My Story

I have worked in mental health care for over 20 years and have had a breadth of experience that continually informs my work. I began my career as a unit coordinator and caseload mental health worker while pursuing my Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology at the University of California, Santa Cruz in a large, acute mental health treatment center serving gravely disabled adults with schizophrenia, personality disorders and other chronic mental health issues. In 2002, I graduated and returned to Los Angeles, and began working at the Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital at the University of California, Los Angeles in the inpatient and outpatient adolescent eating disorder programs, as a senior mental health worker. In 2009, I began the pursuit of my doctoral degree at the California School of Professional Psychology, and received a masters in health psychology (focused on the mind-body connection) and a doctorate in clinical psychology. While in graduate school, I trained at the Children's Collective, Inc. in Los Angeles, performing assessments for children, and providing therapy for adults, adolescents, and their families. I also trained at the Neurodevelopmental Clinic at the California School of Professional Psychology providing neurological, developmental, and psychological testing for children. After receiving my master's, I started at Reasons Eating Disorder Center in Rosemead, CA as a Program Therapist and then Program Manager of the Partial Hospitalization and Intensive Outpatient Programs, then Interim Manager of Inpatient Services, and lastly as Program Director of Hancock Park Residential and Training Director until I resigned in July of 2018. During my time there, I completed my pre and post doctoral training at the Saturday Center for Psychotherapy in Santa Monica, focusing on long-term, psychodynamic and intersubjective therapy for individuals and couples, adults and adolescents. Currently, I have a private practice serving adults, adolescents and families and focus on working with issues of life transitions, grief, trauma, anxiety, depression, and eating disorders. I also currently serve as a Program, Ancillary and Group Therapist at Resolutions Treatment Center. Both my practice and Resolutions are located in Santa Monica, CA.