There are many excellent therapists I know who were told from a young age that they had a knack for listening to others and should be therapists.

I was not one of those.

I know this might seem like an unusual way to introduce myself as a therapist, but how do I expect you to be your authentic self with me if I don't at least introduce myself authentically?

My path to therapy began with my own life experiences. College was especially difficult for me as I navigated what seemed like a very foreign environment while my dad was battling cancer. Eventually, I engaged in therapy myself and while I didn't particularly enjoy being a client at first, I made the best of it and ultimately found it incredibly helpful. Even still, becoming a therapist wasn't on my radar.

Life continued to take unexpected turns. I started a PhD program thinking I'd become a career academic, left due to job market concerns, and through a series of events ended up in tech, where I've been for over five years. It wasn't until COVID-19 that I, like so many others, took a serious look at my life and the impact I wanted to have on my community. That's when I seriously considered becoming a therapist.

I understand the pressure to always be "on," imposter syndrome, and the struggle of balancing professional ambitions with being present for family. As someone who navigates a multiracial and multicultural identity, I bring a personal understanding of the complexities of belonging, cultural expectations, and the feeling that your most unique experiences are challenging for others to grasp. These experiences taught me what it means to feel isolated even when surrounded by people, and they fundamentally shape how I show up for clients navigating similar challenges.

I didn't choose therapy because I felt I had some innate ability, but because I believe good therapy is half about how you are with someone (the therapeutic alliance) and half about technique and skill. I wanted to develop the skills to help people feel truly heard and cared for, the way I needed during my own difficult times. Becoming a therapist was my answer.

My path combines life experience with focused clinical training. I hold a Master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Alliant International University and completed my clinical internship at Los Angeles City College's Life Skills Center, where I worked primarily with formerly incarcerated students navigating reentry challenges. 

I practice from a psychodynamic and object relations perspective. There is a ton of information on these modalities online and I encourage you to look into this to learn if it's right for you.

From my POV, using these modalities means I focus on helping you understand how your early relationships and experiences continue to influence your current life. Rather than just addressing symptoms or behaviors, we'll explore the underlying patterns and unconscious processes that may be creating difficulties. 

My psychodynamic approach focuses on how early experiences and unconscious forces shape present behavior. My job is to spot these repeating patterns. 

My object relations theory approach specifically focuses on how early relationships are internalized and create a "blueprint" for all future relationships.

All in all, think of these two modalities together as mental health detective work. You may think that your thoughts, feelings, and actions are seemingly random and you're just a paper bag in the wind trying to navigate through the world. But, typically, there is a coherent, recognizable pattern or story going on, and by identifying the pattern, we can help you understand its origin, see its influence, and ultimately choose a different way of relating to the world.

I specialize in working with adults who find themselves successful on paper but struggling internally.

My clients often include:

Professionals and Career-Focused Individuals

Having spent over five years in tech while pursuing this career change, I understand the pressures of corporate environments, imposter syndrome, work-life balance struggles, and the identity questions that come with career transitions. If you're questioning whether your current path aligns with who you really are, or struggling with burnout while maintaining high performance, I get it! 

People Experiencing Major Life Transitions

Whether it's career changes, relationship shifts, or entering a new life phase, transitions often make us ask ourselves questions about who we've been and who we're becoming. My own non-linear path (PhD dropout to tech to therapy) gives me genuine appreciation for how disorienting these periods can be.

Adults Exploring Relationship Patterns

If you find yourself repeating the same dynamics in relationships (romantic, familial, or professional!) and can't figure out why, psychodynamic and object relations work excels here. We can explore how your early experiences created blueprints that may no longer serve you.

• Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy, Alliant International University
• Certified Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist 
• Conversational in French and Japanese