I am a searcher... I always was... and I still am... searching for the missing piece.

—Louise Bourgeois

Welcome ~

I am a licensed marriage and family therapist providing psychotherapy for adults, teens, children, couples and families. Working collaboratively with clients, we seek to connect with our feelings compassionately, communicate more successfully, increase self-regulation; to make sense of life.  My specialization in working with members of the adoption community often focuses on helping adoptees, whether children or adults, develop a greater understanding of this integral aspect of one’s identity.

I provide support and education for the adoption community by facilitating a free monthly support group for adult members of the adoption constellation and a vibrant teen adoptee group. I lead an annual adoptee identity development workshop for kids and tweens, provide transracial adoptive family trainings for agencies, as well as private consultation and education for families. My office is in Atwater Village, which is central to Los Feliz, Hollywood, Burbank, Glendale, Echo Park, Silver Lake, Highland Park and Echo Park.

2023

baby with colorful flowers and rabbit

I’m coming into this new year with intention and hope. There’s a saying that “all roads lead to Rome”; that all paths lead to the center, and in this case we’re talking about the whole human. I’m experiencing a convergence of energetic practices that reinforce how much “the body keeps the score” – our bodies react to and embed trauma and memories in ways that require a holistic mind-body approach for healing. Being trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing), applying tenets of Dr. Stephen Porges’ Polyvagal Theory (he cleverly converts Descartes’ dictum “I think, therefore I am” to “I feel, therefore I am”), utilizing and encouraging relaxation response-based mind-body interventions like yoga, mindfulness meditation and focusing on self-regulation techniques have all informed and deepened my integrative practice. In the spirit of Dr. Dan Siegel’s “Window of Tolerance” I wish you a very optimal Zone of Arousal in this the year of the Rabbit!… Read the rest “2023”

2022

How was 2022 for you? As the Pandemic has evolved to endemic status, many of us carefully ventured forth to resume some of our regular activities, and now risk assessment and choice-making feels as routine as brushing one’s teeth after eating! For me, believing in science and timely vaccination boosters contribute to keeping ourselves and loved ones safer. Heading into the holidays, I am blending my Cantonese speaking immigrant kin with my extended Norwegian Mexican-American family to celebrate. For many diverse families much effort and emotional labor is expended at the holidays, and I hope we will all be able to take year-end time to rejuvenate and practice self-compassion.… Read the rest “2022”

Re-enchanting the world . . .

These uncertain times are unrelenting. How do we find hope, healing and inspiration? For me, art affords a view into realms of wonder. Re-enchanting the World is a “picture-palace” of twelve massive textiles by Malgorzata Mirga-Tas installed at the Polish Pavilion of the 59th Venice Biennale. “It takes the title from Silvia Federici’s book Re-enchanting the World: Feminism and the Politics of the Commons. Its author posits recovering the idea of community and rebuilding relationships with others, including non-human actors: animals, plants, water or mountains. This non-violent process, in which women play an important role, reverses the world’s current dire fate, shaking off the evil spell that has been cast upon it.” This mesmerizing and colossal effort in some ways defines “woman’s work”, and it is monumental, intimate, personal and profound; a transformational work of art.Read the rest “Re-enchanting the world . . .”