About Me

Hi, I'm Ava! I'm a therapist specializing in the treatment of OCD, anxiety, trauma, eating disorders, . I'm particularly passionate about providing therapy to the BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities. As someone who is part of these communities, I have firsthand experience with difficulty finding a therapist who truly “gets” me without making assumptions or generalizations

My Values and Approach

One of my primary goals as a therapist is to contribute to decolonizing mental healthcare, and a large part of that is taking into consideration that a client's identity and social context cannot and should not be ignored when looking at their mental health as a whole. Even widely used "evidence-based" modalities have blind spots when working with historically marginalized identities. In my private practice, I have enjoyed breaking from the "one size fits all" interventions and considering each client's individual needs and experiences first. 

As someone who holds both marginalized and privileged identities, my intention is to practice with humility and curiosity. Part of this is bearing in mind that while I have expertise and experience in providing mental healthcare, my clients are experts on their own life experiences and histories and therapy is most successful when it is treated as a collaborative effort between therapist and client. I am committed to practicing trauma-informed and culturally competent care while getting to know each client's life history and current challenges.

My goal, as your therapist, is to work with you to create the roadmap to achieving a better quality of life. While I can't build it for you, my goal is for our work to leave you feeling empowered to build it yourself, with me alongside you every step of the way offering support, humor, and (reasonable) challenges.

“Empathy isn’t just listening, it’s asking the questions whose answers need to be listened to.”
— Leslie Jamison

Modalities Used

  • Often seen as the “gold standard” of OCD treatment, ERP empowers individuals to face their triggers while reducing unhelpful coping behaviors. Using a gradual, hierarchical approach, ERP teaches you to tolerate uncertainty and discomfort.

  • I-CBT is an evidence-based treatment for OCD with the focus on correcting distorted reasoning processes that can feed anxiety. Targeting obsessional doubt and inferences, I-CBT gives you the tools to enhance your self-trust while reducing compulsions.

  • ACT draws on cognitive and behavioral therapies to build psychological flexibility. The goal is to increase acceptance of our thoughts and feelings without trying to control them. Successful ACT results in a clear understanding of one’s personal values and how to use those to drive action towards personal goals.

  • Prolonged Exposure (PE) Therapy is an evidence-based treatment designed to help individuals recover from trauma and reduce symptoms of PTSD. Through a structured and supportive process, clients gradually confront distressing memories, thoughts, and situations they may have been avoiding. By safely revisiting these experiences, the brain learns that they are no longer dangerous. PE Therapy empowers individuals to regain control, build resilience, and re-engage more fully in their daily lives.

Questions about my practice?

Credentials and education

Education

  • Occidental College, BA in Psychology and Art History

  • Golden Gate University, MA in Counseling Psychology

Licensure

  • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, #126449, State of California