MY FOCUS
In 2013 while studying social work at Columbia University in New York City, I read DBT in a Nutshell and it resonated deeply. Prior to graduate school I had been working in an after school program at Roosevelt Middle School in San Francisco’s Richmond District. Every day I would play, teach and interact with middle school students, some of whom had severe emotional dysregualtion challenges and I felt helpless. Under Dr. Andre Ivanoff I trained at Columbia’s DBT training program. DBT provided me with a framework for conceptualizing the problems of clients with complex diagnostic pictures in a way that felt hopeful, compassionate and effective. A decade later I remain committed to that work.
While at Columbia I trained at Greenwich DBT, an outpatient clinic with a special focus in treating eating disorders. After three years there, homesick for California, I joined Clearwater Counseling in Oakland. After 6 years there I started my own practice, though I remain on the Clearwater consult team and work very closely with my esteemed colleagues there.
I am trained in DBT PE for the treatment of PTSD, particularly for individuals with self injurious and suicidal behavior. In addition to weekly consult team meetings I receive biweekly consultation with Annie McCall, an expert in DBT and PTSD treatment, and a generally amazing person.
I work out of my home office conveniently located on Grand Ave in Piedmont. I have two daughters Emme and Pia with my husband. My dog Juno often joins me at work. I am grateful to love this work, committed to providing evidence based therapy. I am dedicated to working hard and remaining joyful. While not my primary focus, my background in fine art guides my sensibilities. I love cooking, poetry, drawing and most things silly.
EDUCATION & CREDENTIALS
M.S. Social Work, Columbia University
B.A., Fine Art, University of California, Santa Cruz
Licensed Clinical Social Worker in California (License: 81787)
Intensively trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy