First Session
Depending on circumstances and needs, in our initial session we will work to establish a secure and safe connection, explore your current issues as well as history, and review your goals for our work together. We will also review confidentiality and its limits, as well as practice policies and fees. Frequently, I find, we may in parallel address most immediate concerns and brainstorm solutions to challenges you may be facing this very moment. Although at times frightening, starting therapy often also carries a great degree of relief. It is as if the free-floating worries and anxieties that have led you to seek help in the first place have finally found a home, a container. Your psyche begins to trust that this container is there, even between sessions.
Ongoing Work
I work from a systems perspective, informed by psychodynamic, emotionally-focused, and transpersonal approaches. I take the time to truly understand the person in front of me, not only in the sessions themselves but also between sessions, through practices that include personal reflections, meditations, and consultations. You may be paying for a single session during the week (or a few sessions, if it is available for your financially), but you're getting much more time outside of those sessions dedicated to your case. This way of working is woven into the fabric of my being, as I value the therapeutic relationship both in the immediate moment in the consultation room and also beyond.
In our initial few sessions we will continue the work we began in the first session, establishing a secure and safe connection which can serve as a foundation for our work. We will also continue to explore your current issues as well as history. You may also find that in the early phase, just as in the first session, as we build trust, clarify long-term goals, and I work to understand you and your experience better, we may continue to address any immediate concerns and challenges you may have.
Our overall ongoing work together will be continually tailored to what arises in your experience and what your needs are. This may change over time and also may include addressing recurring themes. The work may be supportive, exploratory, or process-oriented. It may be more structured and include skills building. It may include expressive arts. It may be a combination of these approaches. While I tend to be depth-oriented, I meet you where you are at in your journey and tailor therapy to your unique experience and needs.
I frequently weave mindfulness with other evidence-based practices. Whichever route we take on your journey to wholeness, healing, and self-discovery, we will work to clarify hidden patterns at play and discover solutions to any obstacles or problems you might be facing.
An important point I often share—therapy does not have to be stifling or devoid of humor. It seems to often be the best when it's dynamic. It may be serious, of course, and we may also find ourselves laughing when levity may do some good. We may occasionally even laugh and cry at the same time. Or we may simply sit in awe of the beauty and the depth of the present moment, reaping its healing and transformative potential.
The degree of depth and breadth of the work we do is really up to you. Although I may offer my opinions and guidance when needed and answer any questions that might arise for you in the course of our work together, throughout this process I will be firmly in your corner, empowering you to claim your place in your own life and in the world at large.
Fees
(See below for out-of-pocket assistance)
Individual Sessions
$300
Couples Sessions
$350
Group Sessions — Contact me for information on joining a group
$125
Weekend & Evening Sessions
Standard-rate and reduced-fee appointments are ordinarily scheduled during weekday practice hours, 9 AM – 5 PM. Weekend and evening (5 PM and after) appointments are limited and are offered at a weekend/evening rate of $350 per 50-minute session for individual sessions and $400 per 50-minute session for couples sessions.
Weekend and evening availability is not guaranteed and may be considered individually when clinically necessary or as a disability-related accommodation.
Additional out-of-pocket assistance
Sliding scale: Please inquire.
Insurance: I do not take insurance at this time; however, I do provide Superbills per request, which you can submit to your insurance for reimbursement.
Testing & Assessments
I do not currently administer psychological/neuropsychological tests or provide comprehensive psychological testing evaluations. I do, however, screen—through clinical interviews—for relevant DSM-5-TR diagnostic criteria and diagnoses.
I also conduct addiction-related ASAM assessments. These assessments are based on criteria developed by the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) and are commonly used to determine recommended levels of care, inform treatment planning, and support insurance and utilization review processes related to medical necessity and authorization of specific levels of treatment for substance use and co-occurring disorders.
Medication Management
At this time, I am unable to provide medication management. Unfortunately, psychologists are not able to prescribe in California and most other states in the US, except a handful few. Happy to talk when things change.
Standard therapy hour is 50 minutes; if you desire extended sessions, please inquire.