A woman with shoulder-length dark brown hair, wearing makeup, a white top, black jacket, and teal earrings, smiling at the camera against a neutral background.
A woman with shoulder-length dark brown hair, wearing makeup, a white top, black jacket, and teal earrings, smiling at the camera against a neutral background.

I'm a bilingual, licensed mental health therapist based in California with over eight years of experience in many different clinical settings (from community mental health, to correctional facilities and now private practice). I work with individuals (ages 15+), couples and families.

I have a B.A. in Women’s Studies from Loyola Marymount University (LMU) and a Master’s of Social Work from California State University, Northridge (CSUN). Initially, I wanted to go into law enforcement but for one reason or another, that never panned out. I can look back at that now and am grateful my life led me down a different path! I am born and raised in Los Angeles, CA, love to cook and travel and on my time off, you can probably find me binge-watching a true crime series or repotting my plants 🪴

Hi, I’m Katie!

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My Approach

My relaxed and collaborative approach is designed to engage you and meet you exactly where you are on your journey to healing. Think thoughtful companion rather than stiff, super-clinical authority—where conversations feel more like brainstorming with a trusted friend than a medical exam. We work together at your pace, bringing curiosity, humor, and real-world practicality to whatever you're facing, so you can try things out, stumble, adjust, and grow without judgment. My goal is to normalize being human: honest, imperfect, and worth listening to—so therapy becomes a down-to-earth space where change actually feels doable instead of intimidating.

Modalities

I use a culturally competent and humanistic lens to make space for thoughtful, meaningful work. I pull from different types of modalities like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), trauma-focused and informed care (somatic work as well as EMDR), psychodynamic, strength-based, solution-focused and more, depending on each individual’s needs.

Lasting impact

My goal is to help you move through life with clarity, integrity, and curiosity — as tools for real change. Together we untangle your thoughts, align your choices with your values, and explore what’s underneath with a kind, investigative spirit. The result is lasting growth that doesn’t stop with you: clearer decisions, steadier relationships, and healthier patterns ripple outward to the people who matter most.

What is EMDR?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is an evidence-based practice that helps people process distressing experiences and the symptoms that it leaves behind.

I like to use the Pixar movie Inside Out as a visual. Our memories generally get processed and organized in an adaptive way, much like the memory marbles in Riley’s brain. However, certain distressing experiences do not; they get stuck instead. Whether it is a big “T” or little “t” trauma (think of a major accident vs. an embarrassing moment), these experiences can cause ongoing reactivity in our body (flashbacks, sweaty palms, a racing heartbeat) for years to come.

EMDR uses bilateral stimulation — generally guided eye movements, but tapping or bilateral sounds can be used too — to help these “stuck” memories get reprocessed and integrated by the brain, just like any other memory. The end result is less emotional or somatic reactivity to the memory, while the useful information is retained. EMDR does not make you forget the memory; it just no longer affects you as it once did.

Want to Learn More?

Screenshot of a webpage from EMDR Institute, Inc. explaining EMDR therapy, with a background of a dirt path lined with green trees.
Visit The EMDR Institute

TESTIMONIALS

  • "Katie is an amazing therapist. She listens deeply, challenges unhelpful thought patterns, and offers practical tools that make a real difference in daily life. I started therapy with her during a very vulnerable time and after months of work, felt strong enough to step away knowing I could return when needed. I'm incredibly grateful for her support and wish more therapists practiced the way she does."

    —Former Client (F) | Grad Student

  • "As an MSW, I can say clinical therapy is something that can help anyone regain their strength when it has been compromised. I am grateful for the services Katie provided during a difficult time in my life. Her therapeutic approach, compassion and professionalism allowed me to regain my self-confidence and strength to make healthy choices."

    —Former Client (F) | Associate Therapist

  • "Katie is the kind of therapist that is really raw and real in the room while maintaining firm professional boundaries. It is easy to feel safe and seen with her and trust that her expertise will guide you through the difficult work of healing."

    — Mandy Lin, LPCC | Former Colleague

  • "Katie, I want to say thank you. I was hesitant about therapy at first, but once I met Katie via Zoom, I was glad to make the decision to talk to her. She guided me through a difficult/toxic relationship I was in. She gave me great insight and tools to navigate any relationship. I am overly grateful to her. I call her my ‘paid best friend.’ Thank you again!"

    —Former Client (M) | Entrepreneur