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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I first want to acknowledge your strength and courage to begin the first steps towards change and self-improvement. I believe that change can happen when people are given the support they need in order to reach their full potential and live a fulfilling life. There are many reasons why individuals seek therapy such as, finding yourself feeling stuck, overwhelmed by daily stressors, or difficulty coping with current or past issues. Additionally, therapy can be your healing space to learn more about yourself and together we can lead you towards the direction of hope and living a meaningful life.

“Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen”- Brene Brown. 

In my professional journey I have worked with diverse populations in community mental health setting, as well as a hospital social worker and providing psychotherapy with individuals, families, and couples. I work with individuals struggling with mood disorders, anxiety, history of trauma, grief and loss, relationships issues and more. I utilize a client-centered, strength based recovery oriented approach and holistic-centered framework to guide clients to increased self-awareness and growth. Throughout your journey I will provide you with a safe space, meet you where you’re at, and gently challenge and guide you in order to meet your goals. I encourage you to take the leap and feel free to contact me for a free consultation. I am hopeful this will provide you with more clarity and ease any worries about therapy.

A glimpse to myself; I am a first generation, Mexican American, bi-lingual therapist. In my personal time I enjoy doing pilates or yoga, reading, journaling, engaging in arts, hanging out with my dog, and spending time with friends and family.

Maria’s Book Recommendations: 

• What happened to you by Oprah Winfrey and Bruce Perry
• It didn’t start with you by Mark Wolynn
• Attached by Amir Levine and Rachel Heller
• Co-dependent No More by Melody Beattie
• Daring Greatly by Brene Brown
• The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk

Maria’s App Recommendations:

• Headspace
• Calm

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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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Are you trying your best to cope but finding yourself stuck in a cycle of depression or anxiety? Sometimes unresolved feelings, life stressors, and unforeseen struggles can leave a person feeling hopeless and believing their inner critic or worst fears. It can be scary to ask for support and difficult to initiate change so thank you for taking this brave step into a new direction.

It is my aim to partner with you on your journey to self-discovery and to facilitate the growth you desire. My counseling style is warm, compassionate, and approachable. I am a Christian based therapist and I believe you deserve to be valued and empowered to reach your full potential. With my guidance, we can explore healthier ways to cope, learn skills to improve relationships, and build/ maintain resilience. It is my goal to facilitate your healing and help you to create meaning and a new understanding of the challenges and emotional pain keeping you stuck.   

I look forward to our meeting and journey together.

A little about me- I enjoy exploring and traveling with friends and family, I am obsessed with True Crime, I am a dog person, I look forward to peace and quiet, and I am uncomfortable with small talk!

Erika’s Book Recommendations:

• Rain of Gold- Victor Villasenor 
• Thirteen Senses- Victor Villasenor 
• A Voice in the Wind – Rivers
• The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion- Christopher Germer
• The Grief Recovery Handbook- James & Friedman 

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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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