Tired of struggling and feeling unhappy?
Do your symptoms keep you from fulfilling
personal goals and responsibilities?
personal goals and responsibilities?
How can working with a psychologist help?
I help those with medical conditions (primarily pain or GI symptoms) using psychological assessment and non-drug interventions as part of a team-based treatment approach. My goal is to bring about growth, healing, and learning so that you feel better, improve daily functioning, and have purpose and pleasure again. Borrowing from the biopsychosocial approach to treatment, I look at the interaction between mind (stress, worry, depressed/irritable mood), body (health and wellness), and environment (family relationships, work relationships, etc.) and work with you to target these areas in treatment.
I want to understand your health concerns
and work together with you to identify
solutions that will work.
and work together with you to identify
solutions that will work.
My career as a psychologist has focused on using psychological concepts and techniques to address management and coping with health conditions. I find it interesting and challenging to explore how the mind affects the body and vice versa. Many times, patients have trouble accessing the medical care that they need and feel confused, frustrated, overwhelmed, and alone. I believe that patients can benefit by having a professional such as myself come alongside them to provide support and guidance.
When working with patients with health conditions, I am practical, direct, and structured. Sometimes patients have other psychological concerns which we might also discuss. Lastly, I think it’s normal for patients to finish therapy and then return again in the future for care, just as they do for primary care issues.
When working with patients with health conditions, I am practical, direct, and structured. Sometimes patients have other psychological concerns which we might also discuss. Lastly, I think it’s normal for patients to finish therapy and then return again in the future for care, just as they do for primary care issues.
I offer compassionate,
evidence-based therapy tailored to your needs.
evidence-based therapy tailored to your needs.
- Graduated clinical psychology doctoral program (PsyD) at Azusa Pacific University (APA-accredited program) in 2004. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focused.
- Pre-doctoral residency at Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio Texas (completed 2004).
- Postdoctoral fellowship at California Hospital Medical Center in Los Angeles (completed 2005). I received advanced training in the areas of chronic pain and diabetes management.
- My past work experiences include community based primary care clinics, Federally Qualified Health Center, Skilled Nursing Facilities/Assisted Living Facilities, GI medical group practice, and private group practice.
- Established Sequoia Counseling and Wellness Services Orange County in 2019.
- Gut-brain specialist with a gastroenterology medical group practice (2023-2025). I attend monthly GI Psychology Case Consultations sponsored by the Rome Foundation.
- Completed training in clinical hypnotherapy under Dr. Yapko, an internationally recognized clinician/hypnotherapist and subject matter expert (2025). I participate in weekly hypnotherapy group education and training under Denis Mirlesse MSc.
- I am a member of the Rome Psychogastroenterology Group, American Neurogastroenterology and Motility Society, California Psychological Association, and Orange County Psychological Association.
This video talks about the origin of
Sequoia Counseling and Wellness Services
Sequoia Counseling and Wellness Services
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sequoia counseling and
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Hours Mon-Fri: 8am - 5pm
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Telephone 949.337.1034
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