I became a psychologist because I found myself working with adolescents and families facing significant mental health, relational, and systemic challenges, and I didn’t have the tools or experience to provide the support they truly needed. This realization led me to pursue the training necessary to make a meaningful impact in their lives. I’ve chosen to focus on adolescents because this is such a formative period—one when individuals naturally start making changes and decisions that shape their future. By intervening during this time of natural change, I can help teens make choices now that set them on a path toward a healthier and more fulfilling life.
The most rewarding part of this work is seeing my clients overcome obstacles that may have been holding them back for years, preventing them from living the lives they want and deserve. I help them navigate these challenges and stay with them until they achieve their goals. Building trust is a cornerstone of my approach, and it starts with truly understanding each person—their struggles, motivations, and what drives behaviors that may be interfering with their progress. When you take the time to fully understand someone it leaves no room for judgment. My style is warm, open, and direct. If I notice patterns or choices that aren’t serving you well, I’ll tell you honestly and without judgment. I have a "no BS" rule in my office, and if I share feedback, you can trust that it’s the truth.
I specialize in comprehensive adolescent dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and have been providing this structured, evidence-based treatment for teens and their families for the past eight years. I am comprehensively trained in DBT and also specialize in treating trauma using evidence-based approaches, such as trauma-focused cognitive behavior therapy (TF-CBT), prolonged exposure (PE), and prolonged exposure for DBT (DBT-PE). In addition, I use DBT and cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) to treat conditions such as chronic emotion dysregulation, suicidal behaviors, self-harm, depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). I am especially passionate about working with LGBTQ+ teens and their families to support them with the unique challenges that they face today. Some of the most meaningful work I do involves supporting families, especially helping parents and teens communicate effectively.
One of my strengths is my fluency in Spanish, which allows me to provide therapy in Spanish and converse with parents in their preferred language whenever possible. I believe meaningful communication is essential, and meeting families where they are linguistically is a crucial part of building connections and trust.
My approach to care is rooted in combining evidence-based practices with authentic human connection. You need to know that the guidance I provide is grounded in solid science, and you also need to feel assured that I am a real person who genuinely cares about you and your goals. Every step of the way, I strive to create an environment where you feel supported, respected, and empowered to move forward.
