From the beginning of my professional career, I have been devoted to understanding two things:

• secure attachment — because the ability to give and receive love and trust with even just one person is a necessary ingredient for living well

• trauma — because things happen in life that compromise a person’s ability to truly connect with people safely and successfully

I have also always been able to remain curious about the way larger social systems and spirituality shape the above two issues, which keeps me humble and respectful of all the differences we humans come with.

My education in clinical mental health counseling and ongoing training in innovative trauma treatment have given me the skills and expertise on trauma, relationships, and human development that you deserve.

Ultimately, it is my personal experience of wrestling with collective and intrapsychic suffering as it has shown up in my life, and continually emerging with greater strength and increasingly unshakable peace, that equips me to guide others through these concerns.

Clients describe me as warm, authentic, and empowering.

Clients often come to me after experiences where they felt like the therapist wasn’t interested in them, didn’t extend kind understanding or offer creative challenge when needed, wasn’t a real human being in the process, or provided them with solutions instead of helping them think for themselves. Offering all those things is how I build trust with clients.

Of course, I lend my insights and direction to clients when needed, but I prefer to believe in and bring out your inherent wisdom.

I check-in often to make sure we are directing the therapeutic journey together. I make space for your questions, thoughts, and feedback, even if that means you disagree with me and you want or need something other than what I’ve suggested. When I make mistakes, I acknowledge them and meet you where I was meant to.

I tend to let my clients know how I genuinely see them and how I am impacted by them. And many find it helpful, in the right moment, when I let myself be known as a real human too or share that I know what you’re feeling because I’ve been there. I’m not better than you, nor have I reached an end point of healing!

I believe I can’t take clients anywhere in their healing where I haven’t been personally, and that the world continually presents challenges to overcome, so I commit to regular and ongoing therapy and holistic wellness to be the best therapist I can be for you.

I am a daughter of Filipino immigrants, born on the younger end of the Millennial generation.

I carry historical, generational, religious, and complex trauma in my lineage, but I also carry generational love, resourcefulness, faith, generosity, and persistence as well.

I have had transcendent experiences and a strong sense of spirituality from a very young age.

My insatiable desire to heal from my own trauma and turn it into love and power for myself and for others drove me to become a therapist (surprise, surprise!).

Having made peace with my wounds and continuing to make good use of them, I remain in the field to share my presence for others’ healing.

I remain devoted to lifelong personal healing and growth.

I am the spouse of an academic, so I’ve lived in a lot of places and am not yet done moving. I was raised in the American Southwest, started my adult life in the Midwest, and now I’m living in the South.

I am restored by the sun, sky, trees, walking, naps, music, friends, tears, laughter, animals, and prayer.