Clients describe me as both empathetic and challenging.

I am committed to showing up authentically during our sessions.  While I take  your growth very seriously, I also value the moments of humor, curiosity, and self-reflection that will happen. I nurture these moments by receiving you where you are in this moment – while working toward a shared vision of you at your most fulfilled.

I will always validate your experiences and how they have impacted you. I am also comfortable with seemingly “uncomfortable” topics — for example, sex, money, and gender roles  — while also welcoming the humor and joy that often arises on the journey of self-discovery.

Training & Education

Licensure

• California Licensed Clinical Psychologist # 33812

Education

• Postdoctoral Fellow in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University

• PhD in Developmental Psychology, Cornell University

• Master of Arts in Developmental Psychology, Cornell University

• Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College

Commitment to Evidence-Based Treatment 

I am an active member of the academic community and currently hold an appointment as an Instructor at Stanford University School of Medicine.  At Stanford, I conduct research to better understand how conditions such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD affect how people think, sleep, and — of course — feel. My background in research helps me to better understand the mechanisms of these conditions and identify the treatments that are most likely to offer relief. 

Treatment modalities include:

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy | Acceptance and Commitment Therapy | Emotionally-Focused Therapy | Internal Family Systems Therapy

I will meet you where you are today and help you understand the patterns that are holding you back from the life you deserve.

I take a non-pathologizing approach to therapy.  This means that I believe there doesn’t need to be anything wrong with you in order for you to be feeling pain, frustration, or anxiety.  The suffering that my clients experience is usually a natural human response to the world we live in.  The beauty of this work, though, is that we don’t have to be at the mercy of our circumstances.  By developing insights into the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that contribute to your suffering, you can change your experience.  Helping my clients develop this sense of empowerment is the most rewarding experience of my professional life.

As your therapist, I am also invested in my own growth. I don’t believe in asking my clients to go anywhere I have not gone myself, because I know how hard it can be to truly commit to the therapeutic process. Fortunately, I also know that it’s worth it: that the hard work of therapy can result in true life change.