Therapists

Humanity thrives in community, and often there is a lot of "white noise" that gets in the way of genuine connection.  Whether it's the hustle and bustle of work, school, sports, family gatherings, or just the day-to-day essentials, life seems to pass us by without much time to spare. We get caught up in our own world, so when it's interrupted by other people, we can feel irritable and annoyed; yet in reality, they are just trying their best too.  This is problematic for those of us living with others in our home as well as for those of us living independently.

In this fast-paced rhythm of living, we have lost the “Aloha Spirit.”  As an islander born and raised in Hawaii, I describe the aloha spirit as a posture of openness, warmth, genuine hospitality, and intentionality that spans from the time we welcome others into our presence to the way we part ways when our time together is over.  If you’d like to experience a new way of relationship, discovering or reclaiming the aloha spirit within you, it might be time to change things up and try something new.  Therapy is a great place to explore and experience a new way of relating, where you can carry out that aloha spirit with you in every relationship in the larger world around you.

Getting to know me

I was born and raised in Hawaii.  My career launched after earning my Bachelor of Arts in International Relations, working and living abroad throughout Asia.  When I returned to Hawaii, I started working for a non-profit organization focused on youth leadership, partnering with a variety of high schools across the state in teaching and mentorship capacities.

The common threads throughout my professional experience have been a deep care for people, a love for cross-cultural relationship building, and a commitment to helping people understand and navigate the systems that impact their daily lives. Along the way, I've witnessed much brokenness in individuals, their relationships, and in their surrounding systems. I believe that the field of Marriage and Family Therapy holds a perspective that empowers people to find wholeness in their individual personhood, their relationships, and the communities they find themselves in.

At the MFT Clinic, I work under the supervision of Dr. Wendy Smith, PsyD. My approach to therapy is narrative, attachment-based, intergenerational, and faith-sensitive.