Therapy FAQs
Types of Therapy
What types of therapy do you provide?
I primarily use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). This approach helps people make space for their unwanted thoughts and feelings, in the service of living a meaningful life. I also provide Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which focuses on understanding the relationships between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors to produce change. In sex therapy, we will address various aspects of sexuality and barriers to engaging in a fulfilling sexual life, including relationships with self and others. In exposure therapy, we learn how to manage fears that limit our life, with the goal of decreasing avoidance and engaging in helpful behaviors.
How will I know therapy will be successful?
The first two sessions I will do a comprehensive intake assessment. At the end of the assessment I will share: (1) My understanding of the problems you are experiencing; (2) My recommendations about how to solve the problems; (3) Whether I am the right person to help you and how confident I am about our ability to solve the problems together.
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While it is rare, I will refer clients to another provider if I am not confident I can help them.
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Ultimately, you and I will decide together at the beginning what successful treatment looks like. I will check in with you throughout our time together to ensure we are still meeting the goals you hoped to achieve at the beginning of treatment.
How would your clients describe your style of therapy?
Previous clients have told me that they appreciate that I am warm and supportive, even when I am giving them feedback that might be difficult to hear. They have said that my ability to understand their experiences makes it easier to both accept themselves and to change the parts of their lives that no longer serve them. Previous clients have appreciated that I have a great sense of humor, especially because we sometimes also need to talk about difficult or painful things.
Who do you see in therapy?
I see teens, adults, and older adults in individual therapy. I have expertise working with queer and/or trans, nonbinary, and gender expansive people; people of color; trauma survivors; and those at the intersections of these communities.
Cost of Therapy
How much does therapy cost?
My fee for each 50-minute session is $220. I have a certain amount of sliding scale availability, so please inquire.
Do you accept insurance?
I do not accept insurance. If you are on a PPO plan, I would be happy to send a superbill every month that you can send your insurance provider. You would pay for sessions upfront and send to your provider for reimbursement. See your insurance provider for details.
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I am a provider with Lyra. If your employer is contracted with Lyra, you would need to schedule with me through the Lyra portal.
What if I can't afford your therapy?
You might consider seeking therapy at a clinic I oversee. I direct and supervise an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) clinic through my role as a faculty member at Alliant International University, San Diego. The ACT clinic is a part of the Center for Applied Psychological Services (CAPS) outpatient clinic whose therapists are student trainees. The clinic uses a sliding scale fee structure to make therapy affordable to members of the community. If you are interested in pursuing therapy there, please visit their website and let them know you would like to be seen in the ACT clinic.