Qualifications & Experience

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with experience working in private practice.

I received my Master’s degree from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota and completed my licensing training in California working at various community mental health agencies for the underprivileged.

I am trained in the Prepare/Enrich and Saving Your Marriage Before it Starts assessment tools for premarital and married couples. I also have experience providing disruptive event management by responding to crises such as injuries, deaths of co-workers (accidental or medical), lay-offs, robberies, or other unique crises.

My Call to Christian Counseling

When I was growing up, my parents took in foster kids. When I learned about why the kids were with us, I often wondered what would happen if the families had more help.
During college, students often asked me hard questions about life and their relationships.

Following school, I found myself doing several different jobs before deciding to pursue my career in counseling. A common thread to each position was that of helping people. I realized that with each job, my favorite aspects were listening to people, hearing their stories, encouraging them, and providing them with food for thought, direction, or a resource to try.

My decision to be a counselor was definitely God led and an answer to prayer as God provided the right person and conversation at the right time for me to maximize on my education in the area of mental health.

More About Me/On a Personal Note

I like to live a healthy, active life by eating healthy, going hiking, biking, rollerblading, stand-up paddle boarding, snow skiing, and trying other new activities. I’ve always had an interest in learning and meeting new people, and I love to travel. I’ve lived abroad in Argentina and Chile to learn Spanish and teach, and in South Korea to teach English.

Areas of Expertise/Specialties

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Grief and Loss
• Individual Counseling
• ADHD
• Premarital counseling
• Relationship Issues
• Personal Development
• PTSD
• Sexual issues
• Women’s issues
• Trauma
• Life Transitions
• Couples counseling
• Coaching
• Men’s Issues
• Spiritual Development
• Anger Management
• Professional Development
• Counseling for Teens
• Family counseling

Grief and Loss

Grief can feel very confusing, as it usually includes a mix of several emotions that for some change daily and others even more rapidly. This can be frustrating and cause us to feel isolated and flustered. We all grieve differently, and finding someone to talk to and provide support regarding grief and loss is very important.

Having personally experienced major losses in my life, I understand the heavy cloud you may be feeling. You may have days when you feel the cloud will never lift. I want you to know that there is hope. Navigating through the thoughts, memories, and feelings can seem debilitating. In our sessions, I will help you find healthy coping skills and peace. God wants you to be able to grow from what you are experiencing, but sometimes we need help to see the growth opportunities or need to ask the hard “why” questions in a safe space. I would be honored to provide the space for you to heal.

Spiritual Development

If you are feeling depleted or are questioning your Christian experience, I would like to support you in that journey. We all need a place to share freely and explore in a supportive and safe environment, one where we can search biblical answers rather than just the opinions of others.

Maybe you’ve been afraid to confront some of your deepest thoughts due to feeling judged and not having a safe space to share them. Perhaps you are trying to understand your life’s purpose or trying to determine which direction to take for an important decision. God has a plan for you, and He wants you to also be empowered to make the best choices that will glorify and honor Him.

Depression

Perhaps the gloom of depression has snuck up on you and now you are feeling low, gloomy, or lacking energy, to name a few common symptoms of depression. If you have feelings of sadness, are lacking energy, have difficulty getting up in the morning, cry often, notice changes in appetite, or feel more irritable toward people around you, then you have come to the right place. Depression can be a dark place where you feel alone and stuck. I am here to support you and help you understand your thoughts, change them if needed, and consider new choices that will positively impact your mood.

I have seen the most success with motivated individuals who want to get out of the hole they’ve been experiencing and desire to include biblical tools in their healing. Sometimes this means exploring what God wants us to be thinking, learning to think about our thoughts, and determining which ones are useful and which ones are not. If you are seeking a therapist because you or someone you love is feeling sad or struggling with depression, I’m glad to help.

Professional Development, Career Coaching, and Personal Development

We spend more hours of the week engaged in our profession/career than we spend doing almost anything else. Therefore, it is very important to feel content with what we are doing. Some people feel more content when they have chosen a career that aligns with their values and meets certain criteria. I can help you organize your priorities and needs, whether you are trying to decide which profession to start, whether to make a change, or how to thrive in the environment you’re already in.

Talking with a professional can help you keep all the pieces together in order to make the best choice for yourself. No matter the profession, we can honor God in what we are doing. Reframing your approach to your current position or understanding how to frame your new position is important, and God wants to be a part of it.

Perhaps for you, professional development includes learning better communication and people skills. Not only will this help you with day-to-day operations, but it will likely also help you to be more successful.

Women’s Issues

Many women in today’s confusing society are struggling with who God has created us to be. You’re not alone in this struggle. When you find out more about what God has for you as a spiritually, sexually, psychologically, relationally, and emotionally healthy woman, you will find more strength and purpose in what you do.

Finding this place may include us talking about a variety of topics, such as your family, body image, self-worth, self-talk, expectations, understanding your misbeliefs, what it means to be a parent, or boundaries.

I understand the challenges women have to face and the importance of recognizing our value as human beings. I hope to be a safe place for you to explore where you are coming from and where you want to go to be a balanced woman.

Availability (by office location):

• Newport Beach – Monday & Wednesday
• Tustin – Tuesday, Thursday, & Fridays
• Loma Linda – Wednesday
• Online Counseling

Fees: I offer a Risk-Free Initial Session for Individuals, Couples, and Groups looking to pursue counseling with me. Please note that there is a fee for the Risk-Free Initial Session as it is a clinical hour and reimbursable to most insurance companies, but if you choose not to reschedule and continue therapy after the initial session the entire fee for the session will be waived.

Insurance: As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), most insurance companies will reimburse for a portion of my services (as an Out of Network Provider). Please consult with your insurance provider as to whether they specifically cover adolescents, individuals and couples.

Receipts/Statements: In the event you require a printed or digital receipt, I will provide receipts for personal use, insurance reimbursement, Flex Spending Accounts (FSA), and Health Savings Accounts (HSA).