About

A bit about me

I was raised in an Italian immigrant family that emphasized family and hard work. Perseverance and a do-it-yourself attitude are blue collar values that shaped my character.

Now, I embrace these values as I raise my two young children together with my spouse. We enjoy spending time outdoors, exploring nature and making cherished memories together. I balance together roles of family, professional, and farm work in maintaining our avocado orchard.

Approach

My therapeutic philosophy is centered on providing a collaborative, non-judgmental space where men can develop the resilience needed to Navigate life's complexities.

Empowerment: We focus on uncovering your innate strengths, fostering a sense of agency and confidence that extends beyond our sessions.
Practical Tools: Therapy is action-oriented, providing you with evidence-based strategies to manage stress, improve communication, and build emotional intelligence.
Collaborative Partnership: I work alongside you as a partner, ensuring our work is directly aligned with your personal goals and values in a transparent, supportive environment.

Therapy

I am committed to providing gold-standard interventions and cutting-edge treatments that meet the highest professional benchmarks. My objective is for every client to receive premium care that uncovers genuine hope and builds a concrete strategy to sustain it. Our process starts by exploring the barriers holding you back, followed by the creation of a definitive roadmap to move forward. My ultimate aim is to equip you with the tools to navigate your own mental health long after our work ends. Success in therapy is rooted in mastering tangible skills for your daily life. We achieve this through a structured framework involving direct instruction, meaningful assignments, and the conscious reshaping of habitual patterns.

Qualified Medical Evaluator

In my role as a Qualified Medical Evaluator (QME) within the California Workers' Compensation system, I provide timely and accurate assessments to establish definitive diagnoses and treatment recommendations. My evaluations ensure precise reevaluation and disability rating to facilitate fair outcomes. Leveraging extensive military psychology expertise, I specialize in fitness and special duty evaluations for military personnel, law enforcement, and first responders. I prioritize clear, professional communication that protects individuals while strictly adhering to all screening and reporting requirements.

Credentials

Education

2021 – Certified Behavioral Health Consultant – United States Public Health Service, Primary Care Behavioral Health, Defense Health Agency

2019 – Primary Care Mental Health Integration – Nationally Certified, Veterans Health Administration

2019 – Postdoctoral Fellow, UCSD School of Medicine and VA San Diego Health Care System, Clinical Psychology Residency Training Program (APA Accredited)

2018 – Doctor of Philosophy, Informal Doctoral Minor in Statistics, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology Training Program (APA Accredited)
Doctoral Dissertation: Transdiagnostic Mechanisms that Contribute to Developing Anxiety Related Alcohol Use Problems Among College Students
Major Advisor: Debra A. Hope, Ph.D.

2018 – Psychology Intern, VA Portland Health Care System, Clinical Psychology Internship Training Program (APA Accredited)

2015 – Master of Arts, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology Training Program (APA Accredited)
Major Advisor: Debra A. Hope, Ph.D.

2013 – Master of Arts, California State University, Sacramento, Department of Psychology
Major Advisor: Rebecca R. Cameron, Ph.D.

2010 – Bachelor of Arts, San Diego State University, Department of Psychology