I am a licensed psychologist and have been working for more than 25 years in the San Francisco Bay Area in both private practice and at the Kaiser Permanente Psychiatry departments in Pleasanton and Oakland. Currently I am working in private practice in Oakland. I received my doctoral degree at the California School of Professional Psychology. I completed my pre-doctoral internship at San Francisco Kaiser and my post-doctoral fellowship at Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii.
I have experience working with clients struggling with depression, anxiety, eating disorders, alcohol and drug use/abuse, grief/loss, and relationship issues. I have specialized training and extensive experience working with clients struggling with eating disorders, panic disorder, OCD, parenting stress and cross cultural identity, couple and family issues. Over the years I have taught classes and groups on depression, bulimia, anorexia, binge eating, OCD, panic, alcohol abuse, and stress reduction.
In the first few sessions of therapy, I am interested in learning about you and your concerns so that I can evaluate the best course of treatment. For the bulk of the remaining sessions, I offer thought-provoking questions, psychological education, and feedback to help you think about your situation in a new way and find solutions to your problems. Although I use a variety of treatment theories and techniques, overall, my approach focuses on:
- increasing your awareness of negative thought patterns and core beliefs
- challenging and reducing self critical and obsessive thoughts
- communicating more effectively in relationships
- staying focused in the present moment rather than ruminating about the past or worrying about the future
- challenging and finding alternatives to self-destructive behaviors
- setting healthier boundaries in relationships
- actively engaging in activities and relationships that nourish your spirit and add to your sense of contentment and joy