About Me

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Navigating Life, Creating Insight, Healing the Psyche — Together

Welcome!

I help individuals navigate life’s challenges through therapy and evaluation. Whether you’re dealing with everyday stress and relationship concerns or facing more complex life transitions, I create a supportive, non-judgmental space where you feel truly heard and understood.

I work with adults of all ages on a full range of mental health concerns, with particular expertise in trauma recovery; major life transitions; working across cultures; masculinity and masculine identity; and issues concerning spirituality and meaning.

Services

  • Individual therapy
  • Couples therapy
  • Psychological evaluations for adults
    • Cognitive issues like memory, attention, and planning and organization skills
    • Trauma assessments for court cases and asylum applications
    • Personality assessments for individuals seeking greater self-understanding
    • Gender-affirming medical care
  • Bilingual therapy and assessment (English/Spanish)
  • Group therapy

Expertise

  • Anxiety, depression, and mood concerns
  • Trauma recovery, including from sexual assault and abuse
  • Identity and self-esteem
  • Navigating masculinity and masculine identity
  • Relationship and communication issues
  • Major life events and transitions
  • Serious illness and end-of-life support
  • Grief and loss
  • Recovery from addiction
  • Spirituality and meaning

I’m very comfortable working with people from all walks of life, including those who might be trying therapy for the first time or feeling unsure about the whole process. The diverse populations I’ve served include LGBTQ+ individuals, immigrants, and people involved in the criminal justice system.

My Journey

My path began many years ago as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Latin America. As part of a mobile health team I witnessed the transformative power of respectful, personalized care and co-creating space for patients to share their stories. This experience, combined with my fluency in Spanish and extensive international work, shapes my deep understanding of how culture, identity, and mental health connect.

My career before psychology lasted 20 years, with leadership positions in corporate, non-profit, and government organizations. I understand how each sector creates its own emotional landscape—whether it’s managing competing priorities under tight deadlines, balancing idealism with resource constraints, or working within systems that can feel both meaningful and frustrating. These roles have taught me how work affects our well-being and relationships, both on and off the job.

In addition, my background includes growing up in the Catholic Church and working with faith-based organizations, as well as navigating my transition out of organized religion and into a more personal spiritual journey. This gives me deep appreciation for the role that spirituality, meaning-making, and religious identity play in people’s lives, whether they’re questioning faith, experiencing religious trauma, or exploring new paths.

Taken together, these various chapters of my life allow me to bring a unique perspective to my clinical work with all clients.

Training and Research

I earned my doctorate in clinical psychology from the Wright Institute in Berkeley, California (accredited by the American Psychological Association), training in community mental health, addiction treatment, hospital, legal, and prison settings and providing both outpatient and inpatient psychiatric services. My graduate research focused on making therapy more accessible and effective for Spanish-speaking, working-class men in the United States.

I believe that each person’s background, perspective, and life experience matters in therapy, and I draw on my diverse experiences to connect with people from varied backgrounds.

Approach

My therapeutic and assessment methods are guided by best practices and current research, including neuroscience, to ensure effective treatment. I draw from multiple proven clinical approaches, including psychodynamic, attachment, existential, and multicultural theories, and tailor each treatment to your unique needs, background, and values. This helps clients break free from patterns that aren’t working and make choices that feel right for them.

I provide therapy and assessment in both English and Spanish, working together with clients to address root causes while building self-awareness and resilience. Whether you’re dealing with everyday work stress, navigating relationship challenges, facing family expectations, or going through major life changes, I believe therapy should feel like a genuine collaboration—not something being done to you.

Moving Forward

My current work includes a postdoctoral residency at the Center for Psychodynamic Psychotherapy in Chicago, Illinois. I welcome connections with new clients, fellow mental health professionals, and anyone interested in exploring the life-changing potential of therapy and psychological assessment. Whether you’re seeking support for specific challenges or simply looking to better understand yourself, I’m here to accompany you on that journey.

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