I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Lafayette, California. I offer psychotherapy and counseling support to clients throughout central Contra Costa County and the San Francisco East Bay Area.

I specialize in helping parents cope with the many challenges of the transition to parenthood, including anxiety, depression, or ambivalence about being a parent.

My clients often feel like they are a bad parent, and experience symptoms of sadness or emptiness, inability to relax or sleep, intrusive, scary thoughts about something awful happening to them or their child, and panic, which can present as unusual physical symptoms like dizziness, nausea, shortness of breath or tingling sensations. I work with mothers, fathers and nonbinary parents at all stages who are struggling to balance their own happiness with the demands of raising children.

I also specialize in treating chronic pain and illness that has a stress-related component. This includes migraine, musculoskeletal pain, IBS, fibromyalgia, and pelvic pain syndromes. I am trained in Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT), and evidence-based treatment for chronic pain. I have recovered from several chronic pain conditions using mind/body techniques myself.

I earned my Bachelors Degree summa cum laude from Tufts University, a Masters in Economics from New Mexico State University and a Masters in Counseling Psychology from John F. Kennedy University. I am a member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, as well as the East Bay Chapter of CAMFT.

I am a professional member of Postpartum Support International (PSI) and am a PSI Certified Perinatal Mental Health Professional (PMH-C). I have volunteered with PSI since 2013, and currently coordinate the PSI peer consultation group for psychotherapists and prescribers who work with new parents. I am also Co-Chair of the California Chapter of PSI as well as a founding member of Mt. Diablo Perinatal Psychotherapy Associates.

My early career was in the area of public policy and consumer protection. After the birth of my first two children, I founded The Nurture Center, a store and resource center for new parents. I am a UCLA Certified Lactation Educator, and have experience leading new parent support groups and helping parents with the transition to parenthood. I am also a mom of three children of my own and a bonus (step) child, and a survivor of postpartum depression, anxiety and panic, as well as chronic pain.

In addition to psychotherapy services, I offer consultation regarding the prevention, assessment and treatment of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders as well as the treatment of chronic pain conditions. I am available as a speaker on a variety topics relating to maternal mental health and chronic pain. I also offer supervision to other mental health professionals in the San Francisco East Bay Area. My office is accessible to the Lafayette BART station, close to Moraga, Orinda, Walnut Creek and Pleasant Hill via Rt. 24, and is also handicapped-accessible.

I do not participate in any health insurance plans as an in-network provider, but I am happy to help you obtain reimbursement from your PPO insurance plan for out of network services. Review Notice of Privacy Practices and Good Faith Estimate Notice, as well as a Statement of Anti-Discrimination and Land Acknowledgment

* Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist MFC #82213