We are not our trauma.

Unprocessed trauma can feel like an integrated and defining aspect of our personal identity. It is possible for deep emotional pain to soften and inform positive purpose in our lives. With your strengths, courage, skill, and dedication, your healing journey is absolutely possible and achievable.

About Me

Professional Background
I hold a doctorate in health science, am board-certified as a National Clinical Counselor and Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor by the National Board for Certified Counselors, and a Clinical Fellow with the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. I am a licensed marriage and family therapist in California and Nevada, as well as a licensed mental health and professional clinical counselor in California, Oregon, and Washington. My career spans years of experience in nonprofit community health, where I have provided mental health services to underserved populations, including LGBTQIA individuals, court-ordered clients, BIPOC communities, veterans at the Palo Alto VA, and currently with students through Project Rebound at San Francisco State University.

In 2022, I launched my private practice, Pacific Coast Therapist, Inc., with a strong commitment to supporting the neurodivergent community and their loved ones. I am particularly passionate about integrating nature immersion as a tool for wellness and mental well-being.

My Journey

Beyond my professional life, I embrace many roles—wife, mother, stepmother, fur-mom, ex-wife, friend, and advocate for individuals with autism and ADHD. My journey has been shaped by diverse experiences, including many years as a single working mother with sole custody of my children. This chapter of my life instilled resilience, deepened my empathy, and strengthened my commitment to supporting others through life’s challenges.

After remarrying, I pursued my long-held dream of returning to college after a 23-year hiatus. With determination and my husband’s unequivocal support, I earned four degrees with high honors, obtained two national board certifications, and secured five clinical licenses across four states. Being licensed in multiple states enables me to provide care for clients navigating unique and evolving circumstances—whether they’ve relocated due to extreme weather or rising living costs, need family counseling across state lines, or seek support as a couple while separated or traveling.

Why I Do What I Do
My personal experiences with counseling played a transformative role in my life, equipping me with the skills and perspective to overcome what once felt insurmountable. That journey inspired me to pursue this profession—not just as a career, but as a mission to help others navigate their own paths.

I believe that life’s ups and downs make it all the more meaningful, and no matter how complex the journey, there is always hope. My role as a therapist is to walk alongside you, offering compassion, insight, and a personalized approach to finding your own path to wellness.

If you're seeking a therapist who genuinely cares and understands the intricacies of life’s challenges, I’m here to help.

Qualifications

Education

Doctor of Health Science (DHSc) - University of the Pacific (4.0)

Master’s Degree (MA), Counseling (CACREP) - Palo Alto University’s Pacific Graduate School of Psychology (4.0 Chi Sigma Iota)

Bachelor of Sciences Degree (BSc), Psychology & Social Action - Palo Alto University (Summa Cum Laude)

Associate of Arts Degree (AA), Liberal Arts - DeAnza College (Magna Cum Laude)

Licenses

Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT) #132811 - California Board of Behavioral Sciences

Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) #13267 - California Board of Behavioral Sciences

Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) #C8801 - Oregon Board of Licensed Professional Counselors & Therapists

Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT) #4795-R - Nevada Board of Marriage & Family Therapists and Clinical Professional Counselors

Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) #61550035 - Washington State Department of Health

Publications

"Nature Healing Mental Stress: What U.S. Healthcare Can Learn from Other Nations"

“Therapeutic implications of integrating validation therapy for the management of Capgras syndrome in patients

with vascular dementia”

Certificates/Certifications

Board-Certified National Clinical Counselor (NCC) #1731260 - National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)

Board-Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CCMHC) #1731260 - National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)

Clinical Fellow #189506 - American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT)

Adult Autism Assessment for Master’s Level Therapists Certification - The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

Adult ADHD Assessment for Master’s Level Therapists Certification - The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

Emotionally Focused Therapy Externship - ICEEFT, San Francisco

Certified Ecotherapy Facilitator - Mindful Ecotherapy Center, LLC

Advanced Certification in Ecotherapy - Pacifica Graduate Institute

The Science of Well Being Certificate - Yale University

Memberships

National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)

American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA)

American Counseling Association (ACA)

Climate Psychology Alliance - North America (CPA-NA)

California Association of Marriage & Family Therapists (CAMFT)

California Association of Professional Clinical Counselors (CALPCC)

Oregon Counseling Association (ORCA)