Sylvia's Bio
I am a San Diego native and had the great opportunity to grow up at the beach. I went to college right after high school and gladly adopted the “career student” title and obtained two Bachelor’s degrees and two minor degrees. I moved to the East Coast for a short period of time after graduating and worked at Harvard Book Store on Massachusetts Avenue which was a great experience. I then went overseas to Japan and taught English as a Second Language for a year and a half. Upon returning from Japan, I was searching for a permanent career which would allow me to utilize my passions. I had undergraduate degrees in Philosophy and Comparative Religions and minor degrees in Psychology and Sociology. After investigating the field of Counseling, I knew it was a good fit and that I wanted to be a therapist.
Education
I have spent several years learning, training and studying in order to be a therapist in San Diego. I hold a Master's degree in Marriage & Family Therapy from the University of San Diego and am a licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in both California and Arkansas offering individual and couples counseling. I also hold two Bachelor’s degrees in the fields of Comparative World Religions and Philosophy and have minored in both Psychology and Sociology. I believe my solid academic education coupled with diverse life experiences contribute to the breadth and richness of my counseling approach and the insightful and challenging form of therapy I offer. I work hard to discern the unique needs of my clients, thereby creating an environment which is comfortable and conducive to growth and discovery.
Counseling Approach
I strive to create a caring and safe, yet challenging environment and I'm having great success doing this via internet counseling after more than 23 years of in-office experience. All of us at some point encounter times of uncertainty, worry, sadness or crisis. You may find yourself responding to people or situations in a repetitive and unproductive manner leaving you frustrated and tired, unable to effectively work with life's challenges or develop optimal relationships. I invite positive change and new direction while we explore ways to break patterns that rob you of your potential. Whether you want to make better sense of your situation, or move life along an entirely new course, you will be encouraged to use your strengths, talents and potentials to foster insight and change. No person is broken, nor needs to be fixed, but only rediscovered.