I'm Shantal, insatiably curious about human patterns for as long as I can remember. I was a rebel against systems even in grade school, ditching classes to sit in Barnes & Noble and coffee shops, devouring books and articles and poems, asking why any of us do what we do at all.
Becoming a therapist… is the best decision I have ever made. I spent nearly a decade before that in a leadership role in finance that kept disappointing me, all while navigating my own unconscious patterns, limiting beliefs that kept me playing really small, feeling depleted and alone, especially in my romantic and sexual relationships. The first step for me was changing my career. It could have been anything, really, but that was the moment I learned the power of agency. The path ahead, while at times very difficult, was so, so worth it. More than anything, that season taught me that I wanted to support others in taking agency of their own lives too, especially in their relationships and sexual experiences.
I've dedicated my career to it. To support this work, I am trained in all three levels of the Gottman Method, evidence-based and the gold standard in relationship therapy, and in EMDR, specifically to allow for a sensitive navigation when sexual or relationship trauma shows up. I'm currently a PhD student in Human Sexuality, with ongoing training from the best therapists in the field. I specialize in helping partners and individuals navigate the various transitions that inevitably show up in life. Some of those seasons can feel more difficult than others, such as infidelity, desire mismatch, sex that has drifted, and compulsive sexual behaviors.
I'm a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist based in San Diego, working with individuals and couples in person and virtually across California. I'm direct and warm in equal measure, as willing to name the hard thing as I am to sit with you while you find your own way to it. If you've been waiting for the right time to do this work, consider this your invitation to the hard work that's so, so worth it.
