Frequently Asked Questions

Getting Started

  • Therapy can help if you're feeling stuck, overwhelmed, anxious, or disconnected from yourself—even if you can't pinpoint exactly why. You don't need to be in crisis to benefit from therapy. Many people start because something just feels "off," and they want support figuring out what's next. If you're curious whether therapy might help, booking a free consultation is a low-pressure way to explore that question.

  • A 15-minute discovery call (done via video visit) is a chance for us to connect and see if we're a good fit for a client-therapist relationship. I'll ask a bit about what's bringing you to therapy, and you can ask me any questions about how I work. There's no pressure to commit—it's simply a conversation to help you decide if this feels right.

    When you’re ready, you can book this call here.

  • Even if you know you want to work with me, I always recommend starting with a 15-minute free consultation. This meeting, done via video visit, will give us the chance to get introductions and administrative questions out of the way without taking up any of your therapy time. It also gives me a chance to learn a little bit about what brings you in, which will help me to better prepare for your intake session.

    When you’re ready, you can book this call here.

Sessions & Logistics

  • This is up to you!

    I offer in-person sessions at my comfortable, serene, and private clinic in Rancho Bernardo.

    If you prefer to meet online or if your geography makes meeting in person impractical, I also offer online sessions (commonly known as “telehealth”) to clients located elsewhere in the state of California.

  • Your first session (or intake session) is 75-90 minutes, in order to allow for history-taking and gathering more information to structure our initial treatment plan

    Individual therapy sessions after the initial intake are 55-90 minutes in length, depending on your unique needs and our determined approach.

  • Most clients receive the greatest benefit from meeting weekly for at least the first 6-8 weeks. Over time, we may adjust frequency based on your needs and goals. Some clients eventually move to biweekly or monthly sessions as they feel more grounded. Others eventually feel well enough to proceed with therapy on an as-needed basis, and simply book a session when they feel they need it. We'll figure out what works best for you together.

  • It’s challenging to know how many sessions you will need without getting to know you. After our free 15-minute consultation call, I can provide a “Good Faith Estimate” in writing that will outline some possible scenarios, along with total costs of each.

    I CAN say, however, that my goal is to get clients feeling better as quickly as possible and for that reason, I work with evidence-based approaches in my practice. My interventions are designed to help you find a path towards resolution in a timeframe that doesn’t require years of therapy. Therapy is a process rather than an event and while there are ups and downs throughout life, in general, my goal in our work together is for you to be on an overall upward trajectory towards greater overall happiness.

  • My office is located in the Clock Tower Office Plaza in Rancho Bernardo, just off the I-15 freeway at Bernardo Center Drive in North County San Diego.

    I also offer telehealth (video visits) to clients throughout the state of California.

  • My current license (LMFT # 53026) enables me to practice psychotherapy with clients physically located in the State of California only. However, I am working towards licensing in other western states including Arizona, Colorado, Washington, and Oregon. Feel free to follow me for updates!

Insurance & Fees

  • Intake sessions (75-90 minutes) are $250. This is the fee for your first session only.

    After intake, ongoing individual sessions (50 minutes) are $175.

    You’re able to pay with check, cash, or credit card through your client portal.

  • I am credentialed with Anthem Blue Cross, Aetna, and Carelon Behaivoral Health through Headway. Signup at Headway is free and easy.

    I am an out-of-network provider, with most other insurance companies, which means I do not directly bill insurance for plans outside of Aetna and Carelon Behavioral Health. However, I can provide a superbill (a detailed receipt) that you can submit to your insurance company for potential reimbursement through your out-of-network benefits. I'm happy to walk you through how that process works.

  • Psychotherapists are bound by a code of ethics and an inherent commitment to provide the highest quality of care with client well-being as the very first priority. Many therapists choose not to work directly with insurance companies because the restrictions these companies place can inhibit the therapist’s ability to adequately provide that care. Insurance companies often limit the number or frequency of sessions, require diagnoses that may not be relevant to client experience (and can potentially stay in a file and cause future difficulty), or influence treatment protocol in ways that don’t align with what a client truly needs.

    Staying out of network allows us to focus on your goals rather than insurance requirements. It also gives us greater privacy and keeps you in complete control of your personal treatment files.

  • I offer a limited number of sliding scale spots based on financial need. If cost is a barrier, please reach out—I'm committed to making therapy as accessible as possible within my capacity.

    I also offer a professional rate for other mental health professionals. Please reach out for more information, as this varies depending on your unique needs.

What to Expect in Therapy

  • So that we can be as efficient with our time as possible, prior to your first session (i.e. your “intake session”) you will complete a thorough Intake Assessment that will provide me with extensive information about what brought you in for therapy (i.e. your “presenting problems”), as well as a shapshot of your life up to this point (i.e. your “psychosocial history”). I will have reviewed the results of this survey in detail prior to the session. The session, itself, will be used to further clarify relevant information, further elaborate on your goals for our work together, and, if needed, provide you with coping skills or resources to assist you with any immediate concerns or challenges.

    You will leave this session knowing what our next steps are and I’ll leave with what I need in order to structure our initial treatment plan.

  • There's no single formula, but most sessions involve talking through what's present for you—what's been on your mind, what's coming up emotionally, what patterns you're noticing. Sometimes we'll use creative tools like journaling prompts, art exercises, or metaphor to access deeper insight. My approach is warm and collaborative, and sessions move at your pace.

  • You can learn more about CBT on this page.

  • You can learn more about EMDR on this page.

  • You can learn more about Solution-Focused Therapy on this page.

  • You can learn more about Talk Therapy on this page.