About me
A Story of Coming Home to Myself
The Long Way Around
My path to becoming a psychologist wasn't straight or simple, and that's exactly why I'm good at this work. Sometimes the most circuitous routes teach us the most about what it means to be human.
With a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and an emphasis in depth psychology, I've spent over 15 years not just studying the human experience, but living it, authentically, and with emotional honesty. My journey began in the structured world of the Navy, where I learned to lead teams as a young adult and excelled even in the most challenging situations. This early leadership foundation taught me about resilience, decision-making under pressure, and what happens when we try to armor up against vulnerability (spoiler alert: it doesn't work).
Later, as the CEO of successful, market-leading counseling centers in Southern California, I discovered something profound: the leaders who changed everything were the ones brave enough to be real about their struggles. They were the ones who understood that vulnerability isn't weakness, it's the birthplace of innovation, creativity, and change.
But here's what I learned that most business schools don't teach: the leaders who were brave enough to look inward, to examine their own patterns, triggers, and unconscious beliefs, didn't just become better humans. They became better leaders who created healthier organizations. When a leader does their inner work, it ripples through every level of the company. Their teams become more aligned with the organization's values, not because they're forced to comply, but because they're inspired by authentic leadership.
Organizations led by psychologically healthy leaders don't just survive challenges, they thrive through them. These companies see higher employee engagement, stronger team cohesion, and yes, increased profitability, because when people feel genuinely seen and valued by leadership, they bring their whole selves to their work. The business case for leader mental health isn't just about preventing burnout; it's about unleashing the full potential of every person in the organization.
In 2021, I deepened my commitment to creating spaces where all humans belong by earning a certificate in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion from Cornell University. Because here's what I know for sure: we can't heal in spaces where we can't be seen.
Today, I continue this leadership work by serving on the boards of three organizations that reflect my commitment to protection, healing, and community wellbeing:
- The Children's Law Center of California (clccal.org): a nonprofit dedicated to protecting children through legal advocacy, ensuring that vulnerable youth have skilled representation and a voice in the systems that affect their lives.
- Trust Risk Management Services, Inc. (trustrms.com): a specialized risk management and insurance services company that helps professionals navigate complex liability and risk-management challenges in their work.
- The Guidance Center of Long Beach (tgclb.org): a community mental health organization providing comprehensive behavioral health services, with a particular focus on serving diverse populations and addressing mental health disparities in the Long Beach and Compton communities.
These board positions allow me to bring both clinical expertise and business acumen to organizations dedicated to protecting and serving others, work that feeds my soul and informs my practice.
How I Show Up
As an African-American and Latina woman, I bring my whole story to this work, the beautiful parts and the parts that have required fierce courage to heal. I know what it feels like to navigate spaces where you're the only one who looks like you, where you have to translate your experience, where belonging feels like a luxury you can't afford.
My practice is a sanctuary for the LGBTQ+ community and anyone who has ever felt like they don't quite fit. Because belonging isn't about being perfect, it's about being real. And real is what we do here.
My approach
Going Deeper Than Surface Solutions
Here's what I've learned after decades of this work: lasting healing doesn't happen when we just manage symptoms or change surface behaviors. Real transformation happens when we get curious about the deeper currents that move through our lives, the unconscious patterns, the inherited stories, the parts of ourselves we've never fully met.
This is where my depth psychology training becomes invaluable: exploring the rich, complex landscape beneath your conscious awareness. Think of it like this, if your conscious mind is the tip of the iceberg, this approach helps us explore the vast, mysterious part beneath the surface. It's where your dreams live, where your deepest fears and longings reside, where the stories your family never spoke out loud continue to whisper their influence.
In our work together, we might explore questions like: what family patterns are you unconsciously repeating? What parts of yourself did you have to hide to survive, and how are they asking to be reclaimed now? What do your dreams, your slips of the tongue, your strongest reactions tell you about what's stirring in your depths?
But here's the thing, this isn't about endless analysis or getting lost in your past. This integrative approach is practical magic. When we understand the deeper forces at play, we can actually change the patterns that keep us stuck. We can stop fighting symptoms and start addressing root causes.
I weave this depth work together with somatic techniques (because your body holds wisdom your mind hasn't even discovered yet), EMDR for trauma processing, and evidence-based practices when you need concrete tools for immediate relief. It's both/and, not either/or.
Whether we're working through trauma, navigating life transitions, or simply learning to be more at home in your own skin, my approach is always: what if we got curious instead of critical? What if we trusted the wisdom of your unconscious while also giving you practical tools for the road ahead?
What I Promise You
In our work together, I commit to showing up as my authentic self and inviting you to do the same. I promise to:
- Hold space for all parts of your story, including the parts you've never told anyone, without trying to fix, manage, or minimize your experience.
- Balance gentle compassion with the kind of truth-telling that creates real change.
- Help you get curious about the deeper patterns and unconscious forces shaping your life, not just manage surface symptoms.
- Honor your unique journey while offering insights from both clinical training and hard-won life experience.
- Maintain cultural humility and stay curious about your lived experience.
- Collaborate with you to create goals that actually matter to your heart, not just your head.
- Check in regularly about our work together, because courage requires connection.
- Keep growing and learning so I can better walk alongside you.
My Credentials
- Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Depth Psychology, Pacifica Graduate Institute (2010).
- Licensed Psychologist in California since 2011.
- Certificate in Diversity and Inclusion, Cornell University (2021).
- Former CEO and business owner of New Day Psychotherapy Group (sold to a publicly traded behavioral health company in 2020).
- Current Board Director, Children's Law Center of California.
- Current Board Director, Trust Risk Management Services, Inc.
- Current Board Director, The Guidance Center of Long Beach.
- Business consultant helping companies grow authentically.
- Public speaker spreading the word about courage and connection.
- Former Naval Officer who developed exceptional leadership skills leading teams through challenging situations.
- Experienced Program Director and clinical leader for eating disorder and addiction treatment centers.