Tara is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist. She has a BA in Sociology from San Francisco State University, and a Master’s in Clinical Psychology from The Wright Institute in Berkeley.
Tara is the perfect guide for those who need to build confidence and boost self-advocacy. Her therapeutic style that is warm, collaborative and evidence-based. Tara is easy to talk to and skilled and helping clients find perspective and relieve stress.
Tara teaches CBT skills to help alleviate depression, anxiety and burnout. She addresses a variety of life stressors, including transitions and unhealthy coping skills. Tara understands the mind/body connection and how it affects daily well-being. She uses mindfulness training and somatic (body awareness) strategies to promote emotional regulation.
Tara began her clinical journey in community mental health. She has worked with clients from ages 8 to 66. She has worked with a variety of presenting concerns such as depression, anxiety, and ADHD. She also addressed troubles caused by low self-esteem and self-worth. Before joining Loyal Blue, her work was focused on trauma care including couples as well as students.
Tara’s clients can expect to build a trusted relationship and stay motivated to reach their therapeutic goals. She is a loyal ally to her clients and their goals.
Tara’s previous career was working with animals in the veterinary industry. She hopes to use her therapeutic skills to support those in the veterinary field with burnout and compassion fatigue.
When Tara is not practicing therapy, she can be found spending time with her three pets, enjoying the outdoors, cooking, or traveling with her partner. She also loves DIY projects and thrifting for hidden gems.
Tara is accepting new clients for in-person and telehealth sessions to those residing in California. Our AMFTs like Tara receive weekly supervision from our team of licensed supervisors.
Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist #136222.
To get started, schedule your free 15-min consult with our practice coordinator, Kim.
Tara Specializes In:
- Depression and anxiety
- Life transitions for all ages
- Calming & Grounding skills (emotional regulation)
- Trauma-informed care
- Couples
- Those in the helping professions (veterinary staff, nurses, doctors, teachers…)
Trainings & Seminars
- Rapid Recovery From Anxiety & Shame With CBT Legend DR. David Burns: Delivered fast-acting CBT techniques developed by Dr. Burns, emphasizing tools from TEAM-CBT to alleviate anxiety and shame quickly.
- CBT for Technology Addiction – “Help I can’t get off my phone”: Examined behavioral and cognitive patterns of technology overuse, with structured CBT strategies to help clients regain control over screen time.
- Don’t Delay! Anti-Procrastination CBT Strategies to Help You and Your Patients: Presented evidence-based CBT interventions for chronic procrastination, including behavioral activation and addressing avoidance patterns.
- Indigenous Intergenerational Trauma: Highlighted the historical and cultural roots of trauma in Indigenous communities, with strategies for healing and culturally responsive care.
- Get Unstuck! Overcoming Resistance in Therapy: Offered practical tools to recognize and work through therapeutic resistance, fostering collaboration and momentum in treatment.
- Burnout, Vicarious Trauma, and Compassion Fatigue: Detailed the distinct yet interconnected concepts of vicarious trauma (VT), compassion fatigue (CF), and burnout (BO) in forensic mental health, exploring their impact across professional roles and settings, and outlining key strategies for prevention through risk identification, protective factors, self-care, and therapeutic intervention.
- Keys For Effective Treatment of Anxiety – Interoceptive Exposure and Safety Behaviors: Focused on dismantling safety behaviors and utilizing interoceptive exposure to reduce anxiety sensitivity and enhance treatment outcomes.
- CBT Refined for Generalized Anxiety Disorder Treatment: Advanced cognitive-behavioral approaches for treating GAD, including cognitive restructuring, worry exposure and intolerance of uncertainty.
- Working with LGBTQ Individuals: Provided culturally competent strategies for affirming care with LGBTQ+ clients, addressing minority stress, identity development and clinical best practices. (Presented by Jennifer Kolb, LCSW – AATBS, 2 CEs)
- Trauma-Informed Care in Behavioral Health Services: Focused on the principles of trauma-informed care, including safety, empowerment, and trust-building in therapeutic relationships. (Presented by Jennifer Kolb, LCSW – AATBS, 11 CEs)
- Mindfulness and Meaning in Life: Connected mindfulness practices with existential themes, emphasizing how present-focused awareness can foster deeper life meaning and personal fulfillment.
- Mindfulness Meditation and Psychopathology: Explored the role of mindfulness meditation in the treatment of various psychopathologies, with attention to clinical applications and contraindications.
- Core Mindfulness & Anxiety: Provided foundational training in mindfulness practices to reduce anxiety symptoms and enhance present-moment awareness in clinical settings.
- Using Social Media For Support and Feedback: Discussed the therapeutic and supportive potential of social media communities, along with ethical considerations and best practices for online engagement.
- Social Media and Mental Health: Reviewed current research on the complex relationship between social media use and mental health, including risks for anxiety and phone/technology addiction.
- Social Media and Children’s Mental Health: Examined the impact of social media on children’s psychological development, self-esteem and emotional well-being, with a focus on protective strategies.
- Mindfulness and Pandemic-Related Stress: Explored mindfulness-based strategies for managing heightened stress and anxiety brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing resilience and emotional regulation techniques.
- Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy: EFT is best known as a cutting edge, tested and proven couples intervention, but it is also used to address individual depression, anxiety and post traumatic stress.
- Gottman Method Couples Therapy: The Gottman Method is a popular research-based approach on what makes relationships last. Therapists who train in the Gottman Method learn tools to build a solid relationship, effective conflict resolution, and more.
- Webinar: Keys For Effective Treatment of Anxiety: Evidence-based techniques that quickly and effectively help clients with a range of anxiety conditions. Includes support for panic attacks and panic disorder, health anxiety, chronic pain, and chronic dizziness.
