I am a licensed clinical psychologist practicing in the Folsom and Sacramento area. I have been working within the field of psychology in the areas of therapy, psychological evaluation, research, and/or teaching since 1998. I have been licensed as a psychologist in California since 2007.
I work primarily with adults, including older adolescents and young adults, in both short- and long-term individual therapy. I also conduct psychological evaluations. I work with individuals who are experiencing a range of concerns including anxiety, depression, anger, and trauma as well as problems in interpersonal, family, work, and academic functioning.
MY APPROACH
In my work, I believe that, for the most part, people do the best they can with what they have at any given time. That is, the ways someone thinks, feels, behaves, and relates to others, no matter how seemingly “problematic” or "destructive" (i.e. anger, anxiety, tantrums, depression, self-injury, etc.) have meaning within the context of one's life. Rather than immediately attempting to "get rid" of these "problems," I focus on helping people understand how such patterns came to be and the current function they serve.
I also maintain the perspective that individuals do not exist in a “vacuum" and focus on helping them to understand those unique experiences and circumstances that have brought them to this point in their lives. This may include exploring early life experiences, traumatic life events, and/or interaction patterns and roles within their family-of-origin. I also focus on helping people to understand how they influence and are influenced by a range of interconnected systems. To that end, we may explore the ways that their own health and physical well-being, the people around them (i.e. loved ones, peers, coworkers), physical environment, and social, political, and cultural factors affect and are affected by their beliefs, emotions, assumptions, values, and behaviors.
I often encourage people to explore their values, beliefs, and assumptions they have made about themselves, others, and their worlds, encouraging them to consider how those assumptions have come to be and whether there is "space" to think and do things differently. Once you and I can understand better your internal world, we can work together to find new ways for you to interact with your external world.
I believe that the relationship between a client and therapist is extremely important for change. Before people can be expected to explore themselves and their worlds and to try out living differently, they must feel safe. To that end, I focus particularly on developing a safe and trusting relationship with my clients. I encourage people to explore their reaction to our relationship and work together. This includes routinely inviting them to consider what they find helpful/not helpful in therapy, ask questions about my approach, and think about the assumptions they make about what I may be thinking or feeling. I also provide them with my reaction to them and help them to consider whether others have similar reactions to them.
It can often feel confusing and overwhelming for people when attempting to find the right mental health provider. Typically, I approach my work with people from the perspective that the “fit” between me and a client is of the utmost importance. If you would like to see if I would be a good fit for you, please feel free to review my website and call me. Please review my Notice of Privacy Practices (NPP), located on the Getting Started page, before contacting me. I also encourage you to research other potential providers to ensure a good “fit.”
You may find the American Psychological Association (APA) and the California Psychological Association (CPA) helpful for more information on how to find a provider and directories for providers in your area.