Stephen Dansiger and the Institute of Creative Mindfulness.

2020- Certified EMDR therapist

APPROACH

I am a Humanistic Existential Therapist which basically means that I focus on positive growth versus pathology. I believe that people have everything that they need within them already to heal. I use empathy and unconditional positive regard to illuminate client's positive behaviors. All people have self awareness and the ability to choose how they act. I also utilize Mindfulness, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and EMDR as additional tools throughout the therapeutic process.

Our relationship will always be about you feeling safe, seen and heard. We will figure out you goals and needs and make a plan for you to attain them. During therapy I will really listen to you and at times mirror back what I see and hear. I will help you gain a better understanding of your life and explore what actions you might take if need be. We will look at your core values to help you live an authentic life with integrity.

Therapy is meant to end when the client has healed. All people grow at their own pace and some client's prefer to have long term therapy. It is my goal to help you move on when you are ready. We will discuss termination and I will weave in closure at the end of our journey together. That being said, I will always be available to you in the future.