Pronouns

she/her/Ella

Location

San Francisco, virtual for all California residents

Education/Certification

BA Psychology, Minor in Music

MA in Counseling Psychology (Latino Psychology emphasis)

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Certified Clinical Trauma Professional

Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Existential Therapy, Person-centered Therapy, Short-Term Solution Focused Therapy

Specific Expertise

I love working with the BIPOC community.  Being a member of the community  myself, I understand how important it is to have a practitioner who understands the nuances of the BIPOC experience.  

I also enjoy working with entrepreneurial women who are navigating establishing a family and having ambitious goals in their career.  In this space, I enjoy working in the spaces where the personal meets the professional.  This means, navigating imposter syndrome, addressing the decision making involved in having great career ambitions and starting a family.

Other spaces I am best suited in supporting are families who have experienced pregnancy loss, challenges in trying to conceive, supporting fathers of pregnancy loss and women with PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome).

Through a genuine conversation that highlights your strengths, resiliencies and doesn’t shy away from discussing issues related to race, culture, spiritual practices and other key aspects of identity, we will work together to create a healing space that will honor your healing in its fullest form.

What life experiences led you to becoming a therapist?

Ever since I was a child, I learned how to attune to the emotions of another person, to watch for subtle cues in body language, and how to listen to words but also to my surroundings.  I thought early on that these were because I was very special.  I learned much later that these skills I learned to use in a positive way were developed due to trauma I experienced in my early life.  I grew up in a tumultuous home environment in which we didn’t speak about emotions.  

In my childhood home, while we had basic needs met, our survival was always on very thin ice.  We often had the threat of losing our home, we got our electricity cut off, we didn’t always have the luxury of Christmas, and we had to focus primarily on being able to make it to the next day.  Future planning wasn’t generally a part of the conversation aside from my parents encouraging the pursuit of education so we could get good jobs as adults.  

I learned to keep my emotions quiet and to observe.  I didn’t learn how to speak about my inner turmoil.  So, I took it out on myself: it had to be my fault right?  (WRONG!) Without quite knowing how to handle my own emotions, I knew that I wanted to help others feel better.  Fortunately, I learned how to honor what  is real within me and I have gone through my own process of healing and recovery so that I may be of help to others find their own healing.

Professionally, I have worked with several different populations that really showed me that I have a passion for helping others.  In the early days of my career, I started as a researcher with migrant farmworker populations, learning about their access to health and child care.  Through this work, my passion for supporting BIPOC populations was further ignited.

I believe strongly in our innate resiliencies and strengths.  I do this work, not only because I am committed to the healing of others but because I truly feel this is where my talents shine.  I also find great fulfillment in witnessing the dreams of my clients come to fruition!

How would you define your style of therapy, especially as it relates to perinatal support?

I provide therapy through a lens that embraces one’s culture and lived experience.  The work that we will do in therapy will be led by you and will build upon your strengths, values and your personality.  I infuse humor, creative and visual arts, and an eclectic mix of therapeutic modalities that best suit you and your situation.

For individuals on the journey to growing a family, support in this space means that I am supportive of the wide range of emotions that are possible.  It means also asking the difficult questions and validating the experiences folks have on this path.  There is no one right way to create the family of your dreams!  Support for families who are trying to conceive also includes honoring any path you choose to take, celebrating all the wins, and naming the scaries that creep in the corners of the mind.  You know yourself best, so I always support in validating what is true for you.

You have such passion and determination in helping your patients find their voices, especially those who are too often and unjustifiably silenced. What does that look like for those who are pregnant or trying to conceive?

When you work with me, you will know that you are seen, heard and valued. This includes an acknowledgement that the medical system has disproportionately and negatively impacted the experiences of those who are in the BIPOC community. In working together, my approach includes co-creating a safe space where you can discuss experiences of differential treatment at the doctor’s office, and naming any other differences you have experienced in accessing care.

What inspires your work?

I do this work because it is important for me to acknowledge and remember the forgotten.  This means shining light on the needs of marginalized communities, reminding people of their wonderful qualities and strengths, and staying connected to traditions that are important to my clients.

What do you do for self care?

Drive to the beach, meditation/prayer, reading, time with family, writing, digital art (although I’m not an artist. :) )