Who am I?

I help people who have ongoing symptoms and negative life impacts from recent and childhood/complex PTSD and desire to seek relief from distress and gain calmness, clarity, and confidence again. PTSD and stress affect people in a variety of ways, ranging from problems with addictions, anger, anxiety, compulsive behaviors, disorganization, distractibility, eating, emotional dysregulation, guilt, health, intrusive thoughts, panic, perfectionism, people pleasing, relationships, sadness, shame, sleep, work, and more.

I was trained in the practictioner-scientist model, and have a background in psychotherapy research at both the undergraduate and graduate level, focusing on attachment, trauma, psychiatric interventions, neuroscience, and self-help interventions. I believe most mental health symptoms originate from early attachment and stressful events, and that revisiting these early life experiences helps people develop more adaptive emotional and cognitive responses to present-day stressors.

I specialize in the evidence-based therapies of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Lifespan Integration (a form of Narrative Exposure Therapy), Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy, Bibliotherapy, and Group Therapy for adults. Most of my clients enjoy the eclectic elements of these non-linear right brain therapies, ranging from brief exposure, insightfulness, somatic mind-body awareness, and the unconscious. My approach is a combination of lightheartedness and kindness, alongside being directive and honest. I also draw from a wide range of personal life experiences and knowledge from others.

License

Licensed Professional Counslor, OR C8613, 2024

Education

MS in Psychology, University of Palo Alto, 2019

BA in Study of Religion, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), 2010

Additional Trainings

Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP), Fluence via Journey Clinical, 2024

Navigating Jewish Trauma and Building Resilience, 2024

Virtual Reality (VR) for Anxiety and Phobia Treatment, 2023

Dr. Bessel van der Kolk on How the Body Keeps the Score: Intensive Trauma Treatment Course, 2023

Integrated Treatment of Chronic Pain and Chronic Health Conditions (EMDR), 2023

The Flash Technique (EMDR), 2023

Understanding the EMDR-Integrative Group Treatment Protocol (IGTP)-Ongoing Traumatic Stress (OTS), 2023

EMDR Standard Group Protocol, 2023

Lifespan Integration, Level One, 2022

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Part I and II, 2021

Previous Counseling-Related Work Experience

Professional Counselor Associate, The Portland Attachment and Trauma Healing (PATH) Center & Portland Neurofeedback, Supervisors Gail Hardman-Woung, LCSW, and Teresa Jansen, LPC, 2021-2024

Practicum Therapist, Gronowski Clinic, Individual Supervisor Noga Niv, PhD, Group Supervisor Sandy Macias, PhD, 2014-2015

Graduate Research Assistant, Supervisor Ricardo Muñoz, PhD, Institute for International Internet Interventions for Health, 2014-2015

Undergraduate Research Assistant, Supervisor Andrei Novac, MD, DFAPA, Founding Director, Traumatic Stress Program, UC Irvine, 2010-2013