What type of therapist am I?

I have a cognitive therapeutic orientation. This type of therapy focuses on interacting with the client, asking many questions, and helping the client to focus on the problems that are most problematic to him or her.

Generally, cognitive therapy is active and collaborative.  Cognitive approaches are based on the  idea that one's perceptions determine the reality he or she experiences. Much of the therapy includes looking at one's perceptions and changing them to be more adaptive, thus having feelings change as a result. Cognitive therapy has been proven to be highly effective with conditions such as depression, anxiety, phobias, panic attacks, relationship issues, addictions, stress, shyness, sexual dysfunctions, pain and health-related disorders, and many others.

I also incorporate aspects of humanistic and existential therapies. These types of therapy seek to understand the client both as an individual and as a member of the society in which he or she lives. The therapeutic relationship of the client and the therapist is also reflected upon.

Gay and sexuality affirming

I also believe in offering gay-affirming psychological services. This means that instead of viewing homosexuality, bisexuality, and other variations in sexual orientation as problems, the client's sexual identity is affirmed.  I also believe that consensual sexual and emotional relationships are an important part of a person's whole life and do not constitute a problem just because others disapprove.  I consider a person's sexuality important.   It is neither focused on as a problem, nor is it ignored.

Education

I received my doctorate (Ph.D.) in counseling psychology from The University of Houston, and did my internship training at The University of Texas at Austin, and a postdoctoral fellowship in clinical psychology with a specialty in Behavioral Medicine / HIV Mental Health Services from UCLA (Harbor-UCLA Medical Center). All of the above mentioned programs have been accredited by the American Psychological Association. I have also received a master’s degree (M.A.) in community/clinical psychology from the California State University, Northridge, and a bachelor’s degree (B.A.) from UCLA.  And, I completed a summer fellowship study in Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy at the Albert Ellis Institute.

Licensure and Registration

I am a licensed psychologist in the state of California (License #15781).  You may verify my license by clicking on the following link: California Board of Psychology License Verification.  

Also, I am listed in the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology (Registrant #44702).

Professional memberships

I hold memberships in the following: American Psychological Association, California Psychological Association, Los Angeles County Psychological Association,  Gay and Lesbian Medical Association, and Lesbian and Gay Psychotherapy Association of Southern California.

Other affiliations

I am currently the Director of Doctoral Training for the Southern California Counseling Center. 

I also teach courses in cognitive-behavioral therapy to graduate students in psychology at California Graduate Institute and Antioch Univeristy.

Past clinical and organizational experience

In addition to my current responsibilities and my clinical training at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and The University of Texas at Austin, I have worked in a wide variety of treatment settings.  

Before my current position, I was the Associate Director of Client Services at AIDS Project Los Angeles, where I managed the Mental Health Department, and supervised the management of Case Management Services, Residential Services, and Women's Services.  I also was the Clinical Supervisor for a cognitive-behavioral intervention research study at the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute Center for Community Health.  

I served as the Director of the Counseling Center and Adjunct Professor for Woodbury University.  I have also worked as a Clinical Supervisor for both L.A. Shanti and for Body Positive in Houston, both organizations provide peer-led support groups for people with HIV.  I also was a therapist and the program manager for a mental health education program for Montrose Counseling Center in Houston, Texas.   I have also worked for both the West Los Angeles and the Houston Department of Veterans Affairs Hospitals.  In Houston, I did neuropsychological assessments and was a therapist in the pain clinic.  In West Los Angeles, I was a therapist and research assistant in a special program that treated people who were abusing stimulants and also have schizophrenia.  I have also worked on several research projects at the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute.