With over a decade of clinical experience, I have walked alongside individuals from all walks of life, offering tailored support to navigate their unique challenges. During this time, I have had the privilege of supporting individuals of all ages, spanning from young children to adolescents, adults, and couples. With each interaction, I have witnessed the incredible capacity for growth and transformation that resides within us all.

As a community-based crisis response therapist, I provided crisis stabilization, linkage to community resources, and short-term therapy for people struggling with acute mental health concerns including thoughts of ending their lives. Likewise, I worked as a crisis counselor in the Emergency Department for several years. In this capacity, I conducted mental health assessments, coordinated substance use and detox treatment, and supported individuals and families during some of their most difficult moments. This background has equipped me with the insight and skill to help you navigate even the most challenging moments that can arise when coping with anxiety, relationship stress, and the peripartum period.

For several years, I provided in-home services for children, adolescents, and families in several different capacities. Some examples included working as a Wraparound therapist and partnering with the Pasadena Police Department to work with first-time offending youth. In each of these roles, I met each person or family where they were and worked with them to develop and meet goals in a compassionate and non-intimidating way. I deeply value the unique lived experience and perspective of each person and am committed to fostering a warm and nurturing space for growth and healing.

Anxiety is at the heart of my clinical work. As a private practitioner, I work with adolescents and adults who struggle with persistent worry, overwhelm, and the physical tension that often accompanies it. For many, this includes racing thoughts, trouble relaxing, or a constant feeling like something is wrong. Drawing on evidence-based approaches such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness techniques, I help clients understand their anxiety, build coping skills, and feel more like themselves again.

I also have a special focus on supporting women through pregnancy and the postpartum period. Perinatal anxiety often goes unrecognized and is misunderstood. It can should up like constant worry about your baby’s health, intrusive or scary thoughts, and trouble connecting with your baby. Many women also feel immense pressure to be grateful, which can make it hard to reach out for help. I offer a warm, nonjudgmental space where you can learn about what is happening, talk openly about your experience, and learn strategies to help you feel better. My approach is informed by my specialized training in perinatal mental health and my understanding of how culture and family expectations shape the experience of motherhood.

Finally, I have worked extensively with couples facing communication struggles, infidelity, and core value conflicts. I am passionate about cultivating thriving relationships and draw upon the Gottman Method, a research-based approach that guides couples towards effective communication, understanding, and intimacy. I also support couples through major transitions, including the shift to parenthood, when anxiety, sleep loss, and changing roles can strain even the strongest relationships. My aim is to create a safe and supportive environment where couples can manage conflict productively, reconnect, and nurture a fulfilling partnership.

Approaching the study of young children of immigrants from a social determinants of health framework, my research reflects a commitment to studying issues of race, sociopolitical context, and immigration as they relate to preschool-aged children of immigrants’ health. I emphasize unpacking these multidimensional issues and translating findings into tangible and accessible recommendations to support children of immigrants’ development through prevention, early detection, and intervention efforts at the communal level. My current and ongoing projects include an analysis of the conditions contributing to health disparities among preschool-aged children of immigrants and an implementation study of a faith-based, trauma-informed intervention to increase faith leaders’ capacity to support congregants impacted by immigration enforcement and COVID-19. Learn more about my research.