Domestic Violence or Intimate Partner Violence

I have spent three years working at the YWCA Golden Gate Silicon Valley where I treat women dealing with sexual assault, intimate partner violence, and childhood trauma.

I have expertise in supporting clients with traumatic responses and mood problems that come with abuse, including domestic violence. I worked in the non-profit sector providing advocacy and support for individuals and families affected by domestic violence. Wanting to broaden my helping skills is what led me to pursue training as a counselor. Often therapy can help to find your voice, heal trauma and develop healthy relationship goals.

I have a profound passion and connection to the area intimate partner violence and have provided supportive services on an individual basis to women who have been victimized as well as men in a group setting who have expressed aggression in their intimate relationships.

I have over a decade providing counseling to those who have engaged in controlling behaviors and intimate partner violence as well as those who have experienced it. I am trained in Domestic Violence Focused Couples Therapy with a focus on creating safety and breaking the cycle of harm.

Violence takes many forms. Some adults have experienced violence in their childhood home, within romantic relationships, or have experienced some form of assault in their lives. My path into mental health began 20 years ago supporting survivors navigate the court system. As a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional I use a Trauma Informed approach with all of my clients, ensuring that I don't trigger or re-traumatize as we process the past and allow you to leave the pain behind.

Getting hurt by someone you’ve cared for is especially painful. While the physical traumas can be scary as hell, the emotional traumas can take a lot more work to heal. When I work with domestic violence survivors certain themes come up over and over again. Survivors often wonder if something’s wrong with them, why this person hurt them and why they might still care for them. These are complex questions worthy of exploration. Through a multi-modal approach that infuses relational, experiential and body-oriented approaches I help clients overcome trauma, create healthy boundaries, increase resilience, reclaim their sense of self and create the lives they wish to lead.

As a therapist, I address domestic violence by providing a safe, non-judgmental space for clients to explore their experiences. I offer support through trauma-informed care, helping clients build coping strategies, and develop safety plans. I also work on empowering clients, enhancing self-esteem, and connecting them with resources for legal and social support. Collaborating closely with other professionals ensures a comprehensive approach to their healing and safety.

I have worked at a domestic violence agency for over seven years providing advocacy-based counseling, safety planning and crisis intervention, facilitating support groups and therapy processing groups and providing individual therapy to adult survivors of intimate partner violence. I use a survivor-driven and DV-informed approach, and have trained other mental health providers on how to use this approach.

I have an extensive background in working with Domestic and Intimate partner violence. I have had training in different treatment modalities and have focused my work in these areas. I have also run groups for sexual assault survivors and sit on a county task force to inform procedures by the county to help survivors. I also completed my dissertation on IPV among gay men focusing on the recovery process. With my experience, I can help with various forms of violence you may have experienced.

Research shows that both men and women can be victims of domestic violence or family violence, and both can be perpetrators as well. I have developed and published a domestic violence documentation format which also serves as an interview guide to thoroughly identify all forms of domestic or family violence. I perform domestic violence evaluations in immigration cases, and I also prepare extreme hardship evaluations in immigration cases.

My journey in public/community mental health truly began when I started volunteering on the crisis line at W.O.M.A.N., Inc., an organization serving survivors of domestic violence. I found a calling there & developed skills in counseling, support group facilitation, crisis response, & safety planning. My value for client self-determination & empowerment blossomed here & I continue to bring these lessons to my work in supporting people who are recovering from unhealthy & abusive relationships.

I have 15 years working with survivors of domestic violence and IPV. I am very passionate about empowering individuals who are either in an abusive relationship or are trying to leave one. Abuse comes in all forms and does not discriminate based on race, gender identity, sexual orientation or socioeconomic status. Everyone is entitled to be supported by a professional with the skills necessary to navigate such a delicate yet volatile situation.

Not sure if your relationship is healthy? I can support clients who are current in or recently out of an abusive relationship. I provide clients with support and education on dynamics of domestic violence, warning signs, safety planning, and healthy relationships. I can provide specialized support on dealing with technology abuse.

Getting hurt by someone you’ve cared for is especially painful. While the physical traumas can be scary as hell, the emotional traumas can take a lot more work to heal. When I work with domestic violence survivors certain themes come up over and over again. Survivors often wonder if something’s wrong with them, why this person hurt them and why they might still care for them. These are complex questions worthy of exploration. Through a multi-modal approach that infuses relational, experiential and body-oriented approaches I help clients overcome trauma, create healthy boundaries, increase resilience, reclaim their sense of self and create the lives they wish to lead.

I have worked with adults and children who have experienced domestic or intimate partner violence. I take a compassionate, non-judgmental stance in order to support individuals with being able to talk about the impact of abuse and trauma in their lives, as well as provide them with concrete tools to feel more in control of their emotions. I have also worked with individuals on working towards having healthy dynamics in their current and future relationships.

I am an IPV/DV survivor. I went to support groups at a DV advocacy agency, and I loved the experience so much, that a few years later, I returned to the agency to run the groups as a volunteer. This inspired me to become a therapist, and now I counsel IPV/DV survivors and run counseling support groups. I help people understand what happened, and empower people to find their self-esteem to move forward. I wrote an educational memoir about my experience that is available on my website.

As a therapist working with survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking, I offer a compassionate and non-judgmental space where clients can explore their experiences with trauma, regain a sense of safety, and work toward empowerment. My approach centers on understanding the complex emotions of fear, shame, and loss that often accompany these experiences while fostering resilience, self-worth, and the courage to heal. Together, we navigate the path to recovery, focusing on reclaiming you