Qualifications & Experience

I have my Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from Alliant International University, Mexico City Campus. There I interned in several clinics. After graduation I fulfilled my licensing hour requirements in the San Diego area with New Alternative and Community Research Foundation. Additionally, I hold a Certificate in Latin American Family Therapy, a certificate of completion for Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT web), a Certificate for the Externship in Emotionally Focused Therapy, a Certificate for Conference on Addictions (Phases I & II), and a Certificate of Completion for EMDR Institute Basic Training.

My Call to Christian Counseling

I’ve always loved to understand why people do the things they do and extend compassion to those of whom compassionate is often lacking. As an undergraduate in film and video production, I learned that an essential component of good story telling is finding people’s motivations. My uncle, who is a therapist at Alliant International University, was also a big influence in my becoming a therapist.

More About Me/On a Personal Note

I like watching movies, watching and playing basketball, and other sports. I used to be really into salsa dancing as well.

Areas of Expertise/Specialties

• ADHD
• Aging and Geriatric Issues
• Anger Management
• Anxiety
• Coaching
• Counseling in Spanish
• Counseling for Teens
• Codependency
• Depression
• Family Counseling
• Grief and Loss
• Group Counseling
• Individual Counseling
• Infidelity and Affairs
• Men’s Issues
• OCD
• Online Counseling
• Personal Development
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Professional Development
• Relationship Issues
• Sex and Porn Addiction
• Sexual Abuse
• Spiritual Development
• Trauma

Depression & Anxiety

Usually, anxiety and depression go hand in hand. I like to better understand the thoughts and feelings for why we experience depression and anxiety to process and deal with them instead of creating false expectations of “getting rid of them.” All feelings serve a purpose, but how we respond to them most of the time is the main issue. As your counselor, I am committed to helping you find lasting relief from your anxiety and depression as we rely together on the Lord for guidance and grace.

Men’s Issues

Changes in society over time have led to some people becoming less compassionate toward men, which can leave them feeling emasculated. Helping men find their role for themselves, in their family, and in society will only help all demographics. I believe developing a strong personal relationship with God will help that in therapy.

Trauma

Trauma can come in all shapes and sizes. Although not all responses to traumatic experiences can be categorized as PTSD, they can still impact us deeply. My approach is to identify how you relate to this experience and how it affects your view of yourself and the world. Sometimes changing those views can be difficult to do alone. In therapy, I believe having the additional help of God can really help us heal those challenges. It’s not always an easy road to heal from such experiences, but bringing self-compassion and exchanging criticism with curiosity can help individuals have a better relationship with the trauma.

Porn Addiction

Today so much of our attention is directed toward sex appeal in the media and other forms of entertainment, we can get confused what is a problem and what is not. It can be hard to know what is “normal” and what is not. I am here to help identify that for you, keeping in mind how it affects your personal relationship with God. Finding your standard with God creates a clearer process to set goals for what you want to accomplish.

Sessions: I offer 53-minute sessions. Sessions can be held more than once per week, weekly, or every other week. Scheduling options are discussed in greater detail during your Risk-Free Initial Session.

Availability (by office location):

• Carlsbad – Thursdays & Fridays
• Online Counseling

Fees: I offer a Risk-Free Initial Session for individuals and groups looking to pursue counseling with me. Please note that there is a fee for the Risk-Free Initial Session as it is a clinical hour and reimbursable to most insurance companies, but if you choose not to reschedule and continue therapy after the initial session the entire fee for the session will be waived. For ongoing treatment the full fee per session is required at the time of service.

Insurance: As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), most insurance companies will reimburse for a portion of my services (as an Out of Network Provider). Please consult with your insurance provider as to whether they specifically cover adolescents, individuals and couples.

Receipts/Statements: In the event you require a printed or digital receipt, I will provide receipts for personal use, insurance reimbursement, Flex Spending Accounts (FSA), and Health Savings Accounts (HSA).

Payment options: Cash, Check, or Credit Card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, & American Express). A fee of up to 4% per transaction will be added for credit card payments.