Adults Therapists in Goleta, CA

The path to real change comes through understanding ourselves. When we understand who we are and how we came to be the way we are, we are much more likely to create fulfilling lives and relationships. In my private practice I work with individuals, couples, families, and adolescents. My intention is to provide high-quality and respectful therapy services to every client. I have a deep appreciation for the inner wisdom and growth potential of every individual and the ability to offer powerful insights and direct feedback to promote your personal development.

Are you HAPPY? In my 40 years in private practice I have found that most people just want to be HAPPY. Now more than ever I am think it is important to help people reclaim their happiness in these challenging times!

We offer confidential psychological counseling and assessment services to individuals, couples and families in the greater Santa Barbara area. Experienced counselors are here to help clients explore life transitions, relationship issues and a variety of concerns including anxiety, depression, grief and loss, trauma, abuse, compulsive behaviors, substance use, job loss and stress, aging, isolation and anger management. Many clients experience a 15% reduction in overall distress after only eight sessions. Counselors are ready and able to serve you. We will match your needs with the education and experience of our clinicians to find the best person to assist you.

If you are reading this, you have already begun the journey toward healing and self-discovery! My goal is to support your growth towards the person you desire to be, heal hurts from the past, and find peace in a sometimes chaotic and stress-filled world. I strive to make a safe space to listen and provide you with gentle guidance, professional interventions that may contribute to wellness, and empathy in a non-judgmental and supportive manner. Life is so short, aren't you worth the journey towards wellness and happiness?! I believe you are!

I work with individuals and couples in the areas of sex, relationships, sex addiction, and life transitions (divorce, empty nest, retirement). Relationships with others (partner, employer, siblings, friends, clients) are a central source of meaning and sometimes difficulty for us. I can work with you around relationship issues, including commitment, communication, sexuality, infidelity and healthy conflict. I'm also offering groups for women and couples wanting to unlock their sexual satisfaction.

Something upsetting happened. Whether it happened recently or years ago, it still bothers you today. It's hard to talk about. Thoughts about it pop into your head more than you want them to. Things that remind you of what happened make you feel upset, too. There is a feeling of constantly being on edge, like you can never truly relax. You would like to be able to move on and live your life in peace, but you have not been able to yet. There is a part of you that believes you might not have to feel this way. A part that believes therapy could help you feel better and find more peace in your life. That part of you is right.

I am currently only seeing clients I have worked with before as I will be starting a Sabbatical on May 1, 2024. If you have ever felt anxious, angry, depressed, lonely, unmotivated, or overwhelmed, you are not alone. Life can be stressful at times. We all need some guidance and support. My therapeutic style is dynamic, genuine, and —straightforward. I aim to help you learn practical solutions for growth and change by setting realistic goals, identifying unhealthy patterns, and understanding the underlying causes of your thoughts, feelings, and actions.

Finding the right therapist can be challenging. I listen deeply to my clients and work collaboratively to facilitate change. I bring a warm and intuitive approach to complement 20+ years of clinical experience, so you can expect to feel seen and heard while you open up to the therapeutic process. I utilize EMDR, CBT & DBT modalities to transform old beliefs that no longer serve you, and treat single incident trauma as well as complex trauma from childhood. I address the impact that neurodiversity has on individuals, couples & families. Autistic & ADHD clients' benefit and thrive from having this awareness in the therapy room.

Thank you for considering beginning psychotherapy with me. My Ph.D. is in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Depth Psychology. My training has allowed me to help people resolve problems where they have been otherwise unsuccessful. I have developed many innovative and evidence-based treatments that may be of interest to you or your loved ones.

If you are in the grips of anxiety, troubled relationships, grief, or other issues that threaten to overwhelm your ability to function or be happy in your life, I look forward to working with you in a safe and non-judgmental way. I use a collaborative approach and actively seek your feedback to provide you with therapy that matches your needs and respects your goals.

Balancing the demands of life, relationships, career, family, and the changes in the world around us can be challenging. Having someone who can provide a space to be heard, as well as paths to becoming our best selves as we balance these demands can be life-changing. My approach is to understand the needs of each client and provide a welcoming space where they feel safe and heard, while utilizing evidence-based psychotherapy practices to make changes that support greater happiness and life satisfaction for clients.

I practice a type of somatic therapy that helps people increase contact with their physical experience. Too often, we lose contact with our bodies through trauma or social conditioning. By working to develop somatic awareness, we can refine our emotional intelligence and thus our sense of self-agency: If you know what you feel at a gut level, you can be clearer in your discernment, and empowered to ask for and claim what you need in your life.

Therapy is not something I "do" to you; it is a collaboration and conversation we have together. I look forward to walking beside you as you access a place within that feels more like home. There is no one way to move toward healing. I use an emotionally-focused (EFT), humanistic and somatic understanding while keeping the very human need for attachment and relationship at the heart of our work together. Many clients feel and notice a shift toward increased authenticity, flow, ease and joy in their lives after working together. (Now accepting COUPLES).

Personal or relational suffering is often a call to look deeper into ourselves so that we can bring to light who we truly are. Diving into the depths of your pain takes courage, but it is there where your most authentic self can be discovered. I have a non-judgmental compassionate approach to all the different ways that life can be challenging. I am a Licensed Psychologist with over 15 years of experience assisting individuals in better understanding and accepting themselves so they can have more meaningful lives.

Could any part of your identity be in question? Are you on an exploration of yourself but are not quite sure how to start that journey? How often have you sat and thought about your personal values system, beliefs, or emotions in relation to better understanding the real you? When we meet ourselves with curiosity, we find that we actually begin to enjoy who we really are. I seek to help you meet that inner critic that is trying SO hard to prevent you from doing meaningful work in therapy. The inner critic is created from a fear of never being good enough and by feeling like you lack in areas where you should be sufficient.

Hablo Español! Are you struggling to reach your goals? Do you find yourself overthinking, stressing, falling into unhealthy habits, thinking about the past, or overwhelmed by life stressors affecting your day, relationships, work, school, or leading to legal trouble? We all encounter challenges in life, and we cope with them differently based on the resources we have or have learned. Let us explore these challenges and uncover the root so you can find ways to make better life choices, develop new habits, and manage symptoms of anxiety, depression, substance use, and trauma. Let us take control of what is in our power to change.

The world can be chaotic and messy and life's problems can leave you feeling lost and overwhelmed. I am passionate about guiding clients to find the strengths within themselves to persevere through these challenges. I understand that who you are, all intersecting parts of your identity, and the relationships in your life impact how you see and interact with the world. By taking these into account we can work together to understand what success looks like for you and how you can thrive. Our work together will be person-centered, trauma-informed, and collaborative because you are the expert in your own life.

Are you experiencing emotional pain that has become too amplified to sustain in silence? Perhaps the burdens you have been carrying for so long are finally too heavy to manage alone. Unresolved past experiences, loss, dysfunctional relationships, and negative self-criticism can hinder our ability to navigate the difficulties life throws our way. Let’s work together to create a therapeutic relationship built on hope and trust.

What gets in the way of you reaching your highest potential and or living your best life? Is it stress caused by work/ school, interpersonal relationships, family conflict, past trauma, anxiety, or even depression? Any of the above can impact your quality of life. Making the choice to seek support is the first step to improving your quality of life. As a therapist, I am dedicated to assist you in this process by providing a safe space, free of judgment where I can help you understand how your past and current behaviors, thoughts, and experiences impact your life.