Meet The Team

As women, we are naturally attuned to the needs of those around us. We don’t think twice about nurturing and loving our people – whether they be our own children, parents, friends, or coworkers. And lately, doesn’t it seem like all of our people need us in one way or another? After the year that we’ve had, it’s no wonder that so many of us are running on empty. 

Whenever you go on a flight, there is a safety video where an oxygen mask comes down for each passenger in an emergency. You are instructed to put it on yourself before you reach over and put it on your child. This order of priorities can apply to all areas of our lives too. You can’t take care of the people you love well until you take care of yourself first.

In the therapy room, there is no topic too trivial or complex.

I am here to follow where your thoughts and your heart go, and we will discover how it is you have come to feel this way. Awareness is the first step to creating lasting change. Through therapy, I help my clients to understand that their perceived shame and struggle are actually badges of honor and courage. No matter your past or your current circumstances, you deserve to experience life richly and fully. You are in the driver’s seat of your mental health and your life. Thank you for trusting me to be a part of your journey.

About me: 

I am a mom of 2 kids, married for 8 years, 2nd generation Japanese-American. I love traveling, 1000-piece puzzles, drinking boba tea (50% sugar, less ice!), growing my vegetable garden, and going on adventures with my family.  

Yuki’s Book Recommendations:

• Boundaries – Charles Townsend and Henry Cloud
• Getting Past Your Past – Francine Shapiro, PhD
• Parenting from the Inside Out – Mary Hartzell and Daniel J. Siegel 
• Back to Work After Baby – Lori Mihalich-Levin
• Hold Me Tight – Dr. Sue Johnson
• Man’s Search for Meaning – Viktor Frankl

Yuki’s App Recommendations:

• MY3 App
• Calm
• Headspace

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“The hardest thing to do is to simplify your life. It is so easy to make complex.”- Yvon Chouinard. With the crazy demands’ life throws at us like work, school, family, relationships, important events and trauma it can be a challenge to find time to be present when we worry about the future and carry the past. To simply be becomes a luxury money cannot buy and something our busy schedules prevent us from doing. 

When attempting to meditate, to work out, to read, or to relax it seems that our mind still finds a way to remind us of our past or worry about our future. With that comes fear, sadness, anxiety and stress. It can be frustrating to be told to “engage in self-care” when one has millions of things to worry about or trauma to try and process while living life. 

While in therapy one can freely express, be still, and find a safe space to process the difficulties that life presents or has presented.  

I would like to be the hand you hold on your therapeutic journey. I will help you make sense of your most complicated thoughts without judgement and help assist you with developing effective coping strategies that you can utilize to your advantage. With that, you will be able to focus on being more present and regaining control of your life once again. I will help you learn that your past does not define you and fear of the future should not hold you back from being present. I have received positive feedback from parents, families and individual clients who have felt heard, seen and understood and I would love to be that for you as well. 

About me:

I enjoy sitting on the beach and listening to the waves come and go, it helps me stay present! I am first generation Peruvian- America and speak Spanish fluently. I enjoy walks, reading, binging Netflix and baking (I have the biggest sweet tooth!) My dog is the best distraction I could ask for and I love spending time with my friends and family because they help keep my head above water!

Lorraine’s Book Recommendations:

• Let That Sh*t Go- Nina Purewal and Kate Petriw
• Can You Drink the Cup? – Henri J.M. Nouwen
• The Body Keeps the Score- Bessel Van Der Kolk, M.D

Lorraine’s App Recommendations:

• Sanvello
• Calm
• Card Decks
• PTSD Coach

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Do you ever find yourself feeling “Not good enough” or “stuck in your situation.” Change isn’t easy and most of the time, we have no idea where to start. Not all of us have a support system or a healthy one at most. We find ourselves repeating cycles and longing for something different. I truly believe we all have the power to change, no matter where we come from or the struggles we have gone through. You deserve to have a safe space to navigate through this process. To feel heard, connected to and share emotional content without feeling judged.

As your therapist, I understand that these feelings might never go away and it’s a possibility they won’t, but I can guarantee I will be here to help you develop the tools you need to get through those difficult times. Whether it’s anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, or life stressors, you have the power to change.

You are not your past and together we can work on becoming a better version of yourself. 

As someone who started their own therapy journey in high school, I developed a passion to help others the way my therapist helped me. I have a passion for working with women, teens and children. We all struggle and could use a cheerleader on our side to achieve our goals. We are capable of breaking cycles and it all starts here, with you. 

About me: 

I am a mother of 2 with a love for anything Disney. I love to blast all types of music, enjoy a good documentary and value family time.

Catherine’s App Recommendations:

• Calm
• Headspace

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The ways you interact, connect, and attach to others has deeply rooted ties. You may find yourself caught in between your actions and your intentions, as if they are working against one another. Maybe you’re thinking “How did I get here?” and “Where am I going?” What may have worked in the past, is no longer helping you live the life you wish to build for yourself. We can work together to identify where and why you may be struggling and how to root yourself in healing for more fulfilling relationships.

What is most important to me is helping people of all ages feel seen, heard, safe, and valued.

