Trauma-informed care and the therapeutic relationship
It is vitally important in any therapeutic relationship or supervision experience that there be an atmosphere of respect and acceptance and that you feel seen and heard without judgment or shame. This is exponentially increased for trauma work. My goal is to create this type of relationship, regularly checking in to ensure you feel safe and if our work is meeting your goals and challenging you to grow in the ways that are important to you.
I approach the therapeutic relationship as one of equals; because trauma invalidates who we are as humans and involves power differentials, I strive to be mindful, respectful, and curious about who you are as a person and bring my own humanness to the relationship, as a genuine equal. I am cisgender (she/her/hers) het biracial (Japanese and White) woman of color who is the daughter of an immigrant. I can be wrong. I make mistakes. I am an advocate for social justice. I swear... a lot. I deeply care about people and I am committed to living my life according to my values (and those values might differ from yours). I say all of this because if you trust me to know you, then you should know me as well.
I approach the therapeutic relationship as one of equals; because trauma invalidates who we are as humans and involves power differentials, I strive to be mindful, respectful, and curious about who you are as a person and bring my own humanness to the relationship, as a genuine equal. I am cisgender (she/her/hers) het biracial (Japanese and White) woman of color who is the daughter of an immigrant. I can be wrong. I make mistakes. I am an advocate for social justice. I swear... a lot. I deeply care about people and I am committed to living my life according to my values (and those values might differ from yours). I say all of this because if you trust me to know you, then you should know me as well.
My Background and Experience
Education and Training:
I attended Pepperdine University for my masters (with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy) and doctoral (in Clinical Psychology) degrees. During graduate school I worked at the Pepperdine University Outpatient Clinic, the Union Rescue Mission Homeless Shelter, Los Angeles County + University of Southern California (LAC+USC) Neuropsychological Institute, Los Angeles Job Corps, and the Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Ambulatory Care Center. My internship was completed at the Washington DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) and I completed a postdoctoral fellowship with a specialization of PTSD assessment, treatment, and research at the Salem, VA VAMC.
Work Experience:
After becoming licensed in 2010, I fulfilled a dream and moved overseas to work at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LRMC) in Germany for the Department of Defense. There I treated active duty service members from all branches, dependents, and civilians. I then spent 2 years at the Tampa VAMC in the Women's Outpatient Clinic before taking a position in the Trauma Services Program at the Washington DC VAMC where I served as the Unit Training Coordinator (UTC) and where I also built and ran a comprehensive Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Clinical Service.
Populations:
I have been privileged to work with a diverse range of clients with different identity statuses. Among others, I have specialty experience working with those with complex PTSD, intergenerational trauma, medical trauma, infertility trauma, birth trauma, war/combat experience and other military-related traumas, sexual assaults, interpersonal violence, race-based stress and trauma, as well as trauma that develops from being an individual with a minoritized status(es) in this culture, and those whose trauma stems from their professions, such as journalists or those in the helping professions.
Journalist Trauma Support Network (JTSN) Member
I was part of the first cohort of JTSN, where I was lucky enough to complete training on cultural competency for treating trauma-impacted journalists (March-October 2021), provided by the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma (JTSN), a project of the Columbia Journalism School. Training consisted of 8 hours of interactive workshop training, 9 hours of facilitated Peer Learning Group, and a case with academic presentation, while carrying two journalist-client cases. Awarded certificate of training and inclusion in U.S. JTSN Directory.
Telehealth Experience:
I have been trained in delivering counseling and other services via telehealth including web-based training and work experience and have used telehealth since 2014. I was daunted when I first began providing telehealth, thinking it would not be the same as meeting with someone in-person. However, I quickly learned that the therapeutic and supervisory/consultative relationship can be deep and meaningful regardless of the modality used.
I attended Pepperdine University for my masters (with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy) and doctoral (in Clinical Psychology) degrees. During graduate school I worked at the Pepperdine University Outpatient Clinic, the Union Rescue Mission Homeless Shelter, Los Angeles County + University of Southern California (LAC+USC) Neuropsychological Institute, Los Angeles Job Corps, and the Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Ambulatory Care Center. My internship was completed at the Washington DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) and I completed a postdoctoral fellowship with a specialization of PTSD assessment, treatment, and research at the Salem, VA VAMC.
Work Experience:
After becoming licensed in 2010, I fulfilled a dream and moved overseas to work at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LRMC) in Germany for the Department of Defense. There I treated active duty service members from all branches, dependents, and civilians. I then spent 2 years at the Tampa VAMC in the Women's Outpatient Clinic before taking a position in the Trauma Services Program at the Washington DC VAMC where I served as the Unit Training Coordinator (UTC) and where I also built and ran a comprehensive Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Clinical Service.
Populations:
I have been privileged to work with a diverse range of clients with different identity statuses. Among others, I have specialty experience working with those with complex PTSD, intergenerational trauma, medical trauma, infertility trauma, birth trauma, war/combat experience and other military-related traumas, sexual assaults, interpersonal violence, race-based stress and trauma, as well as trauma that develops from being an individual with a minoritized status(es) in this culture, and those whose trauma stems from their professions, such as journalists or those in the helping professions.
Journalist Trauma Support Network (JTSN) Member
I was part of the first cohort of JTSN, where I was lucky enough to complete training on cultural competency for treating trauma-impacted journalists (March-October 2021), provided by the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma (JTSN), a project of the Columbia Journalism School. Training consisted of 8 hours of interactive workshop training, 9 hours of facilitated Peer Learning Group, and a case with academic presentation, while carrying two journalist-client cases. Awarded certificate of training and inclusion in U.S. JTSN Directory.
Telehealth Experience:
I have been trained in delivering counseling and other services via telehealth including web-based training and work experience and have used telehealth since 2014. I was daunted when I first began providing telehealth, thinking it would not be the same as meeting with someone in-person. However, I quickly learned that the therapeutic and supervisory/consultative relationship can be deep and meaningful regardless of the modality used.
TherapyAs a specialist in the field of PTSD treatment, I have extensive experience with the following treatments:
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Supervision & ConsultationI offer clinical supervision for generalist and trauma-focused clinicians and consultation for clinicians interested in better understanding their patients or who are seeking to implement evidence-based treatments for PTSD. I approach supervision from a feminist and trauma-informed framework.
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Speaking & TrainingAs a clinician, researcher, and program developer I have had opportunities to speak in different settings and venues as well as on different topics.
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