Meet Your Therapist

My darkest night began at the age of 16 when the lights went out. I didn’t think I’d ever see

sunshine again.

I was born in Dublin, Ireland. Soon after, my family moved to the San Francisco Bay Area. My

childhood was happy and fun-filled. High school began as a promising chapter. I was an A-

student with lots of friends. I was excelling on the swim team. Life was an exciting adventure.

At 16, persistent migraine headaches invaded my life and wouldn’t leave. Medication left me

numb, unable to think or stay awake in class. My grades fell. Fibromyalgia put an end to

competitive swimming. I became depressed and lost interest in life. After three years of

suffering, I told my parents, “If I could have one day without pain, just one hour, there’d be

hope.”

I was referred to the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, one of the best pediatric facilities in the

world and part of the Stanford University Medical Center. They created a therapeutic

team for me including my own internist, neurologist, psychiatrist, psychologist, physical therapist, and nurse practitioner. All of them working together couldn’t heal me. I was about to give up when a young doctor on the team sat me down in his office and told me, “I know what you’re going through, Grace. When I was your age, the same thing happened to me. I had a headache that continued throughout my high school years. When I went to college, it just faded away. I think you’re going to experience the same.” 

He was right. A few years later, the sun was shining once again, though clouds still occasionally come and go.

My experience with suffering led me to choose a career in which I could help people. I enrolled

in the social work program at San Jose State University. After an internship at West Valley

Community Services, an NGO that helps homeless people find housing and restart their lives, I

was offered a part-time position. Four years later, I graduated with honors. At the graduation ceremony, my professors awarded me the Outstanding BASW Projects award and the department chairperson presented me with an expensive pen. “This is for filling out your application for graduate school,” she told me. Before working on a master’s degree, I decided to get more experience in the field. I continued non-profit work, becoming a manager and fostering growth in new case managers. 

After working in social work for over 10 years, I entered a graduate studies program in Social Work with a focus on health and mental health. Upon graduation in 2019, I returned to the Stanford University Medical Center, not as a patient but as a member of the hospital’s emergency trauma team. Now I was at the forefront of crisis social work, aiding those in dire need, both physically and mentally. One of my responsibilities was meeting patients to assess for Acute Stress Disorder following a near-death experience. For so many people, it was the worst day of their life. Some had gunshot wounds. Others had been in car accidents. Others were in the midst of a life-threatening medical crisis. Among my other responsibilities was counseling patients who had attempted to end their lives. This was always the most challenging and often the most rewarding work. In 2021, I completed 3,000 hours of professional training under the hospital’s clinical supervision program, and in 2022, I obtained my license as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. 

Now, after years of study and work experience, I’ve decided to transition to private practice.

My goals in private practice include the following four perspectives:

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1. Therapy in a Relaxed Environment: I want to spend quality time with my patients, and

provide continuity to their care. Solutions often take time to form and apply. I’ll stick

with you as long as you need me.

2. Precisely Tailored Care: From handling cases related to depression, anxiety, and other

life challenges, I recognize the importance of listening to my patients and not assuming

that two people are the same. Every individual’s journey is unique and requires a

correspondingly unique therapeutic approach. I’ll help you find and implement the one

that’s best for you.

3. Empathy from Experience: I know firsthand the challenges of a life crisis. I also know

what it’s like to face an uphill battle with little hope of relief. Whatever your situation,

I’ll be there to help you through the lows and to celebrate the highs.

4. Healing the Whole Person: I believe in caring for the whole person, not just the

immediate problem. My therapeutic approach is built on professional academic training

and real-world experience at leading institutions. In addition to this—for clients who

request it—I offer spiritual insight and suggestions informed by my lifelong study of the

Christian faith. Ask me about this, and I’ll tell you how we can include a spiritual

dimension in our conversations.