Therapy for burnout, trauma, and
the emotional weight
of change in SF Bay Area
When you know something needs
to change, but it’s hard to name
What would shift if you had space to say the things you don’t usually say?
This is a room to slow down when life feels overwhelming. You can put words to experiences that have been weighing on you, knowing you don't have to carry them alone anymore. I provide individual therapy throughout the Bay Area (and online throughout California) for people moving through difficult chapters: burnout, loss, major life changes, or trauma that's shaped how you see the world.
Whether you're navigating grief, exhaustion, a big life shift, or something you can't quite name yet, we’ll work at whatever rhythm suits you, with honesty, care, and a steady sense of connection.
Together, we’ll look at what's been troubling you: pain that lingers, roles that no longer fit, patterns that keep repeating. Our work is grounded in depth and relationship, while staying connected to your current reality.
I draw from several approaches and adapt them to your unique experience, whether you're seeking deeper understanding, emotional relief, or practical support:
Psychodynamic and relational therapy
This work is rooted in the idea that past relationships - especially early ones - shape how you relate to yourself and others now. Together, we explore patterns, attachment dynamics, and unspoken emotional expectations that may be playing out in your present life. Making these patterns more conscious creates space for greater choice, freedom, and self-compassion.EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
EMDR is a structured, evidence-based method for processing trauma, grief, and emotionally overwhelming experiences. It helps the nervous system “digest” memories that feel stuck or unresolved, not only by talking about them, but by using bilateral stimulation (such as eye movements or tapping) to support emotional integration. Clients often find it helpful when something feels too big, too vague, or too buried for words alone.Integrative work
Alongside depth work, I incorporate practical, present-focused tools when needed. This includes client-centered therapy, somatic awareness, and evidence-based techniques from CBT and DBT, all aimed at supporting emotional regulation, greater insight, and meaningful change in daily life.Recovery-informed therapy
When alcohol or substances have been a way to cope with trauma, stress, or feeling between worlds, but you're ready to explore other ways of managing difficult emotions and improve your life and relationships in general. This work integrates motivational interviewing, solution-focused therapy, and trauma-informed care. I often integrate EMDR when substance use is connected to unprocessed trauma.
This approach works well for those seeking addiction therapy, alcohol counseling, or substance use treatment in a non-judgmental, holistic setting.
You don’t need to arrive with the right words or a full understanding of what’s wrong. Curiosity, honesty, and a wish for something to shift are enough to begin.
What does it actually look like to begin therapy? Here's what to expect.
How therapy works
We start with a free 15-20-minute consultation.
This is a low-pressure space to talk about what’s bringing you in, ask questions, and get a sense of whether working together feels like the right fit. It’s not an interview, just a place to begin.
If we decide to move forward, we will schedule two initial 50-minute sessions (or one 90-minute session ) for intake.
These sessions give us a fuller picture of your history, current challenges, and what you're hoping to gain from therapy. I use a combination of open conversation, structured clinical questions, and, when helpful, diagnostic tools or questionnaires. While the process includes a clear clinical frame, it’s also a space for you to speak freely and for both of us to begin listening together to what’s been hard, what’s missing, and what might be possible.
Ongoing sessions are typically once a week.
Meeting weekly creates the continuity and emotional safety needed for meaningful therapeutic work. It allows us to stay closely attuned to what’s unfolding, not just the big moments, but the subtle shifts and recurring patterns that often hold the most meaning.
Weekly therapy helps build trust in the relationship itself, which is often part of the healing. It also keeps us connected to your day-to-day life, so the work remains both reflective and relevant. Some people arrive with a specific issue in mind. Others come with a vague but persistent sense that something isn’t working, or something inside them wants more space or clarity. Either way, the rhythm of weekly therapy helps us stay engaged with what matters.
The pace and direction of therapy are shaped by your needs and what we come to understand together.
If we’re working psychodynamically or relationally, we may spend time exploring recurring patterns, relationship dynamics, attachment themes, and the emotional tone that lives beneath your daily experience.
If EMDR is part of our work, sessions are more structured and focused on specific memories, emotional triggers, or symptoms. We move through phases of preparation, memory processing, and integration, constantly pacing in a way that feels safe and grounded.
If you’re drawn to an integrative approach, we might blend reflective conversation with practical tools like emotion regulation strategies, boundary work, or somatic awareness, depending on what’s most supportive. Whatever the path, the emotional depth of the work remains central.
There’s no fixed timeline for therapy.
Some people work through a specific issue in a few months. Others stay longer, using therapy as an ongoing space to reflect, stay grounded, and explore what’s emerging in their lives. We’ll check in regularly to see what’s shifting, what still feels unresolved, and whether the work continues to feel useful and alive.
And when it’s time to end, we’ll end thoughtfully.
We’ll talk about it together — not suddenly, but intentionally. Closure is part of the work, too.