Business Details
20 Years
experience
Your Trusted Mental Health Therapists in Santa Cruz
I am dedicated to helping individuals, couples, and families achieve greater satisfaction and emotional well-being through personalized therapeutic support. With over two decades of experience in social work and mental health, my practice focuses on addressing relationship challenges, trauma recovery, and co-parenting dynamics following separation or divorce. My approach integrates evidence-based methodologies like the Developmental Model of Couples Therapy and EMDR to foster personal growth and healthier connections. Having worked in diverse settings including child welfare, family court, and private practice since my licensure in 2006, I bring deep expertise in navigating complex emotional patterns.My services emphasize creating safe spaces for clients to explore vulnerabilities, break destructive cycles, and develop skills aligned with their core values. Specialized offerings for separated families include reconnection interventions and custody mediation, while EMDR therapy addresses trauma and anxiety through accelerated processing techniques. I maintain active professional memberships with organizations like the EMDR International Association and the Academy of Professional Family Mediators to ensure continued excellence in service delivery.
Services
Couples Therapy
EMDR Therapy
Co-Parenting Mediation
Family Systems Therapy
Trauma Recovery
Details
- Year established: 2006
Highlights and features
- We offer 20+ years of experience in mental health and family systems therapy
- Our practice integrates evidence-based EMDR and Developmental Model techniques
- Specialized services for post-divorce family reconnection and custody mediation
- Personalized treatment plans aligned with client values and emotional needs
- Active professional memberships with leading therapy and mediation organizations
Services
Couples Therapy
Specialized therapy using the Developmental Model to help couples navigate relationship stages from symbiosis to synergy. Addresses communication breakdowns, attachment patterns, and conflict resolution while fostering emotional intimacy and mutual growth. Designed for couples facing recurring arguments, emotional distance, or seeking deeper connection through structured therapeutic interventions.
EMDR Therapy
Evidence-based treatment for trauma, anxiety, and phobias using Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. Accelerates memory reprocessing through bilateral stimulation while maintaining client confidentiality. Specialized in attachment-focused EMDR for complex trauma and emotional blocks, with preparation phases ensuring client readiness before processing begins.
Co-Parenting Mediation
Conflict resolution service designing customized parenting agreements post-separation. Covers custody arrangements, holiday schedules, and extracurricular coordination while prioritizing children's well-being. Utilizes 16+ years of mediation expertise to create cost-effective, stress-reducing solutions that avoid court proceedings and foster cooperative parenting relationships.
Family Systems Therapy
Specialized intervention addressing parent-child contact issues in separated families. Combines systemic approaches with reconnection strategies to resolve resist/refuse dynamics. Focuses on repairing fractured relationships through structured therapeutic sessions that address intergenerational patterns and communication barriers within divorced family systems.
Trauma Recovery
Comprehensive trauma treatment using EMDR protocols for PTSD, anxiety, and chronic pain. Integrates mind-body connection techniques to reprocess fragmented traumatic memories. Offers alternative processing methods for clients with shame-based trauma who prefer not to disclose specific details during therapy sessions.
People
Not explicitly stated
Licensed Therapist
Licensed mental health professional with 20+ years of experience in couples therapy, EMDR, and family mediation. Specializes in relationship dynamics, trauma recovery, and post-divorce family systems interventions. Maintains active professional memberships and utilizes evidence-based practices to support client growth and emotional well-being.
Questions
What therapeutic approaches do you specialize in?
I specialize in the Developmental Model of Couples Therapy, EMDR for trauma recovery, and family systems interventions for post-divorce dynamics.
How does EMDR therapy work for trauma treatment?
EMDR uses bilateral stimulation to reprocess traumatic memories stored in the nervous system, reducing their emotional charge through accelerated processing techniques.
Do you accept insurance for therapy sessions?
I do not accept insurance directly but can provide a Super Bill for potential reimbursement through your insurance provider.
What services are available for separated families?
Specialized services include co-parenting mediation, custody evaluations, and family systems therapy to address parent-child contact challenges.
How long does couples therapy typically last?
Duration varies by couple, but the Developmental Model typically addresses relationship stages through structured sessions focusing on specific growth phases.
