About Me 

I am a bilingual/bicultural clinical-scientist and licensed clinical psychologist with over 15 years of experience as a therapist, coach, educator, researcher, and consultant.

I earned my Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Prior to this I earned a Master of Public Policy and Administration degree from Northwestern University, where I focused on Mental Health Services and Policy. I had the privilege of furthering my clinical training in evidence-based practice within the Veteran Healthcare System. I completed my clinical psychology internship at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA where I honed my skills in trauma work (Cognitive Processing Therapy) and mindfulness and acceptance-based interventions (Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy). I then completed a clinical psychology residency at the Oklahoma City VA specializing in relationship/couples and family mental health, where I received advanced training in Integrative Behavioral Couples Therapy (IBCT) and Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT).  In addition, I have training in Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), CBT for Psychosis, and CBT for Insomnia.  I am a former college professor and have worked in community mental health.

I identify as an intersectional feminist.  To me, this means that the work of building a genuinely diverse, equitable, and inclusive society is never complete—and that it likely will not be in our lifetime.  Nevertheless, I believe it an ethical responsibility for clinical psychologists to keep striving for cultural pluralism.  I think that multicultural competency and cultural humility are lifelong processes, and that continuing education is vital to compassionate awareness of one’s biases.  I encourage potential clients to run away from therapists who deem themselves “truly” or fully multiculturally competent or humble.

I believe that to be human is to be biased, and that a purpose of psychotherapy is to build greater awareness of the biases that impede our happiness. I also view psychotherapy as a journey where—at least in the beginning—I help lead. Ultimately my goal is to get you to become your own therapist. I do this, in part, by sharing with you my clinical-science expertise; I deliberately invest in my self-growth so that I can be a better therapist for you. Together we translate the relevant research into your life in a meaningful, uniquely tailored way.

I am available for supervision and consultation on issues related to couples/family intervention, evidence-based or empirically-supported mental health treatments, veteran and service members mental health, LGBTQ+ health disparities & wellbeing, mindfulness and acceptance-based interventions, (general) minority stress and resiliency, psychopathology versus positive mental health, and the provision of psychological services in Spanish.