My passion and motivation for becoming the best child therapist I can be, come from a single moment I experienced during an internship at an amazing play therapy center. One day, when I was performing my regular duties, one of the kids came in super high. This was not some teenager making questionable decisions. They were a three-year-old child completely intoxicated off weed. To this day, I clearly remember how inexplicably shocked and disgusted I felt. From that moment forward, I knew I wanted to be involved in helping children from broken homes.

Since then, I have had the privilege of working with troubled adolescents. In my last job before starting my private practice, I worked at Boy’s Republic, counseling boys ages 12 to 19 involved with gangs, heavy drugs, and jail or prison time. Because of my hardened experience, I have full confidence that I am equipped with the knowledge and skills to work with children and parents from any background or circumstance.

Many of the teenagers I work with feel like their parents have given up on them. I want to help parents and their children realize that despite how strained their relationship may be, it is still salvageable. All it takes is the willingness to sit down and work through it with a professional who can provide you with the proper tools and guidance.

Outside of my work, I like to hike anywhere from Big Bear in LA’s backyard to the Sierras. Pre-covid, I enjoyed deep-sea fishing and longboarding at the beach. I am also particularly skilled at besting my teenaged clients in Connect Four.

• Bachelors in Psychology, December 2011 — Baylor University
• Master of Science in Counseling, Summer 2015 — California Baptist University