Hi! I was born and raised in the Bay Area and my current practice is located in Fremont, CA. I am a female in my early 40s who is married with a 5 year old daughter. I have a strong passion for the creative arts and I'm drawn to various music genres and photography. When I'm not doing therapy, I am spending time with family, gardening, or working on a creative project. I specialize in Art Therapy, which allows deeper insight and mindfulness. The art you create is combined with talk therapy to help cope with stress and trauma. Art experience is not required and is not used with every client.
Sessions are designed to fit your needs and introduce you to new ways of coping. I have been working with individuals and families for over 15 years on a wide spectrum of emotional struggles, relationship conflicts, and stress management. I have extensive experience with children, adolescents, trauma, multicultural populations, and the LGBTQ+ community.
I am available Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays by appointment only. I accept most forms of payment including HSA cards. I only accept Cigna insurance but I can provide you with a monthly receipt that you may submit to your insurance company (other than Cigna) for reinbursement. If you're interested in learning more, feel free to call me at 510.402.6113.
WORK EXPERIENCE
Evergreen School District (August 2016 - June 2017) San Jose, CA
Clinical Supervisor
Tiburcio Vasquez Health Center (February 2011 – Present) Hayward, CA
Mental Health Clinician
-Provide direct counseling and art therapy services to youth in a high school setting
-Develop treatment plans based on the needs of adolescents for mental health support services based on direct interviews and clinical assessments
-Maintain timely documentation for weekly EPSDT billing including ongoing progress notes, assessments, and treatment plans
-Provide art therapy trainings and participate in weekly multidisciplinary team meetings and provide consultation on adolescent mental health issues to other clinicians
EMQ Families First, Inc. (May 2003 – February 2011) Concord, CA
Mental Health Clinician
-Provided direct counseling and art therapy services in a day treatment setting, including individual, group, and family therapy, to adolescents and their families
-Developed and implemented treatment plans within the milieu setting for each client
-Designed and facilitated psychotherapy groups, community meetings, and life skill groups, with an emphasis on socialization skills, symptom management, and cultural awareness
-Reinforced behavior management skills and crisis intervention to maintain a safe environment that met all standards for the program
-Ensured safety of the individual and self during crisis situations such as fights, threats of violence, and suicidal ideation
-Conducted in depth intake interviews and clinical assessments
-Maintained confidential and timely documentation for weekly progress notes, quarterly reports, discharge summaries, and Medi-Cal paperwork for ongoing reauthorizations
FESCO (April 2003 – September 2004) Hayward, CA
Family Activity Leader
-Planned and supervised activities for families living in transitional housing
-Identified key interactions within and between families and developed plans in order to resolve conflicts and improve communication
-Recorded observations of family interactions after activities and throughout shift
-Conducted ongoing assessments of each family and adapted the activities in order to meet the needs of each family
-Provided a monthly activity schedule and arranged sessions for each family
-Monitored facility and enforced house rules including bedtime and curfew requirements for residents as scheduled
Shelter Against Violent Environments (March 2002 – December 2004) Fremont, CA
Domestic Violence Counselor
-Counseled victims of domestic violence for the 24-hour crisis line
-Evaluated client problems and developed safety plans
-Educated victims of domestic violence on the cycle of violence and provided referrals to other assisting resources
-Established trust and clear communication with the victims in order to maintain a safe and comfortable environment
-Maintained records for statistics and documented detailed information of each incoming call
-Monitored the children at the shelter during weekly parenting meetings
-Facilitated and helped ensure a safe and secure atmosphere for children at the shelter who may have been emotionally disturbed due to abuse and trauma
EDUCATION
Notre Dame de Namur University, Belmont, CA
Master of Arts in Marriage and Family & Art Therapy
Cal State Hayward University, Hayward, CA
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE AND TRAININGS
-Membership Director for the Northern California Art Therapy Association, January 2011 - Present
-Su***de Prevention and Assessment, David Jobes, Ph.D., June 4, 2009
