Hello.
Thank you for stopping by. You may be curious about whether or not we'd be a good therapeutic fit. Therapy is a vulnerable adventure and I welcome your courage and curiosity.
I grew up in Los Angeles within a chaotic, blended family system, which put me on a path of self destruction. I didn't know any better. I just knew what was happening didn't feel good and moved to the Bay Area in my 20s hoping it would help me find peace. Life was one restless transition after another until I got sober in my late-30s and began to sit with myself and process my history. I have done and continue to do my own work in therapy, which has been an incredible gift. Through this process, I better understand my internal landscape and have more agency, empathy, and compassion for myself and others.
Over the years I've met very capable, well-informed people seeking collaboration for change and had the privilege of being their witness and guide. My baseline for what’s normal is broad because of my history and growth, and I'm open to different values, beliefs, and perceptions of self. Some of my core values are humor, creativity, equity, equality, acceptance, and genuineness. I’m aware of marginalized communities and the disastrous impacts of Western culture - specifically capitalism - on the human experience.
There is a lot of room for growth in a safe relationship that can get to the root of intimate suffering. When we meet, I'm learning about you and the path you're traveling. My intention is to connect and be of service in the best way I can.
I live in the Bay Area with my husband and our playful Schnauzer, both of whom are my best teachers. Feel free to reach out if you have questions or would like to schedule an appointment. I look forward to connecting with you.
Hillary
Sonoma Coast
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"Life can only be understood backwards,
but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard |
Education and Training
I graduated from the University of San Francisco with a Master's in Counseling Psychology in 2006. I then interned for 6 years and obtained my state license in 2012. I worked at the following agencies during my interning: Haight Ashbury Free Clinics, Health Right 360 / Walden House, The Liberation Institute, and SF Department of Public Health EAP. My academic background is primarily in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with additional training and education in the following:
I graduated from the University of San Francisco with a Master's in Counseling Psychology in 2006. I then interned for 6 years and obtained my state license in 2012. I worked at the following agencies during my interning: Haight Ashbury Free Clinics, Health Right 360 / Walden House, The Liberation Institute, and SF Department of Public Health EAP. My academic background is primarily in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with additional training and education in the following:
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy: Treats mood disorders and changes unhelpful behavioral patterns such as suicidality, substance abuse and interpersonal difficulty. This is not a replacement for DBT treatment. Although I incorporate DBT skills into my practice, DBT treatment is best done in group format with a team of therapists and peers. There are a number of wonderful resources like the Oakland DBT Center and DBT Marin.
- Seeking Safety: Treats those struggling with trauma and substance abuse at the same time. Old treatment models would address one at a time - get sober then we'll address your trauma or address your trauma then we can talk about your addiction. This model addresses BOTH issues simultaneously. Please note that I am not a treatment facility and therapy once a week does not replace substance abuse treatment methods such as intensive outpatient, inpatient and/or communities like LifeRing and 12-Step recovery. Therapy is a great complement to group support but often cannot address addiction alone.
- Internal Family Systems aka "Parts Work": This modality views a person as many different parts with each part having their own individual function. The parts are typically present to protect the person's core, vulnerable self. I've found this approach to be very effective with trauma survivors because it builds self-compassion for parts that a person may not like or disapproves of. A harsh internal critic is an example of a part.
- EMDR aka Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing: EMDR was developed by Francine Shapiro by accident. She stumbled upon it while struggling with an issue and created an effective tool to help heal trauma. No one really knows how it works but it can provide great relief. You can learn more about it here. I use EMDR as a tool and was trained in it as such. I am not registered with EMDRIA (Eye Movement and Desensitization Reprocessing International Association). If you would prefer to seek the assistance of a EMDRIA-certified therapist, you can find one here.
- Motivational Interviewing: A method used to move a person from one stage of change to another. For example, if a person is ambivalent about quitting drinking, MI helps a person change by resolving ambivalence.
- Hakomi: Focuses on mindful attention to body sensations, emotions and memories with the intention of breaking old patterns of behavior.
- Non-violent Communication: I divide communication into 3 layers - the top layer is content, the middle is the pattern and the bottom layer is our genuine feelings and needs. Non-violent communication addresses the bottom layer by giving our core self and others the empathy needed for genuine self-expression.