I am a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT), with Master's Degrees in both Psychology and Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University. I have private practice offices in the mid-city area of Los Angeles and in downtown Los Angeles.
My role as a psychotherapist is to provide a safe and nurturing therapeutic environment for clients to work through a wide range of problems. I work with clients as a partner and assist them in developing more useful ways of thinking and behaving. These changes in turn improve overall mood and relationships with others. My theoretical orientation and approach to psychotherapy is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). This theoretical orientation is based on the "here and now" type of therapy, which places an emphasis on problem-solving in the present and the future. It is a distinctly positive approach to psychotherapy.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is useful in resolving issues related to: low self-esteem, lack of confidence, fears and anxieties, depression, problems with relationships including family issues, grief and loss, and money and work issues. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a structured and directed approach to psychotherapy, and it always includes homework assignments between sessions. The homework may include reading assignments or practicing techniques discussed and learned during sessions. Some of the common CBT techniques implemented during therapy include: Thought Records, Journaling, Recognizing Cognitive Distortions, and Relaxed Breathing.
CBT therapy is based upon the principle that our perceptions (thoughts) affect our emotions, behaviors, and physiological responses. Therefore, changing our perceptions can alter and improve our mood.