Meet Alexis
Welcome! I'm Alexis (she/her), a compassionate Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in the state of California (#127407) and Virginia (#0717002056), providing trauma-informed and client-centered care.
Everyone wants to feel that they are good enough. The reality though, is that most of us struggle to feel a sense of belonging and safety in the world. We question if we are lovable. We find it a challenge to embrace vulnerability. We struggle to feel confident that our needs matter, that others will be there when we need them. These common beliefs subconsciously influence our mental health and self-esteem and limit the way we engage in relationships, work and hobbies. Therapy is a safe space to become aware of patterns, challenge limiting beliefs, heal your inner child, and develop a wise, confident, and secure authentic self to guide you through the tumult of life.
Therapy with me offers an opportunity to explore the profound ways in which your most significant relational experiences have influenced your presence-exploring the intricate connections between attachment, symptoms, the nervous system, relational wounding, and the impact of limiting beliefs. I believe in your inherent wisdom and resilience.
Thank you for considering me as a potential partner on your journey towards healing and personal transformation. I am here to provide compassionate support, empowering you to embrace your uniqueness, rediscover inner strength, and create a life that resonates with the most authentic part of you!
On a personal note, I find joy in various activities outside of my therapeutic practice. Spending quality time with my partner, gardening, immersing myself in nature, and traveling are some of the ways I nurture myself. Cooking, reading, consuming HGTV at an embarrassing rate, and watercolor painting are among my cherished hobbies. Oh, and let’s not forget about my cat, Antoinette, who occasionally pops into our sessions.
My Identities
Our identities and the effects of oppressive systems directly impact our sense of self and mental health. In my practice I am committed to providing inclusive therapy and welcome any person seeking my support, regardless of their identities. Additionally, I find it important to be transparent about my own identities. I am a cisgendered white woman who uses the pronouns she/her. I grew up in an upper middle class family, lived in well-resourced communities, and had access to higher education. These identities afford me inherent privilege. The circumstances we grow up in and the privileges we are born with impact the ways we connect and relate to others and ourselves. In honoring this, I seek to be open and discuss our differences, noting the impact those differences have on the therapeutic relationship and process.
To be a true ally, I recognize how important it is to have humility and remain a curious and open lifelong learner. I consistently and actively seek information, consultation, and experiences that deepen my personal and professional growth. This ongoing commitment supports me moving through the world in an anti-oppressive, anti-ablest, anti-racist, and non-violent way. I seek to shape my practice to reflect these principles and values, ensuring that it remains a safe haven for all.
Professional Background and Expertise
Education and Experience:
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the states of California and Virginia. I obtained my Masters of Science in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling from San Francisco State University. As a pre-graduate, I completed supervised internship hours in San Francisco working with youth and their families and adults facing homelessness. Following that, I gained valuable experience working with individuals at an elementary school, a substance abuse facility, and county jail, where I completed clinically supervised hours and obtained licensure. I engage in continuing education and licensing renewal annually under the supervision of the California Board of Behavioral Sciences and Virginia Department of Health Professions.
Community Mental Health and Private Practice:
My early career focused on community mental health in San Francisco, providing support such as, crisis management, intake and assessment, therapeutic groups, case management, and individual therapy with adults and youth facing severe mental health challenges. In 2021, I transitioned to providing full-time psychotherapy to adults seeking personal growth and support for mental health conditions such as depression, trauma, and anxiety. I have worked with a diverse population, including individuals from various racial, cultural, sexual, religious, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Additionally, I’ve worked with individuals, families, couples, and groups with individuals ranging from age 5 to age 85.
Professional Development:
I continuously seek out training and certifications in areas such as trauma, developmental/attachment injuries, somatic therapies, inner child healing, brain and nervous system-based interventions, and emotion-focused therapy.
Services:
Currently, I am exclusively working virtually providing individual therapy to adults.
Degrees, Licenses, and Professional Associations
Masters of Science in Marriage, Family, Child Counseling
Licensed Marriage Family Therapist, California (#127407)
CAMFT Member #121447, California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists
Trainings & Certifications
Level I Sensorimotor Psychotherapy: SP for the Treatment of Trauma
Level II Sensorimotor Psychotherapy: SP for Developmental and Relational Injury
Improving Treatment Effectiveness with Attachment Theory
Gottman Method Couples Therapy Level 1: Bridging the Couple Chasm
American Society of Addiction Medicine Multidimensional Assessment
Motivational Interviewing
De-escalation and Crisis Prevention
Books and Articles That Have Informed My Practice
The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk, M.D.
Attachment Theory in Practice: Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) with Individuals, Couples, and Families by Susan M. Johnson
Shifting States of Consciousness: The Recreation of the Self Approach to Transformation by Jon Eisman
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy: Interventions for Trauma and Attachment by Pat Ogden and Janina Fisher
Polysecure: Attachment, Trauma, and Consensual Nonmonogamy by Jessica Fern
The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook by Matthew McKay, Jefrey C. Wood, and Jeffrey Brantley