About Me
Licenses
Licensed Psychologist, Hawaii
Licensed Psychologist, Oregon
Education
Doctor of Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Hawaii School of Professional Psychology (APA-Accredited), 2008
Master of Arts, Clinical Psychology, Hawaii School of Professional Psychology, 2005
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, University of Puget Sound, 2001
Experience
Psychotherapist, Kaiser Permanente Hawaii, 5 years
Independent Practice, Honolulu, Hawaii, 7 years
Independent Practice, Portland, Oregon, 3 years
Selected Trainings
Emotion-Focused Therapy, Level One, by Les Greenberg, Ph.D., and Serine Warwar, Ph.D., 2014
Emotion-Focused Therapy, Level Two, by Les Greenberg, Ph.D. and Serine Warwar, Ph.D., 2015
Emotionally-Focused Therapy Externship by Rebecca Jorgensen, Ph.D., 2016
Emotionally-Focused Therapy Core Skills Level One by Rebecca Jorgensen, Ph.D., 2017
Self-Compassion: Why Does It Matter? by Chris Germer, Ph.D., 2019
Emotionally-Focused Individual Therapy by Sue Johnson, Ed.D., 2000
Guiding Principles
Transparency: I make it a priority to share openly about the therapy process, explain why we’re doing what we do, and keep you informed every step of the way — so we can work together and make decisions as partners in your growth.
Emotion-Focused Work: I help you connect with, clarify, and make sense of your emotions as a guide for understanding yourself and creating meaningful change.
Present, Process-Oriented Approach: We pay attention to your present experience, exploring what’s happening inside you moment-by-moment so that growth happens in a way that is most relevant to you.
Adjusting to Readiness: We plan to move at a pace that feels safe and manageable, honoring your readiness to process change without pressure or judgment.
Validation & Empathy: I aim to provide a supportive, non-judgmental environment where your feelings are acknowledged, understood, and respected.
Self-Compassion: Together, we work to cultivate a kinder, gentler relationship with yourself, reducing self-criticism and building inner resilience.
Trauma-Informed Care: I approach therapy with awareness of how trauma can affect emotions, relationships, and behavior, prioritizing safety, choice, and collaboration in every session.
We may be a good fit if:
You are looking for a space to be honest, open, and emotionally curious in therapy.
You value cultivating greater internal understanding, and are committed to consistent weekly sessions.
Feel generally emotionally steady and are ready to explore and process your emotions more deeply.
We may not be a good fit if:
You would benefit from a more directive or structured approach rather than a process-oriented, emotionally activating, exploratory style of therapy.
You prefer weekly in-person visits and do not wish to receive any services via telehealth.
Everyone’s needs are different, and finding the right type of support is an important step — I’m happy to help you consider next steps or connect you with resources or a therapist better suited to your current needs.
