OUR STAFF

• Therapists are post-Master's degree, registered interns. We offer a variety of therapeutic approaches and a diversity of backgrounds.
  
  
• Our experienced staff provides both brief and long-term psychotherapy and counseling.
  
  
• You may continue working with your therapist when she or he becomes licensed and makes a transition to private practice.

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We are all continuously unfolding towards greater wholeness, a process that can be experienced and impeded in a variety of ways. As such, I consider myself a witness and a willing participant in facilitating this process. In particular, developing one's awareness of both those impediments and the strengths inherent to each of us can unleash joy and liveliness that brings more meaning to our lives. I consider the mind-body connection as the primary vehicle for such an endeavor.

I integrate a variety of modalities, including Somatic Psychotherapy, Psychodynamic Theory, Gestalt, Internal Family Systems, Jungian Psychology, Buddhist principles, and Shamanism. Doing so, I provide a safe and compassionate space to help illuminate both old patterns and one's internal resources. These resources serve as anchors in each present moment as we relate to both the world and to ourselves.

I specialize in working with the following issues: Depression and Anxiety, Self Esteem, Anger Management, Sexuality, Emotional Impact of Physical Pain, Relationship Building and Life Transitions.

My Masters degree is in Counseling Psychology from California Institute of Integral Studies. I have also completed the two-year Comprehensive Training in Hakomi Body-Oriented Psychotherapy as well as several other somatic systems. I work with adults, children, couples and families.

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My approach to therapy emphasizes self-empowerment and insight to help a person move towards a more integral, meaningful and gratifying life. It is with passion and kindness that I witness the healing transformation a person goes through in the therapeutic relationship. Originally from Brazil, I speak English, Spanish, and Portuguese and have a number of clients who speak these different languages.

Two theories permeate my work as a psychotherapist: the Integral theory of Ken Wilber and Hakomi work. I integrate into my work the physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual parts of the self (Integral) in a mindfulness-based, experiential, and body-centered way (Hakomi). I also use different therapeutic frameworks according to the person's needs ranging from Cognitive Behavioral, Solution Focused, Family Systems, Narrative, and Self Psychology. A special area of interest includes working with trauma using EMDR and inner child healing not as pure techniques but more as integrated adjuncts to the therapy. I also include dreams as an important element in therapy. I listen carefully to the wisdom of the psyche through dreams and use them as a compass to the therapeutic process.

Another important part of my work is couples' counseling - I love working with couples - the synergetic power of love and human connection that transforms miscommunication into care and mutual respect amazes me. I work with couples from different multicultural backgrounds and different sexual orientations. My many years of teaching child development to teachers, and my own experience of having raised a daughter who is now twenty years-old, have given me valuable experience in human development and parenting skills that contribute to my success as a therapist. Furthermore, I love dogs, music, nature, colors, and art. I like to be creative, playful and have fun. Growth for me comes from a balanced combination of challenge and support.

Academically, I have a MA in Developmental Psychology from the University of Brasilia (UnB). In 1998 I moved to the USA and pursued a MA in Transpersonal Psychology at JFK University because I wanted to integrate the spiritual part of human beings into my work as a psychotherapist. Currently, I am a second year doctorate candidate at the Clinical Psy.D. Program at Argosy University and I am also doing my practicum working with families at Pinole Family Institute.
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I believe in the infinite potential, healing capacity, and empowerment of each individual and know that it is possible for each of us to live from a place of essence, aliveness, richness, and self-empowerment. It is from this stance that I approach psychotherapy.

My work with clients ranges from those who want healing and support around specific issues and behaviors, to those engaged with their life-long journeys of self discovery. Regardless, we work compassionately and collaboratively to heal old wounds, discover and transform self limiting beliefs, patterns, and identities, and become more of who we really are and want to be.

I work using a variety of modalities: psychodynamic, transpersonal, and somatic, depending on clients' individual needs. The specific nature of my work includes different forms of psychodynamic psychotherapy, Hakomi (body oriented psychotherapy), Jungian, cognitive behavioral, DOBT (Depth Oriented Brief Psychotherapy), EMDR and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy. As a Registered Addictions Specialist, I work with addiction and recovery in its different manifestations and forms, using both abstinence and harm reduction models. I am originally from South Africa and have been in the United States for seven years.