Therapy is a journey, a time of reflection, and learning to turn towards your unseen parts to create a life you feel more in alignment with in all areas of your life. It’s about stepping into your truth, finding your authentic voice, and learning to be more self-compassionate and less rigid with how you view yourself, your life, those you care about, or have to work with. It’s about suffering less, and finding what you need to be more free, and skillful in this complex world.

I am a client centered therapist, meaning I want to meet you where you are. Down to earth, gentle, honest, and transparent with a lot of life experiences and genuine curiosity about people and the meaning they make of their lives. I am nonjudgmental and straight forward, and will walk beside you. I can balance well the acceptance and listening while you figure it out, AND also can suggest, guide, and teach.

I am a 9/11 Veteran, and have a vast amount of experience in the medical field, was a medic, nurse, massage therapist- and am very holistic minded in my approach to mental wellness- it is a whole body, mind and spirit experience. I have studied and see the huge benefits of body movement, yoga, Qi Gong, Tai Chi, nutrition, mediation, nature therapy, sound, art, and animal therapy- and love to get creative in finding what heals and works for you.

My Professional Background

After the Navy I had my son, and life and work has been a balance of being a single Mom, and being a therapist who loves the work- and knows the balance that is absolutely paramount.

I worked an inpatient hospital in San Diego in graduate school and out of Graduate school moved to Okinawa, Japan and worked for UCLA providing therapy and resiliency skills to the Marines, Navy, Army and Air Force. Returning Stateside I worked part time for a DBT center providing therapy for suicidal teens, their families, and leading groups, while also working at a clinic position providing therapy for opiate addiction, replacement therapies and harm reduction and various models of recovery. Mainly young mothers trying to get off opiates, keep their kids, and better their lives. I was the therapist for the acute cases and pregnant moms who were to deliver, a lot of prenatal health, and aftercare. I then took a position as the clinical lead for a Veteran homeless dual diagnosis behavioral health center, running groups and individual therapy for Veterans, and supervising AOD counselors and interns. That was where I implemented a lot of therapies like walking, tai chi, chair yoga, meditation, gardening, art, music therapy, laugh therapy and we also had a lot of cats on site, so they were part of the daily groups and therapy.

I then worked an intensive PHP/IOP DBT program for Sutter per diem, while still working at the DBT center and later leaving Sutter worked part time as the trauma therapist for a human sex trafficking intervention program and safe house for sexual abuse and domestic violence. I have my own practice, called Strom’s Nomad therapy- where I do walk talk, art museum sessions, paddle boarding, archery with teens, adults, and their families. I have a small contract with a teen residential program leading walking groups, and also a small contract with a group practice to serve a small group of Medi-Cal clients.

I continue to learn and grow as a therapist and human, constantly adding to my tools for the betterment of my clients and self, and am licensed currently in California with plans to expand to Washington and Idaho.

Education, Training, and Certifications

• BS Degree Liberal Studies and Humanities, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA
• Certified Holistic Health and Massage Therapist, World School of Massage, San Francisco, CA
• U.S. Navy 2002-2007 Hospital Corpsman Field Medic 8404, and Preventive Medicine Specialist 8432.
• Certified EMT
• MS in Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy, Phoenix University, San Diego, CA
• IATP Certified Trauma Therapist
• Certified DBT Therapist with Lane Pederson, PSY.D, LP and additional training through Behavioral Tech
• Certified Advanced Mindfulness Therapist with Donald Altman, M.A., LPC, and Richard Sears, Psy.D, Ph.D, ABPP Internet and Tech Addiction
• MBCT Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy Certification, Richard Sears, Psy.D, Ph.d, ABPP
• Treating Traumatic Stress: Sensory, Yoga and Mindfulness to Rewire the Brain, PESI
• Food and Mood, PESI
• Psychodrama: Tools for working in Action with Kathy Campbell, LMFT
• Mindfulness and Self-Compassion, with Dr. Luana Cook and Dr. Sean Cook- 12 week retreat
• Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) Developing Brian impact over the life, and assessment administration, with Dr. Jessica Rodriguez
• ACT Acceptance, Commitment Therapy for Depression, Anxiety, Trauma, and Personality Disorders with Robert Brian Denton, Psy.D
• EMDR for Telemental Health, PESI
• Brainspotting: Trauma Therapy with Lisa Larson, LMFT
• Trauma-Chronic Pain-Addiction training with Dr. Ursual Stehle, Ph.D
• Neurofeedback for Healing Attachment Trauma and Dysregulation with Ce Eshelman, LMFT
• Evidenced-Based Trauma Treatments and 10 Core Competencies of Trauma, PTSD, Grief and Loss with Eric Gentry, Ph.D, LMHC
• Neuroscience-informed Treatment of Anxiety, Panic and Worry with Dr. Marwa Azab, Ph.D
• Modern Sexual Issues in Clinical Practice with David Ley., Ph.D
• Cyberspace: New Frontier of Infidelity with Talal Alsaleem, Psy.D, LMFT
• Considerations working with Military, First responders, Fire and Law Enforcement, with Eva Tak, LMFT
• Certified Holistic Health and Massage Therapist, World School of Massage, San Francisco, CA
• Intercranial Sacral Massage Therapy Certification to treat PTSD and TBI, US Navy

Fun Facts

I love adventures! I like to write, and spend time with my 14 year old son, we LOVE the movies, and recently picked up dirt bike riding. I very much enjoy water, and like to surf, and paddle board, swim, and enjoy finding lakes and going on hikes. I enjoy mountain biking and snowshoeing. Travel is amazing and I have done a lot, AND enjoy chilling with my two cats at home too. I enjoy playing music, piano, tinkering on the guitar, but love to listen to music- and enjoy art and learning new things. I enjoy cooking healthy meals. I’m a bit of an introvert, but have very dear friends- male and female- I am biracial, Danish and Vietnamese and have been to both my parents homelands. I enjoy the gym when it is not crowded, and take walks daily. You never know what you will see, every day is the different.