Thanks for taking a moment to read about me and my approach to psychiatry. I am honored to do this work, and know that choosing a new provider is a serious and vulnerable undertaking.
During our initial meetings, I’ll want to know who you are and why you are coming to see me; what you find meaningful, when you feel nourished, and what a fulfilling life looks and feels like for you. We then decide what to do, considering the risks, benefits, and alternatives of different types of treatment, including psychotherapy and/or medication.
My approach to therapy is primarily psychodynamic and informed by psychoanalytic concepts. This means we work from your own life history, exploring relationships and patterns that contribute to your psychology. Our minds are part of our bodies, and so we may explore the connections between your physical experience and mental health. I’m also inspired by creative practices as a way to plumb and enliven the mind, and may integrate art, music, or story-telling practices when appropriate. Finally, I have training in multiple evidenced-based modalities (Emotionally Focused Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Interpersonal Therapy, etc.) that we can utilize as needed.
I work with individuals, couples, and groups, and have a special interest in trauma, personal and spiritual transition, gender and sexual minority experience, mood and anxiety disorders, chronic illness both physical and mental, relationships, and palliative psychiatry. I am able to provide consultation for gender alignment surgeries and end-of-life care.
I graduated from Duke University with a B.A. in Public Policy before working as a community organizer, criminal investigator, and dog walker. I later attended medical school at the UCSF – UC Berkeley Joint Medical Program where I received an MD and an MS in Health and Medical Sciences, and subsequently completed my psychiatry residency at UCSF with distinguished training in LGBTQ Psychiatry. In addition, I completed the Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Training Program at the San Francisco Psychoanalytic Institute. I’ve been honored to receive several awards for my clinical care, teaching, and writing.
