Contemplative Psychotherapy therapists in Sanger, CA

Relationships can bring our deepest joy, but they can also surface painful patterns. If you and your partner find yourselves caught in the same arguments, struggling to truly hear one another, or feeling emotionally distant, you’re not alone. Many couples reach a point where communication breaks down and the connection they once felt begins to feel strained or uncertain. Sometimes earlier life experiences, family patterns, or stressors quietly shape the way we relate, making it harder to stay close even when the love is still there. With more than two decades of experience working with couples, I help partners slow down the cycle of conflict and understand what’s really happening beneath the surface. My approach is compassionate, collaborative, and grounded in relational and attachment-based work. I support couples in developing healthier communication, repairing emotional wounds, and building a stronger foundation of trust and intimacy. I’m also particularly attuned to the needs of highly sensitive people and those who want a thoughtful, depth-oriented approach to relationship growth. Whether you’re preparing for a deeper commitment, working to repair trust after a rupture, or trying to rediscover connection after years together, therapy can offer a meaningful path forward. I also support individuals navigating dating, heartbreak, or relationship transitions. Together we’ll work toward clearer communication, emotional safety, and a relationship that feels more conscious, supportive, and alive. If you’d like to explore whether this work might be a good fit, feel free to reach out to schedule a complimentary consultation.  

Something in you knows that what you're carrying runs deeper than the presenting problem. Many of the people I work with are thoughtful, capable, and outwardly composed-yet internally they live with anxiety, depression, chronic tension or pain, relentless self-criticism, or a sense that something essential is blocked, muted, or just out of reach. These struggles may surface in mood, in the body, in behavior, or in relationships-including sexuality and intimacy-but they are rarely contained to any one area. They tend to reflect deeper emotional and relational patterns formed early in life, often before language, that continue to shape how a person approaches closeness, vulnerability, agency, pleasure, and self-expression. My work centers on how early experience shapes the capacity for self-regulation, desire, connection, and meaning throughout life-and particularly on how people come to know what they need and want, how they learn to express or inhibit those impulses, and what happens when these capacities become conflicted, constricted, or difficult to sustain. I integrate psychoanalytic hypnotherapy, somatic awareness, and clinical sexology within a reflective, depth-oriented process. Hypnosis functions as a central clinical tool-creating conditions for deeper internal contact with emotional, bodily, and unconscious experience that can be difficult to reach through conversation alone. The aim is not only relief from symptoms, but the development of a more coherent and compassionate relationship with one's inner life: sensations, emotions, impulses, and desires. This work is oriented toward lasting psychological change-and toward greater freedom in how one relates to oneself, one's body, and one's capacity for connection, authenticity, and vitality. It is best suited to those ready to move beyond symptom management toward something more fundamental.  

