My work as a teacher in an economically disadvantaged community was also a window to the inner worlds of families and couples as well as children. I learned a great deal about people’s struggles - mental health issues, loss, trauma, and oppression - and witnessed the toll it took on individuals and relationships. I learned that as much as I loved teaching, I was even more passionate about supporting people through empowering therapeutic growth experiences.

I decided to change careers, and become a Marriage and Family Therapist. I earned my Master’s of Arts degree in Counseling from Palo Alto University, with an emphasis on Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling. During the start of my career, I was able to work as a Mental Health Clinician at a non-profit organization serving youth of all ages from the same community I used to teach in, from toddlers to teens, in both Monterey and Santa Cruz counties. 

I practice effective, culturally sensitive, relational therapy. I strive to understand my clients in the context of their relationships and broader society. No one lives in a vacuum, and often our challenges are connected to stuck relationship patterns, and dynamics of power and privilege that play out in our relationships, our workplace, and even within ourselves. 

I specialize in working with issues of race, identity, and culture. The relevance of these issues are often magnified in interracial couples as well as individuals or families with mixed cultural heritage. I support my clients to explore how power and subjugation interact with their relationships in order to help them form more satisfying connections and deeper intimacy. 

As a woman of color in Santa Cruz, I know the importance of representation and feeling seen and heard in a community that can sometimes feel isolating. It is my aim to provide quality therapy to all of my clients and especially those with marginalized identities. 

I believe that the quality of the relationship between the therapist and client is one of the most important factors for your growth and healing. In my view, it is vital that all clients are believed, respected and compassionately understood. I show up as my authentic self in sessions, and prioritize compassion and honesty with my clients to develop trust.

When I am not supporting my clients, I am spending time with my husband of 7 years and our two young daughters. I enjoy hanging out at the beach, going to yoga, and taking walks in nature. I am currently a member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) as well as the Santa Cruz Chapter of CAMFT. I would love to explore the possibility of working with you.

610 Capitola Ave, Capitola CA and online

Sliding scale available from $85 to $200 per session

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