FAQs
What are the logistics and boundaries?
All Sessions are conducted via zoom in 53+ min sessions, either once per week, twice per week, or every other week, depending on need and availability. If you need to cancel, a 48 hr notice is required to ensure I have an accurate schedule. Nothing is taboo, it’s all invited in session and everything said in therapy is considered confidential unless you present with a risk of harm to yourself or others, or there is suspected abuse or neglect of a child, elder, or dependent adult, or if disclosure is required by a court order or legal procedures. At this point I cannot maintain confidentiality.
What therapies do you offer?
I offer Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Somatic Therapy, Sensate Focus and Ketamine Therapy among other modalities. But I don’t want you to get hung up on the fancy modality titles. Every client is unique, and we will craft a unique experience tailored to your specific needs, which may be all of one modality, or a smorgasbord of different techniques and interventions.
What is sensate fOCUS?
Sensate Focus is a therapeutic technique developed by sex therapists Masters and Johnson to help individuals and couples improve intimacy, reduce performance anxiety, and reconnect with physical sensation during sexual activity. It emphasizes non-demand, mindful touch, where the goal is not intercourse or orgasm, but simply experiencing touch and sensation without pressure or judgment. The process is typically structured in a number of stages, increasing in exposure and mindfulness.
What is KETAMINE THERAPY?
Ketamine therapy is a therapeutic treatment that uses low doses of ketamine, a dissociative anesthetic, to help relieve symptoms of mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, PTSD, and chronic pain. I offer virtually supervised ketamine therapy as a way to reach depths in your treatment inaccessible with traditional therapy. This is a great option if you feel you have been to therapy over and over again and don’t feel like you are progressing much.
Is “this” too taboo?
Absolutely not. This is a safe space for you to explore and feel seen. As stated above, unless there is risk of harm to yourself or others, it’s all confidential and this space that you and I create, it’s a judgement free zone. I welcome you to bring to sessions what you have probably never brought up in previous therapeutic relationships. If it is important enough for you to want to bring up, then it is important enough for me to spend time working it with you.
WHAT MADE YOU CHOOSE THIS PROFESSION?
I actually began as a high school counselor. What drew me to that profession was simply being told I’d be good at it by the team of counselors that I worked with while at my local high school. However, after working for a number of years in the educational sector, I found myself frustrated with the lack of connection I felt with the students I was supposed to be counseling. In California, counselors average over 500 students per caseload. I felt a draw to be more connected to the people I worked with. Luckily for me, I had double majored and took the courses necessary to become a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor. Six years post-grad school, I changed careers and deep dived into the world of therapy, and I’ve never been happier. Connecting with clients on an intimate level where I feel I am capable of making real change has been rewarding and illuminating for my spirit.
How do you handle differences between us?
Race, gender, privilege, culture, sexual orientation? There is absolutely no way we will match up on everything. So I want to provide you with the reassurance that I approach every client with curiosity and cultural humility. I don’t assume any expertise on your unique lived experiences, but I remain open to learning about you and stay accountable. All of these identifying markers impact mental health, relationships, and access to safety. I’m committed to creating a space where you can bring all of who you are, including the parts that may not have been welcomed elsewhere. If I ever miss something or cause harm, I welcome feedback and take responsibility to repair. It’s an ongoing process of learning and unlearning, and I stay engaged in that work both personally and professionally
What if I don’t know what to talk about?
Valid concern. Sometimes, nothing extraordinary or out of the norm happens week to week and it may feel like your spinning in the hamster wheel by talking about “that thing” again. Remember that progress is an ongoing process. I always like to use the visual of a road trip when I address the therapeutic process. I will be there to support and guide, sitting in the passenger side. You are driving. You make the final call on where we go. And guess what, sometimes we don’t know where to go, sometimes we’re scared. So we, as a team, will work to break through some of those barriers, acknowledge the need to “drive the same road” a few times until we feel comfortable enough to get on that freeway.
What are your current rates?
My current rate is $200 an hour for individuals and $250 for couples, but don’t let that scare you off. Remember that this is an investment in your mental health and well-being, and I am always willing to work with clients with a sliding scale, take many insurances, and do offer a limited number of pro-bono sessions when needed and appropriate.
Do you take insurance?
I do. I am paneled for several insurances and offer a select number of insurance slots. Feel free to reach out through my contact page to inquire about insurance slot availability.
