My Background

I graduated from A.S.U. in 2002 with a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work, and in 2003 with a Master's Degree in Social Work through the Advanced Standing Program.  I did my internships at Value Options and the Salvation Army.  I've worked at several community mental health agencies, including Chicanos Por la Causa, Family Service Agency, and Bayless Healthcare, as well as for the Maricopa County Public Defender's Office for the Capital Unit as a Mitigation Specialist.  

I've been in private practice since 2021, and provide virtual services through the Sonder Mind and TalkSpace platforms.  

I provide therapy services that are trauma-informed.  That means that rather than asking 'What's wrong with you?', I'm asking 'What happened to you?', and more importantly, 'What does what happened mean to you?'  It also means that I'm actively collaborating with you, communicating with you, emotionally present with you, and looking for opportunities for you to have corrective experiences.  

The guidance I offer is tailored and responsive to your needs, which will change over the course of treatment, from session to session, and from moment to moment.  Sometimes you need the space to express your thoughts and emotions, and sometimes you need orientation, direction, and context.  I won't tell you what to do, but I will give you information on emotional needs, relationships, and the healing/growth process to help you make sense out of your experiences.

I often work with people who are emotionally gifted.  Since this is an intelligence that is often unrecognized, people with this quality often feel misunderstood and isolated.  Therefore, I like to help people recognize their gifts and talents so that they can then protect and use them in a way that is beneficial to them.