As a first-generation American and multi-cultural therapist, providing inclusive therapy that is attuned, and honors your diverse cultural landscape, and the multifaceted identities you hold matters to me. My first 5 years as psychotherapist were spent joyously providing therapy in community mental health settings in the east bay working primarily with communities of culture/ the global majority. The past 6+ years since have been in private practice in Berkeley where I serve a diverse clientele.

It is my sincere intention that all who enter my office feel that all parts of them are welcomed. Where it is acknowledged that while we have different lived experiences, and perhaps different paradigms that without a doubt who you are, and what you are navigating is consistently met with respect, humility, and curiosity.

Trauma resides not just in the mind but deeply within the body, shaping emotions, behaviors, and our connection to the world. We will listen to your body's language, deciphering sensations, tensions, and visceral responses as gateways to understanding the grip of your past wounds. This approach creates a safe space where you can explore bodily sensations and emotions without judgment, offering a path to reclaim agency over your healing journey. It's not about symptom management; it's a transformative process of reconnection, empowering you to find safety within your body, release stored trauma, and restore balance through mindfulness, breathwork, and body awareness. In our work together your body is honored as the sacred vessel it is. Here you are invited to embrace your embodied reality, and rewrite your narratives etched into your flesh and bones, organically leading to self-discovery, empowerment, and liberation from past wounds.

I am a Hakomi Somatic Mindfulness Certified Practitioner and have found this to be the most profoundly healing attuned modality to heal emotional pain and trauma; this combined with a Humanistic relational lens is the core of how I operate as a healer. This approach explores the wisdom held within your body, enabling you to release old patterns, organically reach deep and lasting transformations, and cultivate a deeper sense of presence. It's a journey that invites you to experience life from an embodied, authentic, and centered place.

Why Choose Hakomi?

Mindful Healing: Learn to pay attention to your thoughts and emotions without judgment. This helps you understand yourself and your past.

Body Wisdom: Your body stores emotions and memories. Hakomi shows you how to listen to your body's messages for deep healing.

Safe and Caring: My attention will be focused on creating a safe, non-judgmental space for you to explore your feelings. This support is essential for your journey.

Respect for Your Pace: Healing is a personal journey. Hakomi lets you heal at your own pace, respecting your unique path to recovery.

Mind-Body Connection: Discover how your mind and body work together in healing. This holistic approach ensures a more complete recovery.

In my practice, you are the center of our work. I approach therapy with deep respect for your unique experiences, emotions, and aspirations. The therapeutic relationship is foundational, providing a safe and non-judgmental space where you can explore your inner world. I offer empathy, understanding, and unconditional positive regard to support your self-exploration and personal growth.

Our Goals:

Self-Exploration: I'll guide you in understanding and embracing your inner self. We'll uncover your strengths and explore your emotions, thoughts, and behaviors within the safety of our therapeutic connection.

Personal Growth: Together, we'll aim to move you closer to self-actualization, helping you realize your full potential and live authentically. This journey is about your growth and self-awareness.

Blending with Hakomi Somatic Mindfulness and Other Somatic Approaches:

Somatic approaches, including Hakomi Somatic Mindfulness, are integrated into my practice to provide you with a holistic healing experience.

Embodiment: Somatic approaches emphasize the mind-body connection. This means that we'll explore your physical sensations, emotions, and thoughts as an integrated whole.

Mindfulness: Hakomi Somatic Mindfulness and similar approaches encourage you to be present with your bodily experiences and emotions. This aligns with our humanistic principles of self-exploration, acceptance, and recognizing your inner wisdom.

Trauma Healing: Somatic approaches are highly effective in addressing trauma, helping you process and release stored emotional and physical trauma. This complements our humanistic goal of personal growth by clearing obstacles from the path.

Therapeutic Relationship: The strong therapeutic relationship we'll build is fundamental. You need to trust me to explore your body and emotions. This trust is a cornerstone in our work.

Your Journey Starts Here:

If you decide to work with me, we'll embark on a transformative journey together. You'll have my full support, guidance, and empathy as we explore your inner world, release the past, and cultivate a more profound connection to yourself. This is your journey, and I'm here to facilitate your healing and personal growth.