I believe that even in the middle of a crisis, there is a real opportunity for profound growth. My path to understanding the human condition began in the theater and the study of Method Acting, where I learned to look beneath the surface to explore how internal experience drives outward behavior. This "inside-out" perspective remains central to my work: helping you align your internal reality with your external actions. Over my 20-year career, my approach has continually evolved. After graduating from top universities and training programs, I was mentored by leading experts in trauma, addictions, and relationship dynamics. This foundation led me to establish a successful group practice in Orange County, teach psychology at UC Irvine, and serve on the Board of Directors and as Chair of the Professional Practice Committee for the Orange County Psychological Association. However, my career is only part of the story. In the midst of professional achievement, I navigated a deep personal crisis and divorce that transformed my understanding of therapy. This led me on my own journey of growth—including seven years living in Asia, studying with Buddhist monks, and caring for local villagers. What I offer today is an integration of rigorous academic training and Eastern wisdom. My decision to practice psychology grows from a sincere desire to relieve suffering and transform life's hardships into catalysts for self-actualization. I combine empirical psychological methods with the cultivation of an "awakened heart"—a state of genuine presence, nervous system regulation, and deep connection to what matters most. What to Expect in Our First Session Our first meeting is about more than cataloging problems; it is an opportunity to assess the "internal climate" of your life. Together, we will examine the patterns that are no longer serving you, identify where old narratives or high-pressure reactions have you "hooked," and see what is holding you back from living authentically. I believe therapy should offer a shift in perspective from the very first hour. You will leave our initial session with practical, evidence-based tools designed to settle your "biological alarm" and transition your nervous system from a state of defense to one of openness and flexibility. By the end of our first meeting, we will begin clarifying a personalized roadmap for long-term change, leaving you with immediate skills to start shifting your life from day one. Core Strengths & Therapeutic Philosophy A Life Dedicated to Inner Work: I don't ask you to do work I haven't done myself. My insights stem from extensive clinical training, decades of deep meditation, and navigating my own pivotal life transitions. I bring a perspective that is both seasoned and deeply empathetic. Creating a Foundation of Safety: True change requires safety. By blending a warm, collaborative connection with a structured success plan, I help you settle constant internal alarm systems, moving you from the exhaustion of perpetual "doing" into a grounded state of "being." Moving Toward What Truly Matters: I help you spot the cycle of avoidance—the habits we build to run away from pain or fear—and redirect your energy toward positive growth, core values, and meaningful action. A Strategic, Personal Roadmap: I reject one-size-fits-all, standardized protocols. By strategically blending evidence-based practices (CBT, ACT, Clinical Hypnosis, Imago, and Structural Family concepts) with Eastern principles, we build a customized success plan designed specifically for your life. Who I Work Best With I specialize in working with adults and professionals who feel stuck at a critical crossroads—whether navigating a major life or career transition, relationship strain, burnout, trauma, or a recurring pattern they are ready to break. My clients appreciate insight, structure, and forward movement. They want more than a space to vent; they are ready to understand themselves deeply and take concrete steps toward lasting change. Practice Details & Credentials Education: Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology (APA-Accredited, UT Austin); M.A. in Developmental Psychology (Teachers College, Columbia University); B.A. in Psychology (UC Santa Cruz). Licensure & Certifications: Licensed Psychologist in California (PSY 17495) and Singapore Registered Psychologist. Session Formats: Virtual sessions & In-person care in Roseville, CA. Specialties: Anxiety, Depression, Life Transitions, Trauma & PTSD, Stress & Burnout, Relationship Dynamics, Men's Issues, and Military/Veterans care.  

The concept of Alchemy Door is simple: During session we hone the practice of self-discovery, and then what you are seeking begins to automatically manifest in your life. This practice of self-discovery can take many different forms, and is always tailored to what is most compelling for you in the moment, and what is the best fit for your interests (for example, some people prefer guided meditation, while for others a shamanic journey is desired, and still others prefer working with archetypes, or with the I-Ching... there are many possibilities available). Perhaps the beginning of the journey is dealing with an obstinate obstacle in your life. Or perhaps you have had drug experiences that you need to process. Or trauma. Or a spontaneous awakening. At the end of the day, all of our work together is preparation for dropping into the present moment. Then, the journey is all that matters, and the destination is icing on the cake.  

If you’ve done years of talk therapy and still find yourself stuck in the same patterns, part of the story may be held in your body. As a licensed counselor and Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, I work directly with the nervous system, helping you notice what’s happening physically in the moment and giving old survival responses room to settle and finish. I came to this work through my own developmental trauma, addiction, and depression. That history helps me meet people struggling with alcohol, drugs, or pornography without judgment, whether you’re aiming for abstinence or harm reduction. I hold a Colorado Certified Addiction Specialist credential and have been in practice since 2014. I also work with complex PTSD, adoptee struggles, and couples, drawing on PACT and attachment-based approaches. More than twenty years of meditation and a master’s in Mindfulness-Based Transpersonal Counseling from Naropa University inform everything I do, so spiritual questions are welcome. Expect warmth, curiosity, and some dry humor. Online therapy is available to Colorado residents. Clients outside Colorado can work with me through somatic coaching by video. Private pay, superbills available, free consultation.