Don’t Carry This Alone
Your story deserves to be understood
—not just survived.
I'm a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, trauma specialist and child therapist based in the Pasadena and Sierra Madre area. I help children, teens, adults, and families go beneath the surface — not just manage symptoms, but understand the roots.
Maybe you landed here because something isn't working — and you've tried to push through it long enough.
Maybe your child is shutting down, acting out, or carrying something you can't reach with words. Maybe you're the one holding everything together on the outside while quietly falling apart inside. Maybe old wounds keep showing up in your parenting, your relationships, your faith — and you're tired of not knowing why.
That's exactly the kind of work I do.
I specialize in relational-focused therapy for children, teens, and adults — work that doesn't just address what's on the surface, but explores how your history is showing up in your present. This is deep, relational work. And it changes things.
Trauma-Focused
Relationally Grounded
Faith-Friendly
I know what it's like
to carry more than you let on
Growing up, I often felt unseen and overwhelmed. I looked fine on the outside, but inside I was anxious, carrying shame I couldn't name, and disconnected from people around me. The thing is others around me did not see it.
I had achievements. I had friends. I had a faith. And I still felt like something essential was missing — I felt burdened.
It wasn't until I started my faith and therapy journey that I began to understand my own worth. I learned that healing happens in relationship, not in isolation.
That experience changed the trajectory of my life. It's why I became a therapist. And it's why I want to help people like you.
Now, as both a therapist and a mother, I understand the stakes on both sides of this work. I know what it feels like to want so deeply for your child to be okay. And I know what it means to finally feel truly seen by someone who doesn't fumble at the hard parts of your story.
I'm here to help you
uncover the person you've always been
beneath the survival—
the wonderful you
Who I Work With
I work with children (3+), teens, adults, and families navigating:
Childhood trauma and developmental wounds
Anxiety and chronic worry
Depression and emotional numbness
Relational trauma and attachment injuries
Spiritual wounds and faith-related struggles
Grief and loss
Self-doubt, shame, and harsh self-criticism
Big emotions that feel impossible to manage
Family stress and parent-child disconnection
If you're a parent trying to understand your child's behavior or an adult finally ready to understand your own this is the right space.
How I Work
My approach isn't a single script or technique. It's rooted in the belief that healing happens in the context of a genuine, attuned relationship — one where you feel safe enough to go to the places that actually matter.
My clinical framework draws from:
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I hold a postgraduate certificate in RFPT — an advanced approach that explores how your earliest relational experiences shape the patterns you carry today. We look at what happened then to understand what's happening now.
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For children, play is their first language. Rather than asking a young child to verbalize complex emotions, child-centered play therapy creates a safe, structured space where they can process and heal in the way that comes most naturally to them. This is evidence-based, developmentally appropriate care — and it works.
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Trauma isn't always defined by a single life-changing event. Sometimes it's the quiet accumulation of feeling unseen, emotionally unsafe, rejected, or carrying burdens no child should have to carry. Whether you've experienced "big T" trauma or the smaller relational wounds that shape how you see yourself and others, those experiences can continue to influence your relationships, emotions, and sense of self long after they've ended.
My approach is rooted in trauma-informed, attachment-focused care that gently explores the deeper patterns beneath anxiety, depression, relationship struggles, and emotional overwhelm. Together, we'll work to understand how your past has shaped your present so you can experience greater freedom, healthier relationships, and lasting healing.
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Faith is not an add-on in my practice — it's woven into how I understand people. I hold a Bachelor's degree in Biblical Studies and completed my graduate training at Azusa Pacific University, where psychological theory and faith were always held in dialogue. I understand a client's relationship with God as a real relationship — one shaped by the same attachment patterns and relational histories that shape all relationships. Whether faith is central to your life, complicated, or somewhere in between, there is room for it here.
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As a Latina and second-generation American, I understand the distinct complexities families of color navigate — from intergenerational wounds to assimilation, cultural identity, and the weight of microaggressions. Your full cultural story is welcome here.
