About Elani

I look forward to accompanying you on your healing journey, offering hope and validation, warm support and reassuring guidance. Whatever brings you to therapy - your relationships, stress, trauma, pain, fears, hurts - I will believe in you until you can believe in yourself - your wisdom, your capacity for healing, your inner strengths. You are entitled to experience your own delightful spirit, moments of wonder and aliveness, curiosity and spontaneity, finding joy and peace in your life.

I offer compassion, insight, commitment, and open-heartedness, from my years of life and work experience, as well as a lifetime of spiritual and mindfulness practice. It was a midlife moment along my own personal journey that brought me to this work. I realized my purpose and my passion, that of being of service to those, who like myself, were seeking transformation of old patterns and reclaiming of inner wisdom, confidence and connection to spirit, self, and others.

I identify as a “creative” with years of experience in fine and performing arts. This enables me to engage effortlessly with the creative experiences and challenges of others, whether in the field of hi-tech, academia, the arts, or in simply seeking to create a more bountiful, fulfilling and rich life. I have had the privilege of living as a working artist in Europe for a number of years, and spending much time traveling and experiencing other cultures, languages and people; this serves to enrich who I am as a person and as a psychotherapist. It is my joy to practice what for me is yet another art form: the art of psychotherapy, with all the nuances, delicacy, attunement, and tough love that results in a masterpiece.

As a Certified Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapist with advanced training, I Incorporate IFS into my own continuing growth toward being the best human being I can be and offer it to my clients as my primary treatment focus.

Internal Family Systems “is capable of helping you not only turn down the noise in your mind but also create an inner atmosphere of light and peace, bringing more confidence, clarity, and creativity to your relationships.” Richard Schwartz, PhD, founder of IFS.

I also draw from a variety of other modalities, based on your needs (please see My Specialties). I offer a safe, confidential, and compassionate environment in which to discover your own inner strengths and ability to transcend challenges. Together we will move forward quickly, achieving new levels of emotional wellness, harmony, success and happiness in your life, and fulfillment in your relationships.

Let us begin! Call 831-427-5505 to leave a confidential message.

Credential

Licensed Clinical Social Worker: LCS 20450

Education

Masters Degree in Social Work
College of Social Work, San Jose State University

Bachelor's Degree, Art and Psychology
Mills College, Oakland, CA

Advanced Certificate in Alcohol and Drug Studies
UC Santa Cruz Extension, Santa Cruz, CA

Certificate in Spanish Studies
University of Madrid, Spain

IFS Training and Workshops

Level 1 Internal Family Systems
Level 2 Deepening and Expanding with IFS
Level 3 Specialized Advanced Retreat

• How IFS Understands and Works with Shame
• Intimacy From the Inside Out
• Shame and Worthlessness: The Drivers of our Extreme Parts
• IFS, A Revolutionary & Transformative Treatment for Healing PTSD, Anxiety, & Depression
• Internal Family Systems: Couples Counseling
• A Compassionate Approach to Addictive Processes with Internal Family Systems

Professional Organizations

Monterey Bay Psychological Association
California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists