When depression has been present for a long time, it can begin to shape how you experience yourself and your relationships. You may notice yourself pulling back from others, expecting criticism, or feeling discouraged when life doesn’t improve despite your real efforts. Over time this can create a sense of disconnection or isolation.

In my work with persistent depression, I use an evidence-based treatment called Cognitive Behavioral Analysis System of Psychotherapy (CBASP). CBASP focuses on how long-standing interpersonal patterns develop and how those patterns continue to influence present-day relationships and emotions. Often these patterns made sense at one point in your life, even if they are no longer helping now.

In therapy, we look closely at real situations from your life — such as a conversation that left you wondering what just happened, a moment when someone’s reaction caught you off guard, or an evening afterward when the interaction kept replaying.

Together, we slow those moments down and work to understand what happened, what you expected, and how you responded. From there, we begin experimenting with new ways of responding — often leading to more satisfying and effective outcomes in relationships and daily life.

I also work with burnout — a sense of depletion, overextension, or disconnection from meaning, particularly in high-pressure or high-performing environments. In this work, I draw from approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which focus on reconnecting with what matters to you while developing more flexible ways of responding to stress and internal experiences.

CBASP is a well-researched treatment for persistent depression and is recognized by the American Psychological Association as having strong evidence for its effectiveness. Research suggests it can be as effective as medication, with the strongest outcomes when therapy and medication are combined. Research on ACT also supports its effectiveness for stress and burnout-related difficulties.

I received advanced training in CBASP and ACT during my doctoral training in clinical psychology at UCLA, including intensive supervision with detailed review of recorded sessions (with client consent).

Couples often reach out for therapy after struggling with the same painful patterns for a long time. You may have tried many ways of explaining, fixing, or avoiding the problem, yet the same arguments or misunderstandings keep returning. Over time, this can become exhausting, leaving both of you feeling discouraged and unsure how to move forward together.

In my work with couples, I use an evidence-based approach called Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT). IBCT focuses on understanding the deeper dynamics that shape how partners respond to one another — how personality differences, external stressors, sensitivities, and ways of communicating come together in everyday moments around core issues.

In therapy, we slow these moments down and look at them together. We work to understand what each person was hoping for, what they were protecting, and how the interaction unfolded. As these layers become clearer, partners often begin to see each other with greater empathy and perspective.

From there, we begin experimenting with different ways of responding. Small shifts can gradually open new possibilities in the relationship. Over time, many couples move out of cycles of blame or withdrawal and toward greater understanding and collaboration.

IBCT is one of the most carefully studied forms of couples therapy. Research, including large randomized clinical trials, shows that IBCT improves relationship satisfaction, emotional closeness, communication, and individual well-being, with effects that can last for several years.

My training in IBCT included a two-year practicum with intensive supervision from one of the model’s co-developers, Dr. Andrew Christensen, during my doctoral studies in clinical psychology at UCLA.

Support for infertility, adoption, early parenting, and children’s emotional development.

The path to forming or growing a family is often imagined as joyful and straightforward. In reality, it can be far more complex. Experiences such as infertility, pregnancy loss, postpartum adjustment, adoption, and early parenting often bring uncertainty, grief, and meaningful shifts in identity. You may find yourself trying to make sense of experiences that feel difficult to name or share.

Parenting can also raise questions about how best to support a child’s emotional and behavioral development — especially when a child struggles with regulation, attention, or developmental differences. Many parents want to respond thoughtfully to their child, but it’s not always clear what will help in the moment.

Often, our work begins by collaboratively making sense of what a child may be communicating through their behavior and emotional responses. From there, we consider how to respond in ways that strengthen connection and support the child’s development within everyday interactions.

My work is grounded in attachment- and relationship-based approaches. I use evidence-based models including Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP), Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), and Adoption-Specific Therapy (ADAPT), typically anchoring treatment in one primary approach based on each family’s clinical presentation and developmental context.

Depending on what a family is facing, therapy may also incorporate Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to support coping with stress, uncertainty, and identity shifts.

When helpful, I collaborate with medical providers — including OB-GYNs, fertility specialists, psychiatrists, and pediatricians — to support coordinated care.

My work in this area is informed by a two-year postdoctoral fellowship in infant and early childhood mental health at UCLA TIES for Families. I am certified in PCIT and completed the UCLA–LA County Department of Mental Health Early Childhood Fellowship, and I am completing certification in CPP (expected April 2026). My training in Adoption-Specific Therapy (ADAPT) included direct instruction from one of its developers, Dr. Jill Waterman.