EMDR is a therapy that helps you heal from difficult experiences by using your brain's natural healing abilities. I will guide you to revisit painful memories in a safe way. We use bilateral techniques like rhythmic eye movements to reduce the emotional pain attached to these memories. This modality allows you to tangibly shift patterns, release distress, and strengthen your access to positive memories and resources. It's a process that allows your mind to heal on its own terms, showing your inner strength and capacity for growth.

Brainspotting is a therapeutic approach designed to help individuals process and heal from trauma, emotional pain, and other psychological issues. It's based on the idea that our eyes and visual field can access and activate specific points in the brain, known as "brainspots," where emotional memories and trauma are stored. It's like using a map to locate the spots in your mind and body where you hold distress. This process helps your body release and heal naturally. Brainspotting taps into your body's wisdom, showing your resilience and guiding you towards a stronger, more empowered you.

Brainspotting vs. EMDR: A Trauma-Informed Comparison

In the realm of evidenced-based trauma therapy, both Brainspotting and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) are highly effective approaches. Here's a comparison, highlighting the top-down nature of EMDR and the bottom-up approach of Brainspotting, as well as the transformative aspects of both methods:

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing):

Top-Down Approach: EMDR primarily operates from a top-down perspective, focusing on cognitive processing. It involves structured protocols where clients engage in bilateral stimulation, such as side-to-side eye movements, taps, or sounds, to process traumatic memories. This process aims to rewire neural pathways to alleviate distress associated with traumatic experiences.

Transformative Aspects: EMDR is known for its ability to bring about cognitive and emotional shifts. By reprocessing traumatic memories, clients often experience reduced emotional charge, cognitive reframing, and a sense of resolution. It allows individuals to make meaning of their experiences, promoting healing and reducing the impact of past trauma on their present lives.

Brainspotting:

Bottom-Up Approach: Brainspotting takes a bottom-up approach by emphasizing the body's physiological responses and the interplay between physical sensations and emotions. This therapy technique identifies "brainspots," which are specific eye positions that correspond to areas of stored trauma in the brain. Clients engage in mindfulness and body-focused processes while maintaining eye contact with a designated spot. This approach allows the brain's natural capacity for healing to be activated.

Transformative Aspects: Brainspotting is transformative because it recognizes the importance of the body's role in trauma processing. By targeting specific brainspots related to trauma, clients can access deeply stored emotions and experiences. This bottom-up approach often leads to profound emotional releases and shifts in the body, which can be deeply healing. Clients often experience a sense of catharsis, empowerment, and resolution as they work through unresolved trauma.

The Healing Power of Both Approaches:

Both EMDR and Brainspotting have shown significant efficacy in reducing trauma symptoms, such as intrusive memories, flashbacks, and hypervigilance. They empower clients to process trauma in a safe and controlled environment, enabling them to regain a sense of control over their lives.

What makes these approaches truly transformative is their ability to unlock the brain's natural healing mechanisms. EMDR targets cognitive reprocessing, while Brainspotting delves into the body's stored trauma, creating a holistic healing experience. By addressing trauma from both cognitive and physiological perspectives, these therapies offer comprehensive healing and a path towards reclaiming one's life from the shadow of trauma.

Do you ever feel like you're a complex puzzle with different pieces that sometimes don't fit together quite right? That's where IFS (Internal Family Systems) Parts Work comes in, and it's a powerful tool for your journey of self-discovery and personal growth.

How It Works:

Within your inner world, there are different aspects of yourself:

Managers: They often step in to maintain order, safety, and control in your life.

Firefighters: These parts come to the forefront when things become too overwhelming, helping you cope and navigate distress, sometimes through avoidance or numbing.

Exiles: These parts carry deep emotional wounds from your past, and they're often tucked away to protect you from re-experiencing pain.

IFS Parts Work Empowers You:

Uncover Inner Wisdom: With a trauma-informed approach, you'll gently explore the needs, concerns, and strengths of these inner parts, helping them emerge from the shadows.

Find Balance: IFS Parts Work facilitates a harmonious relationship among these inner aspects, creating a safe space for balance, self-compassion, and inner peace.

Heal and Grow: By respecting and addressing your inner parts, you can release stored trauma, resolve inner conflicts, and embark on a profound journey of healing and persona