My
Approach.
“Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.”​
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Collaboration is Key
Each session begins by taking a temperature check on what you are experiencing in the moment, with particular attention to the challenges having the greatest impact on your life. Whether you are navigating anxiety, stress, relationship difficulties, identity concerns, difficult emotions, or burnout, we look closely at how these experiences are showing up and creating disruption today.
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As we explore these challenges more deeply, it often becomes clear that what brings someone to therapy is only the surface of a larger issue. Beneath that surface are unconscious patterns that shape how people think, feel, and respond. This is where the most meaningful therapeutic work takes place.
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As protective armor, resistance, and long-held defenses begin to soften, patterns and behaviors that once felt automatic become easier to recognize. From there, we can begin creating a way living that more closely reflects how you want to show up in your life, whether in relationships, work, academics, or other areas.
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Therapy moves at a pace that feels safe and supportive for you. As trust develops and you feel ready to engage more deeply, we identify the habits, thought patterns, emotional responses, and relational cycles that keep you feeling stuck. This phase often brings greater awareness and insight, which can be accompanied by a range of emotional responses. Some people notice clarity or relief, while others may initially experience discomfort, shame, or guilt. This is often a sign that change is beginning.
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From there, our work focuses on integrating past experiences with a more aligned sense of self, while also developing practical strategies and daily practices that support lasting change. Therapy is most effective when you are open to exploring your inner world and willing to take small, consistent steps in your everyday life. Supporting that balance is an important part of our work together.
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Therapy is not a fixed formula. It is a collaborative process that blends insight, self-awareness, and practical action. Each session integrates an understanding of the mind and nervous system with tangible tools, helping you move toward greater clarity, purpose, and confidence.
Sitting on the Edge of Discomfort
Growth rarely begins in comfort. It begins at the edge.
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Much of my work is grounded in the idea of sitting on the edge of discomfort. This is the space between reacting and responding, between avoiding and engaging, between staying stuck and moving forward. It is the moment when you feel the pull to shut down, lash out, numb out, or retreat, and instead choose to stay present.
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Discomfort is not the enemy. In many cases, it is the doorway. Anxiety, tension, vulnerability, and uncertainty often signal that you are approaching something meaningful. The goal is not to overwhelm you or push you beyond your limits. It is to help you build the capacity to stay with what is difficult, long enough to respond with clarity rather than impulse.
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When we consistently avoid discomfort, life quietly shrinks. Confidence erodes. Patterns repeat. But when we learn to sit at that edge, to breathe, observe, and remain steady, something shifts. Your nervous system recalibrates. Your tolerance expands. You begin to experience, firsthand, that discomfort is not the same as danger.
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In our work together, we approach growth thoughtfully and strategically. We examine the systems and habits shaping your daily life, strengthen the foundations that support resilience, and gradually expand your comfort zone in ways that are sustainable and integrated. Real change is not forced. It is practiced.
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My philosophy is simple. You do not become confident by waiting to feel ready. You become confident by learning that you can handle what once felt unmanageable. And that learning happens at the edge.
Learn to Sharpen the Saw
For a VERY long time, I had a complicated relationship with therapy. I resisted it and found every excuse why it would not work for me. Deep down, I did not want to face the reality that I had major problems that required professional attention. It was only when I reached a personal low point, where everything started to unravel, that I realized something had to change. I could no longer think or wish my way out of it or keep avoiding what hurt. I needed to take accountability and responsibility for my past and present if I wanted to even make it to a future.
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What followed was years of honest and uncomfortable inner work. I confronted painful traumas, fractured relationships, deeply rooted fears and insecurities, personal identity questions, and destructive patterns and behaviors I was unconsciously repeating for years. It was not easy at first, but over time the work began to provide clarity, self-respect, and a stronger understanding of what I was capable of. I finally stopped living reactively to my emotions and started making choices aligned with my values and the person I wanted to become.
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I still have work ahead, but I know firsthand how transformative therapy can be when you begin to face your fears and prioritize yourself. Therapy offers more than coping; it can help you rebuild from the inside out, strengthen emotional discipline and accountability, and develop awareness of your patterns and triggers. It provides the tools to navigate life with intention and purpose. For anyone feeling hesitant or discouraged, it is worth remembering that change is possible and that investing in yourself can create the foundation for a life that feels authentic, resilient, and fully yours.
Education
Antioch University, Los Angeles – Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage & Family Therapy
Specialization: Addiction & Recovery
Santa Clara University, Santa Clara – Bachelor's Degree in Psychology
Experience
Dr. Markus Rogan Psychotherapy – Marriage and Family Therapist
Kaiser Permanente – Marriage and Family Therapist
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Clear Recovery Center – Therapist Trainee
Affiliations
CAMFT – California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists