I am a therapist and clinical social work by training. I have been working in the social services and mental health field for 15 years, which has included working in outpatient, inpatient, and residential treatment settings, coordinating clinical research studies and designing public health campaigns abroad. I completed my graduate school education in clinical social work at the University of Chicago and have a bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley. My clinical specialization is in contextual behavioral therapies, specifically DBT, ACT, and FAP. In addition to my private practice, I am an instructor at the University of Washington School of Social Work.

My academic and professional experiences have greatly informed and enhanced my life outside of my work. Many of the principles and strategies I use with Clients are those that I have found helpful for myself. I have come to understand that a meaningful life for me includes actively seeking opportunities to learn and grow. There are times when I am challenged, and perhaps the lesson is not one I would eagerly invite into my life. Rather than judge, reject, or avoid these experiences and feelings, I often try to consider what I can learn from them and how they are helping me better understand myself and others. I have found much solace and inspiration in embracing Pema Chödrön’s phrase “every moment is the perfect teacher.”