Education & training.
Education: My educational background includes a Bachelors of Science in Psychology from University of Arizona, along with a Master’s of Arts and Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Clinical Psychology from Midwestern University.
Clinical Training: I completed an APA-accredited internship at Southwest Behavioral & Health Services in a secured, level one inpatient facility in Phoenix, Arizona. My post-doctoral fellowship was at San Mateo Medical Center where I received specialized training in health psychology and behavioral medicine in both outpatient and inpatient medical settings. Prior to this, I completed clinical training at a rehabilitation hospital, a pediatric neuropsychology and integrative counseling center, as well as a school for adolescents with emotional and behavioral challenges.
I have extensive training and experience in several evidence-based treatments including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), CBT-Insomnia (CBT-I), Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), and mindfulness-based therapies. I am certified as a Level 3 Advanced TEAM-CBT therapist and participate weekly in an advanced training group at Stanford led by Dr. David Burns himself, along with other experts in the TEAM community.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
The Approach
I am certified to practice a highly effective approach for delivering Cognitive Behavioral Therapy called TEAM-CBT developed by Dr. David Burns, psychiatrist and professor emeritus at Stanford University School of Medicine. TEAM is a framework for conducting measurement-based and research-grounded therapy that offers rapid results.
T = Testing: I will use a measure at the beginning and end of every therapy session to understand your mood, track improvements, and allow you to provide feedback to accelerate your recovery.
E = Empathy: I will focus on establishing a warm therapeutic alliance with you to help you feel accepted, understood, and respected. An empathic connection is a key ingredient for success in therapy!
A = Addressing Resistance: I will collaborate with you to understand your goals and agenda in therapy, increase your motivation, and remove any barriers to you making the changes you want.
M = Methods: I will offer a wide variety of over 100 effective therapeutic tools to help you reach your goal of reducing anxiety and depression, improving your relationships, and/or overcoming unwanted habits. We will focus on methods that teach you how to change your thinking and the way you feel, overcome your fears, and feel confident to face challenges on your own even after our time together in therapy ends.