The right quality of dedicated, nonjudgmental attention, where you are the primary focus, can be transformative. By providing this quality of attention, it creates an opportunity to deepen your understanding, self-acceptance, and growth. We might find this dynamic to be rare — a valuable connection we didn't know we were missing and haven't necessarily learned how to make use of.
I use a psychodynamic approach, particularly drawing from Jungian psychology.
As a necessary foundation to therapy I aim to develop a trusting relationship where we can create the space to explore the various web of relationships in your life and between the different aspects of who you are. I acknowledge that we each have unconscious aspects and that gently exploring, shedding light on, and integrating these hidden areas of our psyche is integral to growth.
A lot of our emotional suffering can be pushed down to our unconscious and we develop coping mechanisms that can paradoxically injure or inhibit our growth. Old, automatic, unconscious approaches to our lives that were once necessary for our survival can start to feel outdated and no longer helpful. Eventually we require outside assistance to recognize and work with repressed pain and our unhelpful coping strategies.
As someone who practices a Jungian approach, it can be helpful to discuss dreams, symbology, archetypes, the unconscious, or Jung's theory of personality typology (more popularly known as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator or MBTI). Though by no means a requirement, dreams can be another angle to approach expressions of the unconscious, helping us to shed light on or show us a new view of our situation. Additionally, I encourage bringing in artwork of any kind (such as writings, drawings, or music), regardless of artistic skill, to explore as a symbolic expression. The extent to which I use Jungian theory explicitly varies from one therapeutic relationship to the next.
Education & Training
I moved to the Bay Area to get my doctorate degree in clinical psychology (Psy.D.) from John F. Kennedy University, which specializes in training in multiculturalism and social justice. Prior to this, I received my bachelors degree in Health Psychology from Bastyr University. As a somewhat lesser known degree than a Ph.D., a Psy.D. requires the same amount of course work and training, as well as a dissertation, but with an emphasis on clinical training instead of an emphasis on research - they are the two most common credentials for psychologists.
I've worked with all ages and races, older and younger men and women, people across the socio-economic spectrum, and individuals suffering with every kind of mental health issue.
My training and experience has included working at a crisis hotline, community mental health clinics, and a partial hospitalization program (PHP). In addition, I had two years of pre-doctoral training at the Jung Institute of San Francisco, and my postdoctoral training was at the counseling center of St. Mary's College.
Teaching, Supervision, & Other Professional Experience
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I have given lectures and/or taught as a teaching assistant at the bachelors, pre-doctoral, and doctoral levels.
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I spent two years as a board member for the California Psychology Internship Council (CAPIC).
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I am a part-time supervisor at the Wright Institute Clinic.
Specialization
Although not an exhaustive list, or categories I am restricted to, here are some populations and topic areas I specialize in:
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High functioning, high performing, introspective, & psychologically-minded individuals
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Individuals in the tech industry
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Artists & individuals exploring their creative side
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College students & psychology majors
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Issues faced by gender & sexual minorities
Theoretical Approaches to Therapy
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Psychodynamic / Psychoanalytic
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Jungian Counseling
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Relational / Interpersonal
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Existential / Humanistic
Allyhood
As someone who visibly holds certain identifiers of privilege, it's a personal and professional priority to continually develop a greater understanding and appreciation for those with different lived experiences attributable to their identity. This can include, but is not limited to, individuals who have a different culture, race, ethnicity, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, or ability status.
Professional Affiliations