Why I do this work
My passion for relationship work didn’t come only from education and clinical training. It also came from my own life, and the patterns I once carried into my relationships.
I know what it feels like to be in a relationship where communication feels unhealthy, conflict never really resolves, and distance slowly grows between two people who care about each other. For years I didn’t understand my own triggers, or why certain moments led me to anger, defensiveness, shutting down or avoiding repair. I know what it’s like to set off a partner’s frustration while also feeling dismissed and unseen yourself.
Like many people, I spent years running on patterns I’d learned long before I understood where they came from. Growing up around emotionally immature dynamics, and finding my own way through identity, relationships and emotional safety, shaped how I showed up with the people I loved.
I’m a biracial therapist, and my own experience of identity, culture and belonging shapes how I listen. I know how much of what we carry into relationships comes from the families and communities that raised us.
What changed
My own therapy is where things began to shift. It helped me understand not only what I was doing, but why: how triggers develop, how protective habits form, how old experiences show up in present relationships, and what it actually takes to build healthier communication, regulation, accountability and repair.
That changed my life and the kind of therapist I became. I come to this work from a clinical place and a human one. I know how vulnerable it feels to admit a relationship isn’t working the way you hoped, and I know that real change is possible when people are willing to look at their part.
Relationship problems are rarely about the fight happening in the moment.
How I work
I help couples, individuals, families and other groups of two or more move past surface arguments to the needs, fears, triggers and patterns driving them. Rather than treating one person as the problem, I focus on the dynamic between you, and on finding new ways to stay connected during tension, vulnerability and conflict.
I believe healthy relationships are built on emotional safety, accountability, empathy, curiosity and the ability to stay connected through hard conversations. My approach draws on the Gottman Method, PACT, Emotionally Focused Therapy, Imago, attachment-based work and interpersonal neurobiology. Read more about how I work with couples.
Individual therapy
When working with individuals, I look at the patterns you carry from one relationship to the next: the way you go quiet, over-give, brace for criticism or keep choosing the same kind of partner. Those habits were learned in relationships, so I bring the same relationship lens to individual work, at your own pace and without anyone else in the room to manage. Read more about individual therapy.
Training and experience
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), California, license #94386
- Biracial therapist
- More than 13 years of clinical work with couples and individuals
- College instructor and clinical supervisor: I teach and supervise other therapists
- LGBTQIA+ affirming, ENM and polyamory affirming, sex-positive, culturally aware and anti-racist
About Healing Collective
I believe meaningful change begins with feeling seen, heard, and accepted. Healing Collective is an inclusive, affirming, and anti-racist psychotherapy practice that welcomes people across racial and cultural backgrounds, gender identities, sexual orientations, relationship structures, abilities, and lived experiences. I offer an open, nonjudgmental space where you can bring your whole self, including the parts you may still be discovering or learning to embrace.
The therapeutic relationship is at the heart of my work. I value trust, authenticity, and collaboration, and I take time to understand your experiences, your needs, and what matters most to you. I approach this relationship with warmth, curiosity, and respect, allowing room for honest conversations, vulnerability, and growth at your own pace.
My approach is grounded in cultural responsiveness and a social justice lens. I recognize that emotional well-being is shaped by relationships, communities, and the systems we navigate. Racism, discrimination, oppression, and inequity can have profound effects on how we experience ourselves and the world. I am committed to ongoing learning, examining our own biases, and honoring you as the expert on your lived experience.
Whether you are navigating relationship challenges, past trauma, anxiety, or a period of transition, I work alongside you to explore patterns, build self-understanding, and create meaningful change. At Healing Collective, I make room for the complexity of being human and support you in building a life that feels more connected to your values, needs, and sense of self.
