I’m a clinical psychologist based in Santa Cruz County, and I work with teens and young adults who are dealing with OCD, anxiety, trauma, and the stress that can make life feel overwhelming or stuck.

A lot of the people I work with feel trapped in overthinking, avoidance, or anxiety that seems to run their lives. My job isn’t to help you get rid of every uncomfortable thought or feeling; it’s to help you learn how to live well with them. I use evidence-based treatments: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), along with ideas drawn from Stoic philosophy, to help build real resilience.

Resilience, as I teach it, isn’t about being calm all the time or “positive thinking.” It’s about learning what’s actually in your control—your choices, your actions, and how you respond when things are hard—and practicing how to keep moving toward what matters to you even when anxiety shows up. These are skills you can use in school, in relationships, at work, and in everyday life.

I also work with parents when it’s helpful, especially when anxiety has pulled families into cycles of reassurance or accommodation. Using approaches like SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions), I help families support independence and confidence rather than feeding the anxiety.

Before becoming a psychologist, I spent many years building and leading programs for children and families under extreme stress, including founding Jacob’s Heart Children’s Cancer Support Services and helping lead statewide efforts to expand care for seriously ill children. I’m a co-founder of the Center for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, where I provide coaching and consultation for teens, young adults, and families.

If you’re looking for support that’s practical, compassionate, and focused on helping you build a life that feels meaningful and manageable, you’re in the right place.