GET TO KNOW THE FACE BEHIND PASIFIKA ROOTED THERAPY

  Talofa Lava! Welcome! What's good?! I am so happy you're here. If you're reading through this section, that means you're somewhat interested in who I am and what I do. Firstly, I am a proud Samoan American, the eldest of five, a funtie (fun auntie) to the most amazing nieces and nephews, and on the road to marriage with the love of my life. I grew up primarily in Southern California and for a short term of my childhood, I lived in the state of Utah as my parents figured out their relationship together. 

   My intention of starting my practice came to me because I wanted to support the healing and growth for Pasifika people. Right at the spike of the pandemic, I was a part of many conversations with family members and friends who identified as Pasifika and were so discouraged from therapy because of the lack of representation and stigma that heavily exists. Through my own personal journey on the hunt for a therapist and all throughout my college experience, I like many Pasifika people could never find someone who looked like me. After surviving and elevating through the licensure requirements and clinical practice, I joined a group practice and one of my mentors began to explore with me the idea of creating my own with my own in mind. It was then, that I realized I could very well create what never existed for me - a mental health specific practice with the intention of creating a space for people like me and so much more.

I truly believe that some of our greatest strengths are rooted in the actual journey of life. Through our individual experiences and through the experiences amongst a collective, there seems to always be growth. My goal is to simply guide and collaborate with each person to identify the best roadmap for their individual life. As the expert of your life, you know what brings you joy and what causes maybe distress. Through creating a roadmap together, we identify situations, triggers,  and maybe even your own barriers that hold you back from your best self. My goal is to support the development of insight, healing, and effective tools to navigate through your process.

My areas of expertise include working with diverse populations, including people of color and historically marginalized genders and sexualities, to explore the complex intersections of race, gender, sexuality, and mental health.  Much of my professional experience has been in trauma work serving individuals who have experienced many levels of adversity. I have worked in residential facilities, Institutes of Mental Disease,  and a few non-profit agencies serving underprivileged communities. I also have years of experience running a multitude of therapeutic and rehab groups including: anger management, parenting, substance use and LGBTQIA+. As a mental health professional, I employ many different therapeutic approaches with my clients because I recognize that the "one-size fits all" model simply doesn't apply with people. Curiosity is often used in sessions to engage in conversations that bring out biological, historical, cultural, and spiritual elements to find understanding in who you are. You will learn that I am also a very transparent therapist, and my personal gifts include humor, role-playing, and mindfulness to create a space that is safe.