About me:
I received my B.A. in International Politics from UCSC in 1998. In 2004, I completed my Masters degree in Social Work (MSW) from Hunter College School of Social Work in New York (now called Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter) with a dual emphasis in Community Organizing and Clinical Social Work. I worked in various settings from Foundations, to social service organizations, to a non-profit hospice, as well as in yoga studios to combine my interests in personal growth/transformation, mindfulness, and social justice. I do not consider these interests to be separate, but as essential and integral for individual growth and our global survival.
I have practiced many different forms of social work including public policy, organizing, case management, and now, psychotherapy with individuals. Somewhere in the middle I became a certified yoga instructor. The common thread has always been my focus on transformation and the possibilities and challenges that come with change.
I love working with a variety of people on a variety of issues. I work mostly with adults ages 18 - 90s who want to work on anything from anxiety, depression, relationships, family dynamics, trauma, life transitions, work stress, or grief and loss, to name a few. Some people even come to therapy when they are not in crisis but are looking to explore opportunities for growth or change in their lives! Having a broad spectrum of education and training enables me to have that flexibility to work with a broad spectrum of people and a range of clinical issues.
My clinical work started in a Settlement House in New York where I did case management and community organizing through an eviction-prevention program called Project Home. My most recent in-depth clinical training was as a Grief Counselor at Hospice of Santa Cruz County. My own experiences with grief taught me a lot about how lonely that process can feel, and how deeply impacted individuals and families are when adjusting to loss. Helping people explore their grief and heal in a safe and compassionate environment at Hospice of Santa Cruz County was very life-affirming, and I continue to do that work in my private practice as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).