Hi, I'm April.

I am the Founder and Clinical Director of New Leaf Counseling, leading a team of therapists who provide specialized therapy for children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families throughout the Coachella Valley.

As Clinical Director, I oversee the clinical vision of the practice and support our therapists in delivering thoughtful, evidence-based care. My role includes clinical consultation, therapist mentorship, and ensuring that the care provided at New Leaf reflects the latest research in child development, attachment, and effective mental health treatment.

In addition to leading the practice, I work directly with children, teens, parents, and adults who are navigating anxiety, emotional overwhelm, relationship challenges, and difficult life transitions.

Areas of Expertise

• Anxiety and emotional overwhelm in children, teens, and adults

• OCD and Exposure & Response Prevention (ERP)

• Parenting support and parent–child relationship challenges

• Highly sensitive children and teens

• Behavioral and emotional regulation

• Trauma, grief, and life transitions

• School and developmental challenges

• Family relationships and communication

Helping Children, Teens, Adults, and Families Navigate Big Feelings

I’m a licensed psychotherapist who specializes in helping people navigate what I often call “big feelings”—the anger, anxiety, frustration, and emotional overwhelm that can make life feel difficult.

For children, these experiences may show up as irritability, tantrums, school challenges, sleep problems, anxiety, or difficulty focusing. For adults, they can appear as persistent stress, relationship difficulties, burnout, or feeling overwhelmed by daily responsibilities.

In therapy, I help clients understand these experiences through a developmental and nervous-system perspective, while building practical tools that support emotional regulation, resilience, and healthier relationships.

My work integrates insights from brain science, attachment research, and mindfulness-based practices to help individuals and families move beyond simply managing symptoms toward deeper understanding and lasting change.

Supporting Children and Families Through Growth and Change

Children and adolescents are constantly navigating change—physically, emotionally, socially, and within their families.

While some young people seem to move through these transitions easily, others struggle and may feel like they are facing challenges in every area of life. Many of the children and teens I work with are highly sensitive, thoughtful, and perceptive individuals who simply need the right support and strategies to thrive.

I work closely with both young people and their parents to create a calmer and more supportive path through the busy years of childhood and adolescence. My goal is to help families better understand one another, strengthen relationships, and build skills that support long-term emotional wellbeing.

My Therapeutic Philosophy  

I believe that every behavior communicates something important.

Behaviors—whether in children, teens, or adults—often reflect unmet needs, emotional stress, or skills that still need to be developed. When we begin to understand what a behavior is communicating, we can move from frustration or confusion toward curiosity and meaningful change.

In therapy, I start by meeting individuals exactly where they are and working collaboratively to understand what is happening beneath the surface.

My approach is:

Holistic

I look at the whole person—not just a symptom or behavior. Understanding the broader context of someone’s life helps us identify root causes and create deeper, more lasting healing.

Strengths-Based

I focus on identifying and building on each person’s existing strengths. When individuals recognize their resilience and abilities, they are better able to develop new ways of navigating challenges.

Trauma-Informed

Stressful or adverse experiences can affect both the mind and body. I incorporate therapeutic approaches that support safety, emotional regulation, and healing from difficult experiences.

Collaborative Work with Parents

When working with children and teens, I view parents and caregivers as essential partners in the therapeutic process.

I collaborate closely with families to:

• Identify meaningful goals for therapy

• Strengthen parent-child relationships

• Provide practical strategies for challenging behaviors

• Support children’s emotional development and resilience

Whenever helpful, I also work with schools and other professionals involved in a child’s care to ensure consistent support across environments.

Education & Professional Background

I have worked with children, adults, and families since 2011, supporting clients facing challenges such as anxiety, OCD, depression, ADHD, autism, trauma, grief, behavioral difficulties, and family relationship challenges.

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California (LMFT #104382) and hold a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from Pepperdine University.

My professional training includes:

• Play Therapy

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

• Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)

• Trauma-informed therapy

• Evidence-based approaches for children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families

Before founding New Leaf Child & Family Counseling in 2016, I worked in nonprofit agencies, clinics, and school settings. I also provided intensive in-home therapy for children with autism, developmental delays, and significant social-emotional challenges, while supporting parents in strengthening their child’s emotional and behavioral development.

I later served as Program Director at CancerPartners, where I oversaw psychosocial programming, managed a multidisciplinary team of mental health professionals and educators, and facilitated support groups for individuals and families affected by cancer.

Leadership & Community Work

As Clinical Director of New Leaf Child & Family Counseling, I am committed to building a practice that provides thoughtful, compassionate, and high-quality mental health care for our community.

In addition to providing therapy, I mentor and support therapists within our practice and help guide the clinical approaches used across our team. My goal is to ensure that every client who walks through our doors receives care that is informed by research, grounded in empathy, and focused on lasting growth.

A Warm, Practical Approach

Clients often describe me as relatable, thoughtful, and down-to-earth, with a natural ability to connect with children, teens, and adults alike.

While therapy often involves working through difficult emotions, I also believe that humor, playfulness, and moments of lightness can be powerful parts of the healing process.

Take the First Step

Reaching out for support takes courage. If you or your family are struggling, therapy can provide the tools and understanding needed to move forward with greater confidence and calm.