Hi, I’m angela.

I have been working with teens & families for over a decade.

I work with teens, college aged students, & parents with children of any age who are experiencing depression, anxiety, perfectionism, stress, and/or trauma. I understand that parents are the most influential people in a child’s life and that parenting is the hardest job there is. Therefore, I work with whole families, and often only the parents, to support the family in improving their connection, communication, getting their individual needs met, and providing each other with emotional support.

My Approach

Therapy with me always starts with getting to know one another in a compassionate, non-judgmental way so we can build a trusting relationship in order to grow and heal.

I use person-centered and family systems approaches combined with mindfulness and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) skills. I have been trained in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TFCBT), CBT, meditation & yoga mindfulness-based approaches, sand tray, and Motivational Interviewing. 

I recognize the effect intergenerational trauma and chronic stress can have and am committed to supporting children and adults to break the cycles from their past. This is something I am committed to on personal, professional, and societal levels. While it can be scary to talk about past traumas and stressors, once we are able to face and overcome our fears and learn new ways of coping, a great weight lifts and we are able to better enjoy our lives, families, and create healthier communities. 

In my free time I like to spend time with my family, read, do yoga, garden, hike, bike, volunteer, and coach kids’ soccer. I am constantly learning about childhood development, parenting, mental health, neuroscience, and social justice issues.

My professional experience

I have my MA in Counseling Psychology from Santa Clara University and completed my BA in Psychology at Clark University in Massachusetts. I started my psychology career in 2006 working in group homes for children with acute behavioral & emotional needs. Since then I have worked as a case manager for teenage foster youth in group homes, & provided therapy to children, teens, parents, and families. I have worked with children and youth across diverse ethnic backgrounds, socioeconomic statuses, sexual orientations, & genders.

I am licensed in California and Oregon.

specialties

  • Teens

  • Young Adults

  • Parents of children of any age

  • Children (not currently seeing children)

  • LGBTQ+ community

  • Gender nonconformity

  • Divorce

  • Coparenting

  • Trauma

  • Depression

  • Anxiety

  • Perfectionism

  • Generational Trauma

  • ADHD

  • Parenting

  • Chronic Stress

  • Alcoholic Family Systems

  • Social Justice Issues

  • Environmental Anxiety

  • Mindfulness

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

  • Foster care

  • Play Therapy

  • Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

My bio

I grew up in a working class family in central Massachusetts. After graduating college I moved across the country to San Jose, California where I lived for 15 years and started my career and family. In 2022 I moved to Salem, Oregon where I hope to stay long-term to raise my children and immerse myself in the local community. 

I have lived experiences with anxiety, depression, chronic stress, perfectionism, trauma, divorce, and coparenting. My own struggles and healing journey has helped me build connections with my clients and support them in paving their own path toward healing. 

I have two great kids who challenge me to be a better version of myself and a parent every day. I understand first hand just how challenging (yet rewarding) parenting can be and treat every family I work with with compassion. 

In my free time I like to spend time with my kids, read, listen to music, do yoga, garden, hike, bike, and camp. I love to learn and am constantly seeking information on childhood development, parenting, mental health, mindfulness, neuroscience, and social justice issues.