About

I'm a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT # 146866) who works with kids, adults, families, and couples. I received a Master's degree in Counseling Psychology from the Wright Institute. I work with clients on a variety of struggles including anxiety, depression, ADHD,  executive functioning, relationship issues, and major life transitions. Check out my Services Page to learn more.

On a personal level, I love being in nature and led middle and high schoolers on wilderness backpacking trips for over 15 years. I've been on over twenty weeklong silent meditation retreats which have been very meaningful to me. I love watching movies and shows, playing the guitar, and mountain biking. In addition to my clinical work, I also have an MBA from UC Berkeley and am an amateur computer coder, focusing on Python, Java, and SQL. And most important, I love spending time with my wife and our baby boy.

I work in an integrative manner, which means that I draw from different types of therapeutic techniques, depending on what will be most effective. These techniques and orientations work for kids and adults.

I often start with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as a foundation. CBT is an evidenced-based therapy, meaning studies show it's very effective for challenges like anxiety and depression. CBT focuses on how our thoughts (the "Cognitive" part) and what we actually do (the "Behavior" part) affect how we feel and how we live our lives. CBT is very practical and hands-on. It has a structured approach, directly focuses on the issues at hand, and clients build new skills throughout the process.

I also heavily draw from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which is an offshoot from CBT. The "Acceptance" aspect of ACT involves a paradox: embracing the reality of our struggles means greater capacity to move beyond them. The "Commitment" part means dedicating ourselves to actions aligned with our core values, allowing for a more meaningful life. Like CBT, ACT is highly practical and action-oriented, offering concrete strategies for real-world application.

My therapeutic work also is informed by Psychodynamic Theory. Psychodynamic Theory encourages self-exploration and insight, and helps clients uncover unconscious patterns that may be contributing to distress. By bringing these influences to awareness, clients gain a greater ability to navigate emotions, relationships, and decisions. Integrated with CBT and ACT, this approach addresses immediate concerns with practical tools as well as long-term emotional growth.

Lastly, I approach therapy relationally. This means that I interact with my clients genuinely and collaboratively. I believe in everybody's capacity to grow, and engage with my clients from this truth. I became a therapist because I find supporting people to be extremely meaningful. I have great curiosity and care for my clients which increases the effectiveness of therapy.