Services
- Individual
About My Clients
The idea of 'going to therapy' evokes a variety of reactions. While some may be eager to see what therapy is all about and are ready for a journey of self-exploration, I tend to see people because they are struggling, they are in pain, they are grieving, feel misunderstood or are desperate for something to change. Demands are high in fast-paced Silicon Valley. Your struggles may be unseen by others--you may not know who to talk to about deeply felt concerns. I invite you into my practice.
My Background and Approach
I have had the privilege of working with people of all ages and many diverse backgrounds. I have practiced social work in many settings including: child welfare, foster care and adoption, school social work, offender treatment, forensic social work, an intensive outpatient mental health program, sliding scale counseling clinics, and suicide and crisis services. I have had the opportunity to work in the Midwest, Canada and in California with many reputable social service agencies. These work experiences have helped me meet and get to know many different people in many unique circumstances. As a clinically trained social worker, I integrate narrative, relational and cognitive-behavioral approaches in my practice. Further, I operate with the core values of social work, including a strengths-based practice and a commitment to serve vulnerable and marginalized populations. I am happy to answer your questions about my approach to therapy.
My Personal Beliefs and Interests
Some people assume you go to a therapist to get advice, or to be told you're right and someone else is wrong. Some people think therapy is a waste of time—the therapist will silently listen to you vent for 50 minutes and then tell you to come back next week. Some people think therapy is an expensive friendship. On the contrary, I do not believe therapy is or should be any of those things. I believe what makes therapy powerful is the therapeutic relationship. The therapist should be professional, competent and have the capacity to help someone create change... a change in beliefs, a change in actions, and a change of perspective. A therapist should listen, but a therapist should also engage, and when necessary, challenge. This relationship has the potential to be life-changing and life-saving. Unlike a friendship, the therapist has legal obligations...to be competent, to protect the patient and others, and a responsibility to create boundaries for respect and safety.