Education & Professional Experience
My professional journey has been centered on helping people grow, learn, and thrive. Before becoming a therapist, I spent more than fifteen years as an educator, an experience that deepened my understanding of child development, family dynamics, and the unique challenges people face throughout life’s different stages.
I earned my bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies with a Teaching Credential from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly). Later, I completed a Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy at California State University, Fullerton, where I pursued my passion for helping individuals, couples, and families experience healing and lasting change.
Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of working in a variety of educational and counseling settings. My teaching experience includes elementary education, parent-child classes through the Capistrano Unified School District, preschool education, and outdoor education programs throughout Orange County.
As a therapist, I have worked with Living Success in Costa Mesa, Amparo Preschool in Oceanside, and Hope, Care and Counseling in San Clemente before establishing my private practice in San Clemente.
These experiences have given me the opportunity to work with people from diverse backgrounds and at many different stages of life. Whether you are navigating a difficult season, strengthening your relationships, processing grief, or working through past experiences, my goal is to provide compassionate, personalized care that helps you move toward healing, growth, and hope.
The Life Experiences That Continue to Shape My Counseling
A personal journey that deepened my understanding, compassion, and commitment to helping others heal.
As a wife of more than 45 years, a mother of two adult children, and a grandmother, I’ve experienced many of life’s greatest joys as well as its unexpected challenges. Those experiences have given me a deeper appreciation for the complexities of relationships, family life, and the resilience of the human spirit.
One of the most significant experiences in my own life was my relationship with my father. He was a devoted provider for our family, but emotionally distant. As his daughter, I longed for a closer connection with him. I often found small ways to spend time with him, hoping simply to be near him.
When I was eighteen, my father was diagnosed with cancer. During the final year of his life, we grew closer than we had ever been before. That time together became an unexpected gift, but his death also brought profound grief and loss. Looking back, I didn’t fully understand how deeply that relationship—and that loss—would influence my future relationships and my understanding of myself.
Seeking counseling during that season became a turning point in my life. Having a compassionate therapist who provided a safe place to process my grief, anger, and sadness helped me find healing, renewed hope, and a clearer understanding of myself and my relationships.
That personal experience continues to influence the way I practice today. I know how vulnerable it can feel to ask for help, and I know firsthand that healing is possible. My desire is to offer the same compassionate presence, acceptance, and hope that was so meaningful to me.
Whether you’re navigating grief, relationship challenges, life transitions, anxiety, or simply feeling stuck, you don’t have to face it alone. It is a privilege to walk alongside my clients as they discover healing, renewed strength, and a greater sense of purpose and hope