About My Approach
I take a whole-person approach to psychiatry. My practice weaves together mindfulness-based strategies, a broad range of therapeutic modalities, and medication when appropriate—all tailored to support each person’s unique path to healing and wholeness. I am a board-certified adult psychiatrist, and I strive to offer care that is evidence-based, collaborative, and deeply respectful of your lived experience.
Education and Training
I earned my medical degree and completed my psychiatry residency at UCLA, where I was honored to receive the prestigious David Geffen Medical Scholarship, a full-ride merit-based award. Before that, I graduated summa cum laude from the University of Colorado with a strong foundation in the sciences. I am board-certified in Adult Psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN).
Before entering medicine, I trained and served as a U.S. Army combat medic attached to a bomb squad, caring for soldiers on the front lines in high-stakes, life-and-death situations—experiences that have shaped my steady, grounded presence in crisis and my deep commitment to trauma-informed, practical care.
My clinical experience spans a range of settings, including inpatient hospitalization, PHP/IOP, outpatient psychiatry, and street psychiatry, where I provide psychiatric care directly to unhoused individuals in shelters, on the streets, and in encampments. Working in these environments has taught me to literally meet people where they are—whether in moments of acute crisis or during long-term recovery—and has deepened my commitment to trauma-informed and community-rooted care.
In addition, I have pursued specialized certifications in couples and intimacy therapy (AACAST), perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (Seleni Institute), and perinatal loss and grief (Seleni Institute). I also hold Perinatal Mental Health Certification (PMH-C) through Postpartum Support International (PSI). I have completed additional training in reproductive psychiatry, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and OCD exposure therapy, allowing me to integrate multiple evidence-based approaches in a way that fits each individual’s needs.
Why I Do This Work
Before becoming a physician, I served as a combat medic in the Iraq War, where I witnessed firsthand the enduring impact of trauma, resilience, and the human spirit. Years later, I experienced the heartbreaking loss of my infant daughter — an event that profoundly reshaped my life and deepened my understanding of grief.
These experiences continue to inform my work, expanding my capacity to hold space for pain, vulnerability, and transformation. I believe that even our deepest wounds can become sources of strength, and that healing is always possible with the right support. If my approach resonates with you, I’d be honored to support you in this next chapter of your healing.
