How Transformation Happens
Healing begins with curiosity.
I don't believe people are broken or need to be "fixed." I believe every person makes sense in the context of their experiences.
The ways we think, feel, protect ourselves, and relate to others all develop for a reason. Some of those patterns continue to serve us, while others begin to keep us feeling stuck. Therapy isn't about becoming someone different. It's about understanding yourself more deeply so you have the freedom to choose what comes next.
Curiosity creates understanding.
Understanding creates choice.
Choice creates transformation.
Every meaningful transformation begins with a question.
Why do I keep repeating this pattern?
Why does this still affect me?
Why can't I seem to move forward?
Why do I feel disconnected from myself?
What if life could feel different?
The questions are different for everyone, but they all begin in the same place: curiosity.
I believe curiosity is one of the most powerful catalysts for change. When we approach ourselves with openness instead of judgment, we create space to better understand our experiences, uncover the patterns that have shaped us, and discover new possibilities for moving forward.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to healing because no two people arrive with the same story. I draw from a variety of evidence-based therapies, thoughtfully integrating them based on your unique experiences, strengths, and goals. While each approach offers something different, they all share the same purpose: helping you better understand yourself so you can live with greater freedom, intention, and authenticity.
How do I stop letting fear make my decisions?
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Fear, anxiety, and self-doubt often convince us that we need to feel better before we can start living the life we want. ACT offers a different path. Instead of trying to eliminate difficult thoughts and emotions, we learn how to make space for them while choosing actions that align with what matters most.
Together, we'll identify your core values, develop greater psychological flexibility, and build a life guided by intention rather than fear.
Moving toward a life guided by your values instead of your fears.
Why do certain experiences still affect me years later?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Sometimes our minds move on, but our nervous systems continue carrying the weight of painful experiences. Trauma, loss, or overwhelming events can remain "stuck," influencing how we think, feel, and respond long after they've happened.
EMDR helps the brain process these experiences so they become integrated rather than overwhelming. The goal isn't to erase the past—it's to lessen its emotional hold so you can engage more fully in the present.
Moving toward freedom from the weight of experiences that no longer need to define your present.
What if the stories I've been living by no longer fit?
Narrative Therapy
Each of us carries stories about who we are, where we belong, and what we're capable of. Many of these stories are shaped by our families, culture, religion, relationships, and past experiences.
Narrative Therapy invites us to explore those stories with curiosity. Together, we'll examine which beliefs still serve you, which no longer do, and begin authoring a story that feels more aligned with your values, identity, and authentic self.
Moving toward a story that feels intentional, empowering, and authentically yours.
Why do different parts of me seem to want different things?
Parts Work (IFS-Informed)
Have you ever felt like one part of you wants to move forward while another wants to hide? Maybe one part strives for perfection while another feels exhausted. Or one part longs for connection while another fears getting hurt.
Rather than seeing these parts as flaws, Parts Work helps us understand them as protective strategies that developed for good reasons. By approaching each part with curiosity instead of judgment, we create space for healing, self-understanding, and greater inner harmony.
Moving toward a relationship with yourself rooted in compassion rather than conflict.
How can I change patterns that no longer serve me?
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors constantly influence one another. Sometimes we develop patterns that once helped us cope but now leave us feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or disconnected.
CBT helps us recognize these patterns and gently challenge the beliefs that keep them in place. As awareness grows, so does your ability to respond differently—with greater intention rather than automatic reaction.
Moving toward greater awareness, flexibility, and confidence in the choices you make.
Can I learn to live with uncertainty?
Exposure & Response Prevention (ERP)
If you struggle with OCD, your mind may constantly search for certainty, reassurance, or ways to prevent something bad from happening. Unfortunately, the more we chase certainty, the stronger anxiety often becomes.
ERP is considered the gold-standard treatment for OCD. Together, we'll gradually practice facing uncertainty without relying on compulsions or reassurance, helping you build confidence in your ability to tolerate discomfort and reclaim your life from fear.
Moving toward freedom from the cycle of fear, reassurance, and compulsions.
How do we reconnect when we keep having the same arguments?
Gottman Method & Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
Most couples don't struggle because they don't love each other—they struggle because they've become caught in patterns that leave both partners feeling misunderstood, disconnected, or alone.
Drawing from the Gottman Method and Emotionally Focused Therapy, we'll slow those patterns down, understand what's happening beneath the conflict, strengthen communication, and create a relationship where both partners feel safer, more connected, and better able to navigate life's challenges together.
Moving toward a relationship built on trust, understanding, and emotional connection.
There isn't one right path—only the one that's right for you.
The approaches I use aren't boxes to fit people into. They're simply different ways of helping us understand your unique story, honor your lived experiences, and support the changes you're hoping to create.
As we work together, we'll discover which approaches resonate most with you, always guided by curiosity, collaboration, and your own goals for healing.
Because transformation isn't about becoming someone new.
It's about understanding yourself well enough to return to who you've been all along.
If you're curious about what that journey could look like, I'd love to connect for a complimentary 15-minute consultation. We'll talk about what's bringing you here, answer any questions you have, and explore whether working together feels like the right fit.
Therapy for OCD and Anxiety
My approach focuses on helping you build a different relationship with your thoughts and emotions.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
To help you identify your values and create a life that feels aligned with what matters most.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
To explore thought patterns and develop new ways of responding to challenges.
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
To support individuals navigating OCD and intrusive thoughts.
Your therapy is not a formula. Together, we will discover the approaches that best support your healing, growth, and transformation.
Begin Your Work Together
Whether you are navigating a difficult season or feel ready to better understand yourself, therapy can provide a space to pause, reflect, and create meaningful change.
I offer anxiety and OCD therapy in Newport Beach, California, and virtually throughout California.