We do not grow absolutely, chronologically. We grow sometimes in one dimension, and not in another; unevenly. We grow partially. We are relative. We are mature in one realm, childish in another. The past, present, and future mingle and pull us backward, forward, or fix us in the present. We are made up of layers, cells, constellations.
― Anaïs Nin

Growth is not linear.

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Personal growth is rarely a straight path—it’s a winding journey with steps forward, steps back, and pauses along the way.

What may feel like setbacks are often opportunities to revisit old patterns with new awareness and strength. Change takes time, but it is always possible.

No matter how deeply rooted certain behaviors may feel, we have the capacity to shift, to release what no longer serves us, and to create new ways of being that honor who we are becoming.

Each choice, each moment of awareness, opens the door to growth, healing, and greater freedom.

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Whom can I help?

I am a psychodynamic/psychoanalytic psychotherapist. My approach is grounded in research and guided by an awareness of how trauma impacts the mind, body, and relationships. At the same time, I bring warmth, empathy, and collaboration into the therapeutic space. The relationship we build together becomes the foundation for healing—one where you can safely explore your story, develop greater self-awareness, and experiment with new ways of relating that feel more authentic and sustainable.

I am especially drawn to working with individuals who feel stuck between who they think they should be and who they truly are. In our work, I support clients in reclaiming their inner voice, strengthening their sense of agency, and building relationships that feel more authentic and sustainable. Therapy is not just about insight but also about practicing and embodying new ways of relating—learning to say no without guilt, to rest without shame, and to cultivate connections that allow for reciprocity and depth.

I also work with individuals and couples whose early childhood financial traumas, economic scarcity, and parental attitudes and behaviors around money shape and influence their adult relationship to money in ways that do not serve them as well as adults whose childhoods were characterized by housing insecurity and frequent relocation.

When couples come to therapy, it is often because they feel stuck—caught in patterns of miscommunication, distance, or conflict that leave them feeling unheard and disconnected from one another. These struggles can be painful, especially when the love and care are still present but hard to access through the tension.

In our work together, I help couples slow down and make space for both partners’ voices, feelings, and needs to be understood. Often, beneath the arguments or silence are unspoken longings—for closeness, safety, and reassurance. By exploring these dynamics in a supportive, nonjudgmental environment, couples can begin to recognize the patterns that keep them apart and experiment with new ways of relating that foster understanding and intimacy.

My approach with couples is collaborative, relational, and grounded in the belief that every relationship has the capacity to grow and heal. With guidance and practice, couples can learn to communicate more openly, listen with empathy, and reconnect with the sense of partnership that brought them together in the first place.

I provide therapy in English, Spanish, and Portuguese (Brazilian).

At the heart of my work as a psychodynamic therapist is the belief that our earliest relationships shape not only how we see ourselves but also how we move through the world and connect with others. Many of the individuals I work with have learned, often very early in life, that their value lies in putting others first—through people-pleasing, overextending, or sacrificing their own needs to maintain harmony. While these strategies may once have offered safety or belonging, over time they can lead to exhaustion, disconnection, and a deep sense of being unseen and unknown.

My therapeutic approach is relational at its core. I offer a collaborative space where clients can safely explore patterns of relating—both with others and with themselves. By attending to the dynamics that emerge between us (client and therapist) in therapy, we can uncover the unconscious beliefs and emotional experiences that keep cycles of boundary difficulties, self-neglect, and burnout in place. Together, we create room for you to notice your own needs and desires, and to experiment with new ways of honoring them in real time.

Above all, I strive to create a therapeutic relationship grounded in curiosity, compassion, and trust. Depth therapy is not a quick fix. It requires patience, curiosity, and the ability to tolerate uncertainty. You may come to therapy seeking answers. I do not have them, but am I committed to thinking with you and finding meaning together.

My Approach

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FAQ

  • I have a B.A. from U.C. Berkeley in Comparative Literature and an M.A. in Counseling Psychology from the Wright Institute in Berkeley, CA. 

    For 6 years I worked as an immigration interpreter in Spanish and Portuguese for the public defender, asylum applicants, and clients with other immigration concerns.

    During my training, I provided brief psychodynamically-oriented integrative therapy to patients at California Pacific Medical Center, Davies Campus.

    My training continued at Access Institute for Psychological Services where I completed a one-year postgraduate fellowship and was trained in psychoanalytically-oriented psychotherapy. 

    I gained experience working with children and adolescents during my training as in-school therapist at Glen Park Elementary School, SFUSD and George Washington High School, SFUSD.

    In order to stay engaged in the psychoanalytic community, I participate in professional consultation groups as well as ongoing psychoanalytic trainings such as NCSPP’s 2024-2025 Intensive Study Group (ISG), Psychoanalysis: Breakdown & Breakthrough.

    Professional Affiliations:

    • Bay Area Psychology Group

    • Northern California Society for Psychoanalytic Psychology (NCSPP)

    • Psychoanalytic Institute of Northern California (PINC)

    • California Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (CAMFT & SFCAMFT)

  • I offer weekly psychotherapy to adolescents, adults and couples who are based in California. Individual sessions are 50-minutes long, and couples sessions are 60-minutes long. They are held both in person and remotely.

    I provide therapy in English, Spanish, and Portuguese (Brazilian).

  • Patients often ask, “How long does therapy take?” My answer is always, “I don’t know.” For many, this can be frustrating and daunting since patients often arrive to therapy with a sense of urgency and impatience. Some therapy modalities are short term and can prescribe how many sessions it should take to achieve certain goals. In psychodynamic psychotherapy, the goal is not to treat isolated symptoms but rather to understand deeply rooted relational patterns that cause suffering and —over time—change them. This requires a great deal of commitment and curiosity about what is going on under the surface as well as a desire to change. It is not for everyone, but for those who are open to the journey, it can be life changing.

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Let’s connect.

Schedule a free 20-minute phone consultation with me to see if we might be a good fit.

Book Consultation
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