Education
Bachelors of the Arts in Biblical Studies with a Minor in Counseling from Life Pacific University
Masters in Clinical Psychology in Marriage & Family Therapy from Azusa Pacific University
Advanced
Clinical Training
My approach is grounded in relationally focused psychodynamic therapy and informed by evidence-based, trauma-informed practices. I hold a Postgraduate Certificate in Relationally Focused Psychodynamic Therapy from the Contemporary Psychodynamic Institute and continue advanced training in child-centered play therapy to further support young children's emotional development and healing.
Additional specialized training includes:
Postgraduate Certificate in Relationally Focused Psychodynamic Therapy (RFPT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
Seeking Safety: An Evidence-Based Treatment for Trauma and Addiction
Psychodynamic Systems of Psychotherapy
Gottman Method Couples Therapy (Level 1)
Imago Relationship Therapy
Suicide Prevention: Epidemiology, Assessment, and Intervention
PRISM Diagnostic Interview Training – Columbia University
Prepare/Enrich Certified Facilitator
Clinical
Expertise
With over a decade of clinical experience, I've helped children, teens, adults, couples, and families heal from trauma, attachment wounds, anxiety, depression, and life transitions. I've worked across private practice, residential treatment, intensive outpatient programs, schools, churches, and community mental health, supporting clients with both everyday challenges and complex trauma.
My work is grounded in understanding how early relationships and life experiences shape emotional well-being. Whether through play therapy with children, supporting parents, or helping adults heal from childhood and relational trauma, my focus is on creating lasting change at the root—not simply managing symptoms.
My background also includes research and psychiatric assessment work with individuals following suicide attempts through Kaiser Permanente's Zero Suicide Initiative, trauma-informed work in Nairobi, Kenya, and training Marriage and Family Therapy associates in the integration of faith and psychology. As both a therapist and a mother, I bring clinical expertise alongside genuine compassion for the challenges families face.
As a mother myself, I know that there’s nothing more we want than our children to be happy and healthy. But sometimes, despite our best efforts, they struggle with things we can’t always see or understand—like anxiety, self-doubt, or the pressure to meet expectations. As a therapist, I’ve worked with countless teens and young adults facing these challenges, and I know how overwhelming it can be for parents to watch their child suffer in silence.
That’s why I’m here—to help both you and your child navigate these tough emotions, build a strong sense of self, and create healthier relationships. Together, we can uncover the root of their struggles and find the right tools to help them thrive. You don’t have to do this alone, and neither do they.
Personal Note
to Parents
Frequently Asked
Questions
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Yes, I am currently accepting new clients and can offer appointments with minimal wait times thanks to recently opened appointment slots.
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I provide appointments Monday through Saturday, offering early morning to early evening slots. On Saturdays, I have morning availability. This flexible schedule allows me to accommodate the schedules of teens, parents, working adults, and everyone in between.
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I am an out-of-network (OON) provider and can provide a SuperBill for you to submit for possible reimbursement.
I recommend contacting your insurance provider to check your OON mental health coverage.
Feel free to reach out with any questions—I’m happy to help understand your benefits and see how we can get your appointments covered!
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My fee for a 50-minute session is currently $185 (virtual), $210 (in-person) and for Family/Couples sessions, it is $200 (virtual)/ $225 (in-person). Please note that rates are subject to change.
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Firstly, I'm genuinely excited that you're taking this important step for yourself—great things are on the horizon. During our first session, my priority is getting to know you and understanding your goals. I'll ask questions to learn more about you, and if you're feeling nervous or anxious, please don't hesitate to let me know. I'm here to support you every step of the way.
Feel Empowered in Navigating your Feelings
Understanding your feelings is essential in overcoming your anxiety, depression & trauma. I believe in this so much I created this easy approach for you to gain this skill.
Fill out the form and get started in feeling empowered in understanding your feelings today!