I’m grateful that I’m able to help others for a living. My career path has covered a lot of territory, and I’d passed my 30th birthday before I knew “what I wanted to be when I grew up.” Prior to becoming a therapist, I worked in the IT industry as a project manager, technical consultant, and systems engineer (and I do still have a love for gadgets). I also have several years of experience telecommunications and radio. While I’ve found something to enjoy in each of my previous jobs, I was never truly satisfied or fulfilled in my work until I became a psychotherapist.
So, how does an IT professional decide to enter the counseling field? Well, I decided to leave IT, I spent several months engaged in a career assessment program. During that process, I realized that helping people is what has always given me the greatest sense of satisfaction in all of my jobs. I also know what it’s like to need help and to be afraid to ask. During the course of my life, I’ve faced my share of personal and relationship challenges – I know what’s it’s like to feel hopeless, overwhelmed and alone. I know how awful it feels to make poor choices that you can’t seem to stop making. I know how scary it can be to share your stories with someone.
In addition to my clinical education and training, my life experience as well as my previous professional work have influenced my beliefs about people, relationships and therapy as well as my treatment philosophy in working with clients. You can learn more by clicking the links on the left side of this page as well as by taking a look at my blog.
Before opening my therapy practice, I worked for several years at a small counseling agency outside Sacramento where I was a therapist, intake coordinator, and member of the management team. I have clinical experience helping adults, children, and adolescents with a wide range of problems; communication, trust, and intimacy problems in relationships, codependency, addiction recovery, anxiety, self-esteem, depression & anger, among others.
My education includes a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of San Francisco and a Bachelor’s degree in American Studies from Brown University. I’ve received post-graduate training on a variety of clinical subjects and I continue to work on enhancing my clinical knowledge and skills through workshops, seminars, books, and other trainings on a regular basis.
I’ve lived in the Sacramento area since 1992, and when I’m not at work I can probably be found riding my bike, taking pictures, playing golf, or listening to music and reading. I don’t, as some have suggested, have a permanently reserved chair @ Chipotle, though I do eat there a lot.
