I am a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (CA, #6389), a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (MA, #8015), a Board Certified Music Therapist (#09190), and I have a PhD as an applied-research Psychologist in the field of International Psychology.
As a therapist, I specialize in partnering with adolescents and adults to discover an empowered response to complex challenges. Through compassionate and skilled care, I support individuals in overcoming past and present barriers that enable transformations to thrive.
My approach is collaborative, holistic, and informed by the unique circumstances that individuals are confronting to develop meaning, wellbeing, and effective skills to navigate roadblocks. I have a focus to treatment that seeks to harness the power of one’s passions to bring about positive change through dialogue and/or the use of Music, the Arts, Gaming, or Tech.
In addition to private practice, I also have been an educator for over 18 years, with experience teaching at every age level, from Kindergarten through to Graduate School.
Previously, I have served as the Director of Counseling and Wellness at an independent high school in Palo Alto, CA, as the Executive Chair of the Massachusetts Music Therapy Alliance and have worked as a Mental Health Counselor and Music Therapist at a therapeutic high school for students with emotional and social disabilities for 8 years outside of Boston, MA.
As a clinician, I have expertise in working with the following challenges:
Depression
Anxiety
ADHD
Autism Spectrum Disorder (high functioning ASD or Asperger’s)
Burnout and Stress Related Issues
Life Transitions
Adjustment Disorders
Acculturation Stress
Cultural Related Challenges
Relationship Issues
As an educator, presenter, and trainer, I have taught on the following topics:
Music of mental health: Harnessing the power of music to promote wellbeing
Developing an empowered college transition: Keys to success
Adolescent mental health and wellbeing
Diversity in forensic psychology course for graduate students
Counseling/Psychology ethics course for undergraduate students
Sociology course for undergraduate students
Implicit bias training for health care professionals
Cultural and social justice competence development for psychologists
World Drumming for Holistic Wellbeing
Mindfulness approaches to counseling and music therapy
Multiculturalism in counseling and music therapy
The rhythm of mental health: Holistic drumming for emotional and social disorders
Music therapy in the treatment of depression
Music therapy and pain management
Music therapy for social action
Education
BA - Bates College, 2003
MA - Lesley University, 2009
PhD - The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, 2015