I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California (License LMFT 47779) and an AAMFT Approved Supervisor. I have been working with therapy clients since 2005.

I hold a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology (now renamed Sofia University).

I opened Counseling for ACTion in 2009 with the goal to provide both family and individual psychotherapy to a wide range of people who sit in multiple cultures. Counseling for Action has also provided counseling in schools by independent contract with a school or school district. In 2010-2011 and 2012-2013, we provided services at Santee School in San Jose.

For the first 10 years of my practice, I provided therapy in San Jose, CA. However, in March 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, I moved my practice online, and I now work with clients from anywhere in California.

Before opening Counseling for ACTion, I provided counseling and psychotherapy at several sites. At Santa Clara County Suicide & Crisis Services in San Jose, CA, I provided telephone counseling to people in crisis. I also worked with children ages 5 to 13 and their families, including many recent immigrants, at Ravenswood City School District in East Palo Alto and Santee School in San Jose. From 2006-2007, as a facilitator in the Matrix program at EMQ Families First, I coordinated wraparound care for teenagers who had a history of difficult foster placements. And at Almaden Valley Counseling Services in San Jose, I provided weekly, clinic-based psychotherapy to families, couples, adults, children, and teens.

From 2010 to 2020, I taught at The Institute of Transpersonal Psychology at Sofia University. From April 2015 through December 2016 I served as the Chair of the Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology (MACP) program. Courses I have taught at ITP/Sofia include Systems Theory (family therapy), Child/Adolescent Therapy, Multicultural Counseling Skills, Law and Ethics, Counseling Principles and Practices, Advanced Theories and Skills, Creative Expression with Children and Adolescents, Advanced Trauma and Crisis, and Clinical Practicum. I also provided consultation about instructional design for online courses to other instructors. 

I hold a B.A. in English from Texas A&M University and have over 20 years of experience as a writer, technical trainer, and project lead in the software industry. (If you’re curious, check out my LinkedIn profile.) My past experiences in writing, teaching, and user interface design strongly influence my instructional design and teaching style. My previous work with diverse, multinational teams influences my work in therapy and my interest in diversity, too.

I am a qualified Clinical Supervisor and hold both the AAMFT Supervisor Credential from the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (AAMFT) and the Certified Supervisor credential from the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT).

I am a member of a number of professional organizations, including:

• Clinical Fellow and Approved Supervisor, American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT)
• Clinical Member and Certified Supervisor, California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT)
• Clinical Member, Gaylesta, The Psychotherapist Association for Sexual and Gender Diversity
• Clinical Member, Bay Area Open Minds
• Clinical Member, GoodTherapy.org
• Clinical Member, International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation
• Member, Kink-Aware Professionals
• Member, Association for Size Diversity and Health
• Co-Founder and Moderator, South Bay Mental Health Networking
• Business Member, Rainbow Chamber of Commerce of Silicon Valley