About Me…

What is your specialty?

I specialize in working with adults on building self-worth and forming meaningful relationships—both with themselves and others. I have had experience in working with trauma including military trauma, sexual and physical abuse, abandonment and neglect. Using an integrative approach that includes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and attachment-based practices, I have helped clients process these experiences. My goal is to guide healing and encourage growth with compassion, helping clients build secure connections and a stronger sense of self

Tell us a little bit about yourself…

I’m a veteran, a Filipino immigrant, and a first-generation college student. After my time in the Navy as a submariner, I started at a community college and eventually transferred to San Diego State University. These experiences are a big part of who I am, and they’ve given me a deep appreciation for the challenges and strengths that come with navigating different cultural identities. This perspective helps me connect with clients who are working through their own unique experiences. I have a small family including my wife and our corgi, Cosmo. For my spare time, I enjoy music, dancing, video games, working out, and traveling.

What inspired you to be a therapist?

I entered grad school with the goal of becoming a college advisor, but my own therapy experiences opened my eyes to the powerful, meaningful impact of this work. My passion for connecting with people inspired me to shift gears, aiming to provide others with the same positive and compassionate growth I experienced. Navigating my own cultural identities also taught me the importance of vulnerability and emotional attunement. These insights continue to shape the way I approach and support my clients.

Have you worked with people with experiences similar to mine?

While I can’t confirm without meeting you, I’ve had the privilege of working with a diverse range of clients, including veterans, college students, older adults, and anyone 18 and up. I’ve supported people through challenges like overthinking, past negative experiences that continues to come up, doubtful of decisions, difficulty speaking up, anger, transitioning from military to civilian life, thoughts to not exist, and more. Whatever you’re facing, we’ll work together to find the best path forward.

What’s the typical structure of a session and how long does therapy usually last with you?

We’ll start with an intake session to help us both understand your unique challenges and strengths. From there, we will collaborate on creating goals and the length of therapy will depend on what you need, and we can check in on your progress as fit.

How do you handle feedback if a client thinks something isn’t working?

To me, feedback is one of the most important parts of a therapeutic relationship, and I genuinely welcome it. Depending on what my clients share, I prioritize self-reflection and accountability, adjusting our approach to best suit their needs—or even referring out if it feels like a better fit is out there. Finding the right therapist is a bit like dating; it’s all about the right connection. I encourage my clients to explore what feels best for them because I believe the relationship we build is the foundation of effective therapy. Feedback is invaluable because therapy is a collaborative process, and I want my clients to feel empowered to share openly about what resonates with them and what doesn’t.

What are your credentials?

I received both my bachelor's in psychology and master's in counseling from San Diego State University and gained licensure as Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC#17983). I have been practicing for 4+ years.