As your therapist, I will meet you where you are at and move with you as you choose and are ready. Bursting at the seams or hidden somewhere deep – our emotions serve a purpose in our life; they provide us with information and meaning. Moving through those emotions can be scary, but you don’t have to do it alone – that’s where I can help. I utilize my training in Emotion Focused Therapy to help guide you through these emotions (even the ones that tell you to stop feeling the feelings!) to get you to a place of meaning and understanding.

I love working with children and teens! Your child is ever-growing and changing, adapting to the world around them in the way that best makes sense for them. But how do you as the caregiver make sense of it? Young children don’t sit and talk to us about what’s really bothering them because that’s just not the way they work. Play is the language of children. I utilize Play Therapy to learn more about the child and their inner world. In doing so, I help children and caregivers move through difficult issues and learn new ways of connecting to one another.

The experience of being a teen is unique and it’s what brought me into therapy at the age of fourteen. While your struggles are very real, they are oftentimes dismissed or misunderstood. My goal is to help teens reconnect with themselves and their support system to start feeling better and more confident as they begin to move through the world in new ways.

Starting your therapy journey is a big step. I am honored that I get to help people take that step and begin their journey. If you think we may be a good fit, feel free to reach out to me and I’d be happy to connect with you!

Alexandra’s Book Recommendations

• I Am Human: A Book of Empathy by Susan Verde
• A Little SPOT Series by Diane Alber
• The Color Monster by Anna Llenas
• The Whole Brain Child by Dr. Dan Siegel
• Thriving as an Empath by Judith Orloff
• Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving by Pete Walker
• The Accidental Masterpiece: On the Art of Life and Vice Versa by Michael Kimmelman

Alexandra’s App Recommendations

• UCLA Mindful

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You may feel like you are drowning in difficult emotions, foggy minded or confused with your never ending to do lists and a heavy heart. Maybe you are experiencing mom guilt from any of the never-ending challenges of being a momma, because parenting is HARD! Or perhaps you are faced with the daunting realization that your child needs therapy. Here comes shame & guilt creeping in. “What did I miss? How did I let things get this bad?” I know your first instinct is to blame yourself momma, but please don’t.

As your therapist, I can’t promise to make your problems go away, but I can promise to gently guide you into calmer waters.

As a single mother of an overactive four-year-old, I have struggled with mom guilt most of my son’s life. You are not alone! Your courage to set aside your own feelings to support your child, is brave and speaks volumes to the love you have for your child. I help women and children who struggle with poor self-esteem, anxiety and depression find balance and joy in daily living. Guided by a Strengths’ based approach, I strive to provide emotional safety in a brave space for clients to process their challenging emotions. I am motivated by the resilience humans demonstrate in the face of deep suffering. Which is why, my therapeutic approach is focused on applying the power of positivity through a strong gratitude practice, mindfulness approach and in rediscovering that healthy relationship with yourself again.

My personal use of mindfulness practice is aligned with my therapeutic approach. By meditating every morning, I have anchored in a self-care practice that supports healthy stress management strategies in my personal life. 

I offer flexible telehealth appointments at the discretion of your working hours and that of your child’s needs. I also have limited in person appointments available. Please reach out to me if you need a pep talk on why you are doing the best that you can, while also accepting that you need help to do and feel better. 

Ana’s Book Recommendations

• Rising Strong by Brene Brown
• Codependent No More by Melody Beattie
• Building a Life Worth Living by Marsha M. Linehan
• The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
• The Four Agreements By don Miguel Ruiz
• The 5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins

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Even the most resilient, creative, and high achieving people face moments which bring them to their knees. They may feel blindsided by a traumatic event, loss of a meaningful relationship, burnout, or a medical diagnosis forcing them to evaluate the trajectory of their lives. They lack energy for self-care, loved ones, work, school, or activities which once brought joy. They stumble through a fog of emotional numbness, find themselves crying when no one is around, or feel flooded with anxious thoughts. They desire revitalization within themselves and their significant relationships.

Finding a therapist can be extremely stressful especially when life already feels overwhelming. It can be tough to find someone who will create a warm and safe space while also gently challenging you to take steps forward in building the life you envision for yourself. To achieve this balance, I approach each session with hope, patience, and humility to support clients as they determine their goals for healing and change in their lives. I integrate techniques from attachment theory, emotionally focused therapy, ACT, CBT, and other evidenced-based practices to support your therapeutic process.

I specialize in working with children, teens, and adults experiencing anxiety, depression, and life transitions.

Although I truly love working with clients of all ages, backgrounds, and experiences, the clients who gravitate toward me often identify as ambitious, creative, and deep thinkers.

I also offer family and couple therapy with an interest in interracial relationships. With compassion and curiosity, we will process emotions, change unhelpful thought and behavior patterns, strengthen coping skills, and repair damaged relationships. 

By integrating emotional, cognitive, behavioral, and relational strategies, we will discover meaningful insight into the distress you are experiencing and lay a foundation for lasting change. When you are ready, I would be honored to partner with you in your healing journey.

Allison’s Book Recommendations: 

• Man’s Search for Meaning by Vicktor Frankl
• Good Inside: The Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be by Dr. Becky Kennedy
• The How of Happiness by Sonja Lyubomirsky
• The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk

Allison’s App Recommendations:

• Good Inside with Dr. Becky
• UCLA Mindful