I grew up in a family of five with two gregarious and outspoken parents at the helm. I was encouraged to think critically, voice my opinion, and assert myself. And yet, below the surface, unhealthy relationship dynamics went unspoken and a climate of avoidance and denial flourished.  When I arrived at college, I realized I was suffering emotionally. I felt bad about myself and didn't know why. My first visit to the campus counseling center opened a door within.  

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Over time I discovered that cultivating emotional regulation skills and expressing my needs directly leads to better relationships. I became fascinated with the dissonance between what people say and what they feel and need. That curiosity continues to shape my work today.​

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Over the decades, I've immersed myself in therapeutic practices that have led to powerful internal change: mindfulness meditation, self-inquiry, Alexander Technique, Internal Family Systems, Somatic Experiencing, and psychedelic-assisted therapy.​​ Some of the scariest moments have arrived when "I found myself within a forest dark, For the straightforward pathway had been lost." Those are also the moments when life begins to open. What I love to do is provide a safe and calm environment for others at such moments.

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Before becoming a coach and mediator, I spent more than 20 years working in strategic communications for WIRED Magazine and, later, higher education. That experience deepened my understanding of how people communicate when tensions run hot, where misunderstandings arise, and how conflict can shape relationships and organizations. Today I am a certified life coach, accredited by the International Coaching Federation, and a certified mediator in the state of California. I serve as a volunteer coach and mediator with Community Boards and the Department of Police Accountability in San Francisco.