About Myself

I have been working with children and families since 1996. My extensive background with abused and neglected children has helped me start my private practice in 2003 where I specialize in working with Children and adults who have a history of trauma. I received my bachelors degree from University of California at Davis and my masters degree in counseling from CSU, Sacramento.
Learn more about my background and beliefs.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing)

My general approach to therapy involves using EMDR to help people reduce anxiety, depression, and relationship problems, which are often a result of traumatic or upsetting memories either from current or past life situations that have left a lasting impact. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing) is a proven technique for use with trauma and has been around for over 30 years. I have found EMDR to be the most effective way to help people with a single incident trauma or people who have secure attachments but experienced a later in life trauma. I am fully trained in EMDR. See EMDR International Association for more information.

CRM (Comprehensive Resourcing Model)

I am also trained in CRM which is a comprehensive approach to trauma and attachment disorder treatment that focuses on helping the client develop layers of resourcing, allowing the brain and body to feel safe. Once the client feels extremely safe the brain and body can more gently process the trauma and attachment wounds on a deep level that allows for real, permanent healing. See Comprehensive Resourcing Model for more information.

IFS (Internal Family Systems Model)

IFS (called parts work for short) is an evidence based psychotherapy modality that helps people access their inner parts. Science has proven that our minds are naturally multiple in nature. As the popular Pixar movie "Inside Out" depicts the inner mind of the main character, Riley, one can get a simplified explanation of how our mind functions to not only protect us, but to also help up manage our day to day tasks. We all have a core self, manager parts that help us get things done, protector parts that help us cope and keep us safe from harm, and wounded parts that hold the memory and emotions of past painful life events. This amazing therapeutic technique teaches people how to access, talk to, and get cooperation from their parts. This modality is highly effective and easy for people to do on their own once they learn the basic steps. I teach parts work to all my client's that are struggling with effects of trauma, which inevitably leads to overactive protector parts that can unwittingly cause negative consequences in a person's life. See IFS Institue for more information.