Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Certified Guided Imagery Therapist Domestic Violence Counselor Nondenominational Minister Member of: OC-CAMFT, ACA, CAMFT
It has been stated that from our deepest sorrow and pain, we gain our greatest wisdom and strength of character. In hindsight, I can see the truth in that statement, but at the time of the betrayals in my life, I felt at the complete mercy of the situation. Maybe you are feeling that way too.
Like you, life has not always been so kind to me, and like you, there have been times in my life when I have needed to reach out for help.......and was helped. I have learned from and survived domestic violence, an affair in my marriage, financial hardships, challenging children, deaths, being a single parent, living with an alcoholic, a childhood that included traumas, and other life-changing experiences. The life work I needed to do to heal and move forward from these personal hardships was not always easy, but the results were worth the work. I believe that because of my past difficulties, I am able to more easily "walk in your shoes" and deeply emphasize with how badly you hurt. I am thankful that my life is now peaceful and fulfilling, but I believe had I not encountered these hardships along the way, I would have missed out on an incredible amount of personal and professional growth that I can now pass on to you. I'm honored that you are reaching out to me for help, and I'm hopeful that as you get to know me, you will feel safe enough to call so we can begin your journey to healing.
I am licensed in the State of California as a Marriage and Family Therapist. I have a PhD in Holistic Counseling, a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from Argosy University and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of California Irvine. I am Certified as a Guided Imagery Therapist and have completed advanced training to work as a Domestic Violence Counselor. I hold an Ordination Diploma from the University of Metaphysics, which qualifies me as a Nondenominational Minister.
My reputation among my colleagues and prior clients tells a story of respect and appreciation for the work that I do. I value the time I spend with my clients and consistently try to provide what is needed to help each of my clients successfully improve their quality of life. I have appeared on a variety of radio stations answering questions about relationship conflicts, self-esteem issues, anger management, guided imagery, addictions and other life challenging issues. I have been a guest speaker at Argosy University, Hoag Hospital and St. Joseph's Hospital regarding the benefits of guided imagery. In addition, various addiction treatment facilities in Southern California and Arizona regularly refer their clients to me for aftercare. My many years in practice have been successful for one simple reason: I honestly believe in each person's personal strength and potential for growth, and give all of my clients unconditional positive respect and consistent encouragement for change. Listed below are some areas in which I have helped my clients.
Relationship/Marriage Counseling -- My specialty is helping couples who are trying to restore sanity to a relationship or marriage where a Betrayal has occurred. From emotional and physical affairs to divorce issues to years of ineffective communication, conflict and resentments, I have successfully helped couples renew their relationships. My passion for helping marriages survive any type of Betrayal is being constantly reenforced by the fact that over 90% of my couples are still together and have a genuinely supportive, loving relationship. I am frequently asked "With all that has happened, can this relationship be saved." My answer is always the same -- sound scientific research and what I have observed in my practice indicates that if the relationship began with equality between the partners and a strong admiration and respect for each other, then through consistent hard work in therapy, the marriage or relationship can be made new. It is not easy work because at the core of every relationship difficulty lies hidden hurts, unresolved conflict and a mountain of anger and resentments. Sorting through the pain, the hurts and the deception takes patience and kindness, but miraculously along the way, couples begin to turn toward each other once again to find the strength, love and compassion that has been damaged.
Family Relationships -- I
have worked many years helping families where there is conflict among
family members -- whether mother-daughter, father-son, sister-sister,
brother-brother, or any combination. Do you sometimes think that there
are members of your family who are "toxic" -- you are probably right,
and learning how to effectively understand and interact with them can be
beneficial to your emotional well-being. I have been successful in helping family members create a completely different family interaction pattern.
Parenting Issues
-- Do you have challenging children, a blended family, or perhaps you
have an adult child who has returned home? I help parents work through
these various issues with specialized treatment plans designed as
"contracts" to establish boundaries within the family structure.
Anger Management -- I use a combination of therapies to help clients control their anger. It is based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which is essentially, what you "think" affects how you "feel", and how you "feel" impacts what behaviors you will decide to take. By understanding how powerful your self-talk can be and changing it to something more balanced, your anger can be controlled. Addictions
-- I have expert knowledge of all 12-step programs and offer guided
imagery and DBT treatments to be used in combination with other
treatments. These programs have a proven track record, and I am proud
to be able to offer them to you.
Self-Esteem -- We need a good amount of positive self-esteem to actually reach our full potential. Many of my clients have long suffered from years of criticisms, judgments, disrespect and betrayals which have severely impacted their ability to just feel good about themselves. I work very closely with my clients to help each one regain their own personal power and reclaim their own very unique self.
Cancer Pain Management -- One of my passions is helping people who have been diagnosed with cancer. I
have been trained and am certified in the powerful healing benefits of
guided imagery (or meditation) which helps clients in their recovery from radiation and chemotherapy treatments.
These are a few areas which I help individuals. If you have another concern which I have not mentioned here, please do not hesitate to ask me about treatments.
I continue to study and research new ways to help my clients achieve
healing and health in their lives. It is my extreme honor to be able to
work in a helping profession, and I am committed to bringing my clients
the most recent and beneficial advances in the practice of marriage and family counseling
and alternative treatments.
I am a member of the California Association of Marriage and Family
Therapists, the American Counseling Association, the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, and the
American Psychotherapy Association.
Thank you for taking the time to learn a little about me. I would be honored to help you with whatever problem has arisen in your life. Please feel free to contact me anytime at 714-328-9798.
Come Experience
A Different Kind of Emotional, Physical and Spiritual Healing
