I want to provide you with a space that is safe, empowering, and that allows you to discover your uniqueness and strengths.
Entering the therapy space can be scary and intimidating. Sharing your fears and vulnerabilities takes strength and courage. Crossing this first threshold is such a victory and because of that I have respect for all my clients who begin their therapy journey no matter what part of their journey they are on. It would be an honor to go with you along YOUR journey as well.
My goal for every person I journey with is to help you learn how to love yourself for who you truly are.
This can take the form of identifying who you truly are rather than attempting to fit into the boxes other people have used to try and define you, or focusing on how you relate to yourself, others, and the world at large. To that end, I believe that we cannot help others if we have not done our own work. By going through my own therapy journey I understand how it feels to sit on the proverbial other end of the couch and work through and process these steps, both during successes as well as trying times. I view every session as an opportunity for authenticity for both myself and my clients, with a collaborative partnership developing along this journey.
You are the expert on your life, I am here to help you navigate your path to psychological growth and well-being.
Additionally, I have a passion for working with individuals who have experienced trauma. I want to help you feel more confident navigating the world while feeling safe, less anxious, and able to stop those constant negative thoughts that can be paralyzing at times. I am trained in Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) as well as other modalities that focus on trauma and its impact on daily living. I will help you connect with your inner child to work through healing those past wounds while learning to love yourself as you are in the process.
I am also passionate about helping couples/relationships reestablish secure, loving connection.
Couples’ therapy has been an important area of clinical focus for me. It can be exhausting sitting next to your partner and feeling disconnected, frustrated, or that you’re “having the same old argument over nothing again”. Believe it or not, those arguments are not “over nothing”; most likely there are needs that one or both of you are struggling to have met. In my work with couples, one of the primary and most fundamental goals is to help both parties feel heard and supported. It sounds basic but it’s the foundation of progressing further and healing. It can be so hard feeling as if the person you love is not emotionally present. To combat this, I have found Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) is a fantastic tool to help couples learn what is underneath and responsible for generating negative emotions, to help connect with that deeper attachment need, and in effect, helping you and your partner to become re-connected and passionate about your relationship again. I have completed a 4-day externship in EFT and am currently pursuing a year-long Core skills training in EFT.
A bit about me
I have been working as a therapist since 2011. I graduated from Pepperdine University in 2012 and I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in three states, most recently moving to Tampa about two and a half years ago. As you can guess from reading above, much of my clinical time since 2012 has been spent specializing in working with trauma and couples. I am trained in couples’ modality of Emotionally Focused therapy (EFT) and RLT (Relational Life Therapy) and use various Gottman-related tools. For individuals coming to work on trauma, anxiety, depression, and other life stressors, I am trained in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), and utilize other approaches including gestalt and other person-centered approaches.
I am a west coast girl, born and raised in Los Angeles, but love the Tampa Bay area (It reminds me of a humid LA). I am an active fitness enthusiast and love running and Orange Theory. On the weekends my favorite things to do are spend time with my husband, Pomeranian, Cubby, and cat, Moo, exploring either the different areas of Tampa/St Pete or heading to Orlando to connect with my inner child at Disney.
