CREDENTIALS/DISCIPLINE: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
BOARD CERTIFIED: Yes, CA Board of Behavioral Sciences
Number of years treating patients with eating disorders: 5-8 years
Number of patients with eating disorders I treat annually: 10-15
EDUCATION, TRAINING, and EXPERTISE: I graduated Magna Cum Laude with her BA in Psychology from the University of Southern California, and her MA in Clinical Psychology from
Phillips Graduate University, emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy, with a concentration in Narrative/Postmodern Therapy. I had the pleasure of advancing my narrative practice by completing a yearlong training in the Art of Narrative Therapy with David Epston, Tom Carlson and Kay Ingamells. I am a certified Nia Instructor, Advanced Pole Instructor, and Body Project facilitator. An active member of the Association for Size Diversity and Health (ASDAH), the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals (IADEP), the Academy of Eating Disorders (AED), Facial Pain Association (FPA), ReAuthoring Teaching Community, DiversAbility Leadership Collective, and Yoga 4 Eating Disorders community. I currently serve as Secretary and a member of the Speakers Committee for the nonprofit, Eating Disorder Recovery Support (EDRS). As a registered Yoga, Nia, and Mindful Movement Instructor, I help people reclaim body-focused forms of movement by shifting language and intention
to foster an inclusive and empowering environment for all bodies. My specialty areas include disordered eating, body image, anxiety, life transitions, relationships, trauma, invisible illnesses/disabilities, perfectionism, shame, neurodivergence, and navigating your 20’s and beyond. I work with all eating disorder diagnoses, including Anorexia – restrictive type, Anorexia – purging type, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder, Avoidant Restrictive Eating Disorder, and Atypical Anorexia. I am particularly passionate about the intersection of eating disorders and chronic illness/non-visible disabilities, severe and enduring anorexia, and
exercise mis-use. Additionally I work with those who are on the threshold of an eating disorder diagnosis, and would qualify as disordered eating, and working to free themselves from diet culture, body image distress, and looking to have a freer relationship with food, movement and their body (however they choose to define that).
I have been actively involved in the eating disorder field for over a decade. Prior to moving into private practice, I provided therapy at multiple levels of care; including a variety of community counseling centers and treatment facilities, where I also facilitated multiple groups around
trauma, shame, body acceptance, social media awareness/advocacy, and yoga for eating disorders. In addition to my work as a therapist, I provide training to other professionals on narrative therapy and eating disorders, the use of therapists lived experience and insider knowledge, as well as mind-body movement and its role in body image acceptance/tolerance. Additionally, I have presented on weight stigma and bias in healthcare, the therapeutic relationship, and advancing the field of eating disorder treatment.
TREATMENT PHILOSOPHY: Many of my clients have described me as the “anti-therapist,” which is a description I wear with pride. I bring enthusiasm, improvisation, imagination, & creativity into each session. My ability to think outside the nine dots & ask questions that others may not enables me to develop creative solutions with clients to help untangle what many would consider to be complicated problems. I believe in (& embrace) experimentation:
the freedom to test things out & see how they fit, to explore the various facets of yourself, & to allow for complexities, contradictions, & messiness… all the stuff the eating disorder hates & recovery needs. Eating disorders are strong, they need something stronger to overpower
them. I work alongside clients to help discover what that is for them. There are many reasons eating disorders are invited into someone’s life. Just as there are many reasons why a person develops an eating disorder, the way they recover will be just as unique. If there was a one size fits all solution, that would perhaps be as deceptive as the problem itself. Whether it’s perfectionism, judgment, loneliness, self-improvement, health, fear, family issues… Together I work with those who consult with me to discover what invites these problems into their life, so we can begin to find what recovery means for them. Combining clinical and lived experience with a love of social justice, my passion to help others find recovery and healing is integrated into each part of my work. I love working closely with individuals to discover and connect to their hopes, values, passions, and interests outside of the problem, and support them in re-(dis)covering what their “anti-eating disorder” life will look like.” Rooted in a desire for social change, I employ a critical feminist, anti-oppression, Health At Every Size, fat positive, trauma-informed approach. My therapeutic approach is grounded in Narrative theory, an evolving set of ideas and practices, which embrace a collaborative, non-pathologizing, culturally-sensitive, and respectful approach to working with people, families, and communities.
FEES: Credit Cards, Sliding Scale, Zelle; FSA cards accepted; provides Superbills
INSURANCE: None
I have been in the battle with food and weight, caught in the war zone of an eating disorder, and come out the other side. Now recovered, I love working with individuals and their loved ones to find their own version of recovery, and find out what is keeping you stuck from living the life you desire. Through conversations, we will create space to discover your preferences, hopes and desires. As someone who has walked this path, I carry with me with an insider perspective to the challenges that come with this process. Striking a balance between curious and non-judgmental with direct and engaging, I will actively collaborate with you in the co-construction of new understandings and (re)discovery of knowledge and strengths.