I spent a large portion of my life trying to do it all at the expense of learning how to just be. Somewhere along the way, I forgot that we are, after all, human beings, not human doings. After completing two bachelor's degrees in three years with a 4.0 GPA, I did a year of volunteer work with Americorps. I then graduated in the top 10% of my class from UCLA School of Law and began working as a litigator at several Los Angeles-based international law firms. I had everything that I thought would make me happy -- the educational achievements, the big law job, the apartment steps from the beach, the car, the clothes -- and it was not enough. I understand the perfectionism and anxiety that is common to most people who suffer from chronic pain firsthand. 

Years of living under chronic stress, some externally imposed but most of it internally generated, I came to a place of realizing that the physical and emotional costs of being unkind to myself, placing undue pressure on myself to be perfect, and forcing myself to do a job that was not meant for me were much too high.  After much hesitation, I made a leap into the great unknown and walked away from law to try to find what really inspired me. As it turned out, that has been my work as a therapist. I received a Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University and am passionate about learning as much as I can about psychology, neuroscience, and the field of chronic pain.  Prior to entering into private practice, I received excellent training and worked with fantastic clients at two community mental health clinics in Los Angeles. Since completing my M.A., I have worked as a therapist and Director of Operations at The Pain Psychology Center before launching Mind Body Heart Therapy. I also serve as the Psychology Advisor to SPARK6.