Frequently Asked Questions

First of all, welcome!

Congratulations on taking the first step toward the life-changing power of individual and/or couples therapy. That first step is often the hardest because starting therapy can be intimidating for many people. But investing time, money, and intention can transform your life.

If you’d like to talk about getting started with therapy and see if we’d be a good fit to work together, I offer a free 15-minute phone consultation. During this call, you can ask any questions you may have and will get a feel for what it’s like to work with me. Please contact me here or fill out the form below to schedule a consultation.

To find a therapist you’re comfortable with, it’s often helpful to get a referral from someone you know. This could be a trusted friend, physician, member of your church, or alternative health practitioner. Many people feel at ease reaching out to a therapist when they know that somebody else has had a good experience with that therapist.

If you have trouble finding a referral, trust your instincts when deciding on a potential provider. Does their tone resonate with you? Do they feel like someone you could easily connect with? Are they transparent about what it’s like to work with them? The two most important things when choosing a therapist are their qualifications and experience, as well as your level of comfort talking to them.

In my practice, I use a variety of treatment modalities depending on the needs of each client or couple. Generally speaking, most forms of psychotherapy seek to identify and change unhealthy patterns, as well as build awareness of the ways that your unique history and lived experiences impact your life. Different approaches offer different pathways to change. For example, cognitive behavioral therapy helps you better understand the connections between your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors to improve your mood and change your experience of yourself and others. Mindfulness-based therapies (including ACT and DBT) help you develop a more present-focused awareness, offer concrete skills for dealing with difficult emotions, and may help you develop greater acceptance regarding the parts of your life that cannot be changed. EFT is an approach used with couples that focuses on the emotional experience with the goal of creating a more secure, fulfilling attachment bond in a relationship. All therapy modalities ultimately aim to strengthen coping skills and develop healthier perspectives and relationships to psychological challenges.

I was extensively trained in high-fidelity DBT for a full year during my predoctoral residency at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. I incorporate these skills and principles when it is beneficial to my clients and is of interest to them. I do not offer group skills training for clients but can make referrals to separate DBT skills groups.

In many states, including California, psychiatrists and other medical doctors are licensed prescribers, while psychologists are licensed to conduct psychotherapy and perform diagnostic tests. I am a clinical psychologist and do not prescribe medication.

I do, however, believe that collaboration between providers facilitates continuity of care that is beneficial to the client. I often work closely with a client’s prescribing psychiatrist, primary care physician, or OB/GYN to provide interdisciplinary care.

After scheduling your first session, I will send you intake paperwork to complete online and submit before your appointment. Other than that, just be yourself. Many people feel nervous before their first therapy session and that is entirely normal.

I keep my practice intentionally limited so that I can provide the highest quality service to my clients. I rarely see more than 15 clients per week. The remainder of my professional time is spent teaching in a university doctoral program in clinical psychology and conducting research in the field of clinical psychology. I also book speaking events for businesses/corporate events and appearances in various media outlets that are often focused on issues related to women’s wellness and relationships.

Typically, half of my practice is comprised of individual clients, and the other half is couples at any given time.

Yes. I am trained and committed to providing evidence-based, inclusive, non-judgmental care for ethically non-monogamous couples.

Yes. I work with many LGBTQ+ clients in couples therapy and am dedicated to allyship for this community.

There is evidence that common mental health challenges can be treated as effectively via telehealth as in-person therapy. Telehealth also positively impacts issues of access, engagement, coordination of care, and cost-effectiveness.

I’ve found that clients who are particularly nervous or anxious about therapy sometimes find it easier to participate in sessions from the comfort of their own homes. Others simply are not within a reasonable distance of my office to opt for in-person therapy, making telehealth a fantastic solution.

For couples therapy, it’s ideal to have both partners in the same room during sessions to be the most effective. However, if occasionally couples are needing to join a session via telehealth from different locations, I’m able to accommodate that.

No. Switching back and forth between in-person and telehealth is a hybrid approach that many clients utilize for convenience.

I’m a licensed clinical psychologist in the state of California. Due to state guidelines, I can only offer psychotherapy services to residents of California. My office is located in South Pasadena, where I meet with clients in person.

If you are not within driving distance of South Pasadena but do live elsewhere in California, video chat or telephone sessions are available.

I’m licensed to conduct therapy with clients living anywhere in California.

Unfortunately, I am unable to provide couples therapy unless both partners are residents of the state of California. If you and your partner are residents of two different states, you must find a therapist who is licensed in both of those states.

I accept payment via cash, check, and credit cards. Clients are required to put a credit card on file to hold an appointment time. If agreed, your credit card can be automatically charged at the time of each session.

If a therapist is out of network or doesn’t take insurance, you can check with your insurance company to see if they offer partial reimbursement for services. If they do, I can provide you with a “superbill” that summarizes your treatment.

You are responsible for sending the superbill along with any paperwork required by your insurance company to them. Contact your insurance company before beginning treatment to find out what reimbursement options or rates they offer and what the process is.

Clients can cancel by text, phone, or email up to 24 hours before their appointment without being charged. The full fee for the appointment will be charged to the client if cancellation is less than 24 hours prior to the session.