Mental health is complex. People are complex. I went into psychiatry because of my lifelong interest in what makes us who we are, and why we do the things we do. We all have problems, and I believe that we come to these problems honestly. Even if we don’t yet know the “why,” there are usually adaptive reasons behind even the most seemingly maladaptive behaviors.

I approach my work as a doctor with curiousity and respect for my patients’ individual stories, and I feel deep gratitude to be in this role for others. I encourage those that I work with to do the same, and to do their best to leave judgment at the door.

My background in psychiatry started unconventionally with a bachelor’s degree in English Literature, with a plan to become an English Lit professor before realizing that I wanted to pursue a career with more potential for direct impact. While an undergrad, I participated in a writing therapy program at a maximum security prison and became involved in a local public health initiative for women which started to change my trajectory.

After completing a postbaccalaureate premedical program, I went on to medical school at Drexel University and then a 4-year psychiatry residency at California Pacific Medical Center, where I learned psychodynamic therapy and CBT in addition to medication management. Around this time I also completed psychoanalytic-psychodynamic psychotherapy training at the San Francisco Center for Psychoanalysis. Following graduation I worked part-time doing inpatient work within a psychiatric hospital, before transitioning to fully outpatient work.

Currently, I split my time between private practice and community mental health work for the underserved.

Thank you for reading, and I look forward to working with you!