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TREATMENT APPROACH

​Therapeutic orientation is how a therapist conceptualizes an individual's presenting concerns and their approach towards helping the individual. My orientation is primarily in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). The simplest way of explaining this is to say that I examine how thoughts, emotions, and behaviors affect one another with an emphasis on increasing awareness of distorted thinking, validation of emotions, and behavior change. Many individuals try to cope with stress through avoidance of uncomfortable thoughts and emotions. In my work, I try to help individuals identify their values, change their relationship with thoughts, and work towards actions that take them more towards living life in accordance with their values.

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Other factors I consider in my approach include systems theories and schemas. Thus, I find it important to consider the influence of family and societal systems on our thoughts and behaviors, as well as how we view ourselves, others, and the world based on early life experiences.

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When working with an individual or a family, I emphasize a client centered approach, working to collaborate with the individual I am working with. I take a prescriptive approach to treatment, utilizing evidence-based treatments and interventions that have been found to be effective for specific diagnoses or presenting concerns. Some of the treatments I incorporate include Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Exposure with Response Prevention (ERP), Trauma-Focused CBT, Cognitive Processing Therapy, and Solution Focused Brief Therapy.

Therapeutic Orientation​​
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Specialties and Focus
I specialize in behavior management training, adolescent crisis management, substance use treatment, and trauma. Aside from my specialties, I also focus on several diagnoses and presenting concerns. Therapy can help individuals in a variety ways. Some individuals and youth simply need an outlet to process stress and life adjustments. Others may notice that they are affected by mental health conditions that may stem from early life experiences, genetics, psychosocial stressors, or limited coping resources. No matter the situation, therapy can help alleviate suffering, expand coping skills, improve interpersonal relationships, decrease conflict, increase general well-being, and reduce the impact of mental health conditions.
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The areas and diagnoses I work with generally include:
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  • School stress
  • Adjustment difficulties
  • Family stress
  • Interpersonal effectiveness
  • Emotional dysregulation
  • Adoption
  • Grief and Loss
  • Conflict
  • Anger Management
  • Social skills
  • Depression
  • Anxiety disorders
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
  • Trichotillomania
  • Behavior problems
  • ADHD
  • Trauma / PTSD
  • Substance use
Education & Training
Post-Doctoral Residency
Northwest Neurobehavioral Health – Boise, ID

​September 2014 – October 2015

 

  • Provided individual and family-based therapy to individuals and families within the community. Clients ranged in age from 4 - 50. Diagnoses and presenting concerns consisted of chemical dependency, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, trauma, disruptive behavior, OCD, Autism, trichotillomania, excoriation, ADHD, and parent-child relationship problems. Utilized CBT, ACT, MI, FBT, exposure with response prevention, and other evidence-based treatments.

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  • Provided comprehensive psychological assessments (psychodiagnostic, psychoeducational) and neuropsychological assessments for children, adolescents, and adults in the community presenting for concerns related to mood disorders, cognitive impairments, learning disorders, ADHD, PTSD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, in-utero drug exposure, head injury, and disruptive behavior.

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Pre-doctoral Internship (APA Accredited)
Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital – San Diego, CA
August 2013 – August 2014

 

  • Completed rotation in chemical dependency hospital specializing in medically supervised detoxification, residential treatment, and partial hospitalization services. Provided case management, family therapy, and group therapy. Consulted with treatment providers on use of Family Behavior Therapy in a residential / partial-hospitalization program.

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  • Completed rotation in Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) focusing on cognitive therapy for adults presenting with mood, anxiety, thought, and comorbid personality disorders.

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  • Completed rotation in a child and adolescent inpatient unit. Provided individual and group therapy to children/adolescents in an acute psychiatric inpatient hospital utilizing cognitive behavioral therapy.  Children/adolescents ranged in age from 4 – 17. Diagnoses and presenting concerns consisted of psychotic disorders, anxiety disorders, mood disorders, developmental disorder, suicidal ideation/ behavior, self-injurious behavior, and behavioral disorders.

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  • Completed neuropsychological screens and psychodiagnostic assessments and reports to determine educational and cognitive functioning, and socio-emotional development of patients across the life span. Provided consultation and work as part of a multi-disciplinary treatment team consisting of psychiatrists, social workers, RNs, and Mental Health Associates.

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University of Nevada, Las Vegas

August 2008 - August 2014

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  • Ph.D. Clinical Psychology (2014)

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  • M.A. Clinical Psychology (2011)

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  • Advisor: Brad Donohue, Ph.D.

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San Diego State University

August  2006 - May 2008

              

  • M.A. Psychological Science (2008)

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  • Advisor: Scott Roesch, Ph.D.

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