— Clinical specialty
Depression therapy
Do you feel sad or down for most of the day, nearly every day for an extended period of time? Do you sleep more or less than usual, or find it hard to get out of bed in the morning? Is it affecting your hobbies, school, or work? Have you had an underlying feeling of sadness, malaise, or loss of interest, or you can't seem to experience joy to its fullest extent?
If that sounds familiar, and you have been experiencing this and other related symptoms for at least 2 weeks, you may be a good candidate for therapy targeting depression.
My approach to depression
Depression is common. Among adults, 18 - 25 year olds are at the highest risk of experiencing Major Depressive Disorder in the past year, followed by 26 - 49 year-olds.1 But that doesn't mean that you have to just live with it, work around it, or only cope with it.
- Through a thorough and collaborative assessment, we will first figure out what depression looks like for you. Importantly, we will understand when your depression started, how it started, what contributes to it, and what exacerbates it.
- Help you connect the dots of key factors and experiences that initiated and are maintaining your depressive symptoms. This is important to target the roots of what you're experiencing, not just helping you cope with them.
- Together, come up with a treatment plan that will reduce or manage your depression. Possible modalities may include:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
- Compassion-Focused Therapy
- Solutions-focused therapy
Importantly, chronic depressive experiences are often related to unresolved adverse events, traumatic experiences, and other difficult struggles throughout one's lifetime. It is common to combine both the above therapy modalities with trauma-informed approaches for true resolution.
Expertise & training
Depression is one of my core specialties. I completed my doctorate in the UCSD/SDSU Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, followed by a clinical internship specializing in psychotherapy and cognitive/psychological assessments and a postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
I have worked in large hospital systems, small community clinics, inpatient units, outpatient clinics, Veterans Affairs hospitals, and specialty programs, with individuals across the age spectrum and with complex presentations. That background helps me sort out what is driving how you feel, and to address it methodically.
Reference
- 1. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2026). Key substance use and mental health indicators in the United States: Results from the 2025 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (HHS Publication No. PEP26-07-010, NSDUH Series H-61). Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt57150/2025-nsduh-annual-national-report.pdf
Every person has the right to happiness and fulfillment
Sometimes, we just need a little support, encouragement, empowerment, and accountability to reach our goals.
Take the first step
- There are evidence-based treatments for what you're experiencing.
- There is support to help you work towards the future you envision.
- There is hope and things can change.