I decided to study psychology after seeing a psychologist changed my own life. I was struggling and unhappy in college. Not sure what else to do, I tried therapy and found the experience to be magical. Therapy freed me from my confusion and emotional load, and I felt as if I was getting a second chance at making the most of my life.

From this experience, I decided to begin my education in psychology and help others through hearing their stories.

Education

  • 2014: Ph.D., Counseling Psychology, University of Oregon
  • 2010: M.S., Counseling Psychology and Human Services, University of Oregon
  • 2001: B.A., Psychology, UC Davis
  • 2001: B.S., Biology, UC Davis

Interests

Although my education as a psychologist has been broad, I have additional training in the areas of eating disorders and relationship issues.

Eating disorders: I worked for two years as an eating disorders specialist at the University of Oregon, during which I provided integrated care for clients with body image concerns and eating disorders. In this role, I co-facilitated an eating disorders treatment team, ran therapy groups, and provided eating disorder assessments and therapy.

Relationship Issues: My primary training as a psychologist has been interpersonal process therapy, and I work with clients from the perspective that healthy relationships are at the core of mental health. Within this focus, I have taken care to learn about dynamics that can get in the way of intimacy and trust, including miscommunication and misunderstandings, betrayal, and problematic attachment styles. I also have specialized knowledge of how power dynamics affect relationships through my past research and work with women survivors of partner violence.

My other areas of interest

  • Career indecision
  • Alcohol and other drug use
  • Perfectionism and procrastination
  • Stress management and sleep issues
  • Social anxiety/shyness, generalized anxiety, and panic
  • Depression, feeling alone, joyless, self-critical, or struggle with existential questions

Cultural Identities

I am deeply committed to providing culturally competent therapy. This means I will strive to learn about your cultural identities with openness and respect to make sure that the work we are doing fits with who you are. I also actively explore and question my own privileges and biases to maintain awareness of how our cultural identities might interact in sessions. Multicultural topics about which I have the most experience include:

  • Ethnicity and race
  • Gender and Women’s issues
  • Ability / Disability identity
  • Power dynamics at work or home
  • Experiences of oppression and discrimination
  • Immigrant experience and bicultural identity
  • Socioeconomic status and Social class jumping

I equally value and am striving to increase my competence with multicultural identities not mentioned above, including sexual orientation, gender identity, religion and spirituality, and indigenous heritage.