Steady support for hard seasons.
Not everything you carry belongs to you or began with you. However, you do have a say in what happens next.
Hey, I’m Elley.
Together we’ll sort through inherited stories to keep what nourishes you and re-imagine what doesn’t. Therapy can be a kind and compassionate place to sit with profound feelings, reclaim your life, and end each day with more ease.
As a licensed therapist and a steadfast believer in change and possibility, I’m here to help you create a safer refuge and more vibrant relationships with yourself and your loved ones.
I work with individuals, couples, and families to explore identity, relationship challenges, significant life transitions, and the weight and wisdom of generational experiences.
While I specialize in supporting teen girls and young women to address anxiety, trauma, and grief, I don’t see mental health problems as disorders that can be neatly put into boxes or categories. I keep an open mind when getting to know you and what’s bringing you to therapy. For those who have felt misunderstood or who may have fallen through the cracks of our overwhelmed mental health system, I offer a more intentional experience. I encourage a space where we can get curious about how culture and society shape your views on mental health and well-being.
Who I Support:
Teen/adolescent girls, ages 12-17
College women
Immigrants/Adult children of immigrants
Individuals and families experiencing a DNA surprise
What We Focus On Together:
Exploring identity and owning your story.
Restoring safety after violence or relational harm.
Unpacking family secrets, conflict, and complex dynamics.
Issues Addressed in Therapy:
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It doesn’t have to be like this forever. Receive focused care in a non-judgmental space for any unwanted thoughts, feelings, urges, sensations, or images that feel driven by fear or worry. Let’s sort through chaos and get your calm back.
General anxiety
Social anxiety
OCD
Panic
Phobias
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What you’ve experienced matters, but it’s not the final stop. I help you make sense of the past and release the uncertainty of the future, so you can focus on creating something meaningful in the present.
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There’s no shame in however you grieve. Together let’s honor what has been lost (or what never came to be) and learn to hold grief with love and care.
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Your relationships can have significant effects on your life. Let’s learn how to communicate openly, resolve conflict, and show up in more supportive ways.
Change is a community practice and we need each other.
Therapy Services:
Individual Therapy For Teens
1:1 sessions for teens, 12-17.
We focus on engaging in age-appropriate and honest conversations to help you navigate adolescence with authentic self-expression and safe decision-making.
When working with teens, I honor your confidentiality and privacy while collaborating closely with your trusted adults as needed.
Individual Therapy for Adults
1:1 sessions for adults, 18+.
We focus on untangling complex experiences and reconnecting you to a sense of personal agency and wisdom.
When working with adults, I serve as a creative guide, an active collaborator, and a respectful witness to your life. I also work with your other providers (i.e. psychiatrist) to ensure holistic support.
Relationship Therapy
Sessions with your loved ones, which may include romantic partner(s), family members, or friends.
We focus on understanding relationship dynamics and learning more supportive ways to connect.
When working with multiple people, I focus on the interactions between many meaningful parts, rather than isolated issues or “problem” individuals.
Therapy Approach:
My style is relational, collaborative, and focused on developing a more empowering personal story that is felt in the body and reflected in your relationships. We will collect your values, strengths, and skills as key ingredients towards change.
The goal of each session is for you to walk away feeling cared for, respected, and wonderfully different from how you arrived.
My life philosophy inspires my therapeutic style, which embraces personal freedom, loving relationships, and creativity as pillars for navigating our complex social world. I use a carefully threaded combination of therapeutic approaches, mainly Narrative therapy, Solution-focused therapy, Somatic therapy, and parts-work therapy. I'm also trained in Level 1 Brainspotting for those interested in brain-body based techniques.
With less emphasis on labels and more intentional thinking when it comes to diagnosis, I view you as a whole person and look for the picture beyond your symptoms. My holistic approach aims to consider what may go missed when providers overlook social, cultural, and environmental factors.
FAQs:
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The initial free 20-minute phone consultation is an opportunity for us to briefly connect and explore your interest in working together. During this call, I will learn more about what you are looking for in therapy, and I will share information about my services, including scheduling, fees, and therapeutic approach. You will also have space to ask any questions.
Consultation is optional. If you feel ready to begin, you are welcome to reach out directly to schedule your first session.
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The first session is typically 60 minutes in length. During this meeting, I will gather a more detailed understanding of what brings you to therapy and the changes you are hoping to make. Together, we will begin to develop goals and expectations for our work.
In following sessions, we will typically begin with a brief check-in to pick up loose threads from the previous time and determine our focus for the day. While you lead, I collaborate closely to ensure we are honoring your goals and staying flexible as your life unfolds.
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I encourage weekly sessions for the first several meetings to support the development of a strong therapeutic relationship and shared foundation for our work together. From there, we can adjust the frequency to best fit your goals, needs, and availability.
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The number of sessions and overall length of therapy varies depending on many factors. While some people notice meaningful shifts after a single session, many choose to engage in therapy as an ongoing part of their wellness practice. Others prefer a more flexible approach, taking breaks as needed and returning to therapy when life circumstances call for additional support.
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Every therapist brings their own unique style and care to their craft, and I encourage you to be open-minded as you consider what kind of therapist feels like the right fit for you.
My style is grounded in authentic expression and being a real human in the room. I bring humor when appropriate without losing depth. I am careful when asking questions and guiding conversations that may feel challenging, and I am always holding your best interest in mind. I practice from a decolonial lens, and I believe that effective therapy includes freedom, collaboration, and shared humanity between all participants.
I am also experienced and interested in autobiographical and therapeutic writing, and I welcome integrating this into our work for those who feel drawn to it. No formal writing experience is necessary to engage in this approach. For those who wish to explore this layer, I encourage keeping a devoted therapy journal (digital or handwritten).
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Brainspotting is a focused, brain-based treatment approach that can help to identify, explore, and release sources of trauma, pain, and emotional distress. By focusing on specific eye positions (called brainspots), I support you in accessing and upholding change at the deep brain level.
During a brainspotting session, we collaborate to determine a topic or experience as a starting point. For example, I have used brainspotting to help people explore chronic pain, shame, panic, upsetting memories, childhood abuse and neglect, family conflict, and grief. I have also used brainspotting to help people better understand and solidify more positive, affirming experiences such as memories tied to feeling confident and worthy.
Throughout the session, I serve as a highly present, compassionate guide who facilitates a mindfulness process lasting anywhere from a few minutes to the entire session, depending on what feels appropriate or desired that day. Brainspotting does not use a strict protocol, but rather offers a flexible, yet creative frame that can be adapted to your needs.
Brainspotting can be incorporated into any therapy session at any point during our work together, and it can be helpful for teens, adults, and families.
To learn more, visit: https://brainspotting.com/
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I currently offer Telehealth sessions only. I am based in the Sonoma County area, and for those who are local and interested in learning more about potential in-person availability, you are welcome to reach out.
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No, I do not currently accept insurance. I believe in accessible mental health services and fair treatment for clients and clinicians, so I do offer a sliding scale that aims to honor both of our resources. If cost is a barrier, please reach out and ask about low cost counseling packages or reduced rates for students. Please see more on my Services page.
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The fastest way to reach me is via call/text at (707) 200-8081. You can also email me or reach out via the Contact Page on this website.