Therapist for Individuals & Couples
Individuals
Over time it can feel deeply healing, and a great relief, to be able to express those parts of yourself that you experience as unacceptable, confusing or overwhelming. I will meet these aspects with skill, playfulness, curiosity and heartfelt attention so that we can look together at the roots of what is causing your distress. I hope that our therapy sessions become a place where your life experiences can be looked at from many different angles, creating the possibility for positive change, and new ways of moving through the world.
How I practice individual therapy
Within the safety and care of the therapy session, we get interested in your fullest self so you can choose which parts you want to grow and nurture, and which parts need to be transformed because they no longer serve you in healthy ways. My approach to individual therapy is to work together to help you make healthy choices about who you want to be in the world and how you want to interact with others.
I bring a psychodynamic, contemplative and somatic approach to individual therapy, drawing on parts work, attachment theory, meditation, and expressive arts. This means we do not only talk about your experience — we also pay attention to what is happening in your body, your emotional responses, and the relational patterns that shape your daily life. I may invite you to slow down and notice a sensation in your chest, to experiment with a brief mindfulness practice, or to use writing, drawing, or clay to access parts of your experience that words alone cannot reach. My intention is to help you develop lasting self-awareness and emotional resilience, not just symptom relief.
Therapy can help you get relief for your specific challenges
As a therapist I work with people on many issues including:
Depression, low self-esteem and self-worth
Anxiety and stress management
Career transitions and finding fulfilling work
Spiritual development and personal growth
Couples Therapy
Receive skillful, compassionate couples therapy in San Francisco
Some of the most challenging times in life are when we are not getting along with our partner. When our intimate relationship is charged with anger and hurt we can feel devastated and scared that we may lose our connection to the person we love. You and your partner may be afraid that your relationship cannot survive the disagreements and miscommunications. Your relationship may feel like an emotional rollercoaster ride, one moment the two of you feel close to each other and in the next moment you feel offended and exasperated. Both of you may feel there is no way out of the fighting and tension.
We can also feel vulnerable out in the world when our connection to our partner feels rocky. It can be hard to concentrate at work and be engaged with family and friends because we feel emotionally drained. We can hide that there is friction with our partner and find ourselves alone in our frustrations and hurts.
How I practice couples therapy
Intimate relationships rewards us with love and joy, and evoke our deepest vulnerabilities and insecurities. As a therapist I help couples nurture their intimate connection while tolerating and moving through the more difficult aspects of their relationship. My approach to couples therapy is to help you and your partner grow more trust and honesty with each other.
It is important in couples therapy to establish trust and safety in the therapeutic relationship so that both partners feel safe and respected while sharing thoughts and feelings. Couples therapy can be a vulnerable experience because we do not know what might come out in session. Because of this, I am deeply committed to creating a safe and compassionate space where both partners can experience psychological healing at a pace that feels comfortable and nurturing.
Often couples feel tensions ease as soon as the first session because they are each able to share their distress within the safety and care of the therapy session. Getting help in therapy to diffuse disagreements gives hope that overtime you and your partner can learn to stop arguments on your own and that there is a concrete way forward in the relationship. Even the initial act of deciding to be in therapy together can be the first step towards making decisions as a couple that feels good to both of you, and that brings you closer.
Therapy helps build relationship skills
As a therapist I help couples build a variety of skills including:
Couples communication
Authentic emotional and sexual intimacy
Collaborative parenting
Healthy ways to nurture self and partner
When is the right time for couples therapy?
I work with couples in couples therapy at all stages of relationship. Some of the couples I work with come to therapy because they are in a crisis period. Other couples come to therapy because they are considering making a deeper commitment to each other such as sharing a home together, going into business together, getting married or having a child. Couples therapy can help at any point in a relationship including helping people transition out of a relationship in a caring and connected way.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I need individual therapy? Many people begin with individual therapy to better understand their own patterns — such as codependency, anxiety, or difficulty with vulnerability. In our initial conversation, we can talk through what feels most pressing and what needs immediate tending to.
What can I expect in a first therapy session? The first session is an opportunity for us to get to know each other and for you to share what brings you to therapy. I will ask some initial questions about your family history, your relationships, and what you hope to gain from our work together. Equally important, this is a chance for you to sense whether you feel comfortable with me as the therapeutic relationship is the foundation for healing.
Do you work with LGBTQ+ individuals and couples? Yes. I welcome and affirm clients of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and relationship structures. My approach to therapy is grounded in respect for the diversity of human experience, and I bring cultural sensitivity and an awareness of the unique challenges that LGBTQ+ individuals and couples may face.
How long does couples therapy typically take? Every couple is different. Some couples experience relief and develop new communication skills within a few months. Others engage in deeper work around attachment wounds, trauma, trust repair, or patterns rooted in each partner's family history, which may take longer. We will check in regularly about how the work is going and what you need.
I can be reached at 415.721.3355 or by email to discuss how we can work together on your specific therapy needs. I see clients via telehealth throughout California and in my San Francisco office in Noe Valley at 4155 24th Street, San Francisco, CA 94114.
To learn more about my thoughts and approach to psychotherapy, you can read the articles on my psychotherapy blog.