I am a licensed psychologist and the founder of SF Stress and Anxiety Center. While much of my current work focuses on leadership and program development, I maintain a clinical practice focusing on founders, executives, and other professionals facing workplace stress and performance challenges. My clinical work centers on helping people manage the psychological demands of high-pressure environments. My clients are navigating burnout, uncertainty, interpersonal dynamics, and the ongoing pursuit of balance and purpose. I’m especially interested in how stress impacts decision-making, focus, and well-being, and I enjoy helping clients develop strategies that promote both effectiveness and satisfaction at work. In addition to my clinical practice, I serve as a Qualified Medical Evaluator (QME), and I lead Encina Evaluation Services, a management company that supports mental health professionals performing medico-legal evaluations in California’s workers’ compensation system. This combination of clinical and medico-legal experience allows me to approach each case with both empathy and analytical precision.

My core training is in evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. In practice, I tend to customize and adapt these approaches to a client’s specific issues, personality, and style. I’m a fairly active, solution oriented therapist, so my sessions tend to feel more like coaching/consulting than traditional therapy.

It’s a privilege when people trust me enough to help them solve problems that are really important to them. I like connecting with people and helping them solve the problems keeping them awake at night. I know it can be tough to open up to a therapist, and I’m extremely sensitive to that. When needed, I’m comfortable applying benevolent pressure to help clients avoid staying stuck in their issues.

The extent to which we’re willing to face our difficulties is the extent to which we’re able to truly enjoy the wonderful parts of our lives. I’m dedicated to helping people act confidently, no matter how they feel inside, no matter what life throws at them. I enjoy teaching people how to turn the pressure of situations into positive energy—with practical tools that have been proven to significantly diminish stress and anxiety. Rather than just talk about their issues, I help my clients do something about them by helping them integrate new and simple practices into their daily lives.

I founded the Center in 2012, and I am the CEO and owner. I spend most of my time developing and managing the Practice. As a researcher and consultant, I’ve contributed to federally-funded research projects at Harvard Medical School, UC San Diego Department of Psychiatry, and the Air Force Medical Operations Agency. I’ve also been interviewed as an expert by a number of popular publications, including Vanity Fair, the Los Angeles Times, NPR, KCBS, Pacific Standard, and The Wall Street Journal. I’ve appeared on podcasts including KCBS Radio In Depth, and The Addicted Mind. Additionally, I co-authored the book Stress: The Psychology of Managing Pressure. Outside of work, my interests include: running, playing drums and guitar, reading about politics and social issues, and exploring Bay Area beaches and trails.