Services
About My Clients
My clients are high functioning individuals who look successful to the world but internally struggle with overthinking, chronic anxiety, OCD, or unresolved trauma. They are insightful and ready to invest in themselves, but feel emotionally exhausted by old patterns. They want more than just a sounding board; they seek an expert, results driven space to safely unpack their experiences, build true resilience, and create sustainable shifts in how they live and function every day.
My Background and Approach
I am a licensed clinical psychologist and the founder of Cortez Counseling, where I value depth, honesty, and living with intention. My approach to therapy is compassionate, active, and deeply rooted in a trauma focused philosophy that prioritizes understanding what happened to you rather than what is wrong with you. Recognizing that high functioning individuals often carry a heavy internal load, I combine advanced clinical expertise with a collaborative style to help you unpack complex anxiety, OCD, and past experiences. Together, we work to dismantle the protective patterns that no longer serve you, building the self awareness and emotional resilience needed to create true, sustainable change in your life.
My Personal Beliefs and Interests
I believe that true healing begins when we stop asking what is wrong with you and instead look at what happened to you. Your current struggles, whether they look like chronic overthinking, perfectionism, or emotional numbing, are often just survival patterns that were built to protect you from past distress. I value depth, honesty, and living with intention, both in my work and in my own life. I bring these values into every session because I believe that the therapeutic relationship must be built on genuine trust and absolute transparency. Even the most high functioning individuals deserve a safe space where they can stop pretending everything is fine. I believe that therapy is not just about managing symptoms; it is a profound investment in your autonomy and your fMy academic journey includes a Doctorate from Antioch University in Santa Barbara, a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology, and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Chapman University. My research focused on the experi