Frequently Asked Questions

Getting Started with Therapy

  • If you're asking this question, therapy might already be calling to you. There's no "right" level of struggle that qualifies you for support—you don't need to be in crisis to benefit from therapy.

    You might benefit from therapy if you:

    • Feel stuck in patterns that aren't serving you

    • Experience anxiety, depression, or emotional overwhelm

    • Struggle with relationships or intimacy

    • Have experienced trauma (big or small)

    • Feel disconnected from yourself or your body

    • Want to understand yourself more deeply

    • Are going through a major life transition

    • Simply feel like something is "off" but can't quite name it

    Therapy isn't just for when things are falling apart. It's also for when you're ready to grow, heal, and live more authentically. If you're curious whether we'd be a good fit, I offer a free 15-minute consultation to explore that together.

  • The first session is really about getting to know each other and seeing if we're a good fit. There's no pressure to dive into your deepest struggles right away—we move at your pace.

    In our initial session, we'll:

    • Talk about what brought you to therapy and what you're hoping for

    • Discuss your history and current concerns

    • Explore whether my approach feels right for you

    • Answer any questions you have about the process

    • Collaboratively create some initial goals

    I'll also reiterate information about confidentiality, logistics, and how we'll work together. By the end of our first meeting, you'll have a sense of whether this feels like a space where you can do meaningful work.

    Remember: it's completely okay if we're not the right fit. Finding a therapist you feel comfortable with is crucial, and I'm happy to provide referrals if needed.

  • This is one of the most common questions I hear, and honestly, there's no one-size-fits-all answer. Therapy is deeply individual, and the timeline depends on your goals, what you're working through, and how you respond to the process.

    Some general guidelines:

    • Short-term focused work (specific issue or goal): 4-6 months

    • Moderate concerns (anxiety, recent trauma, life transitions): 9-12 months

    • Complex or developmental trauma: Often 1-2 years or longer

    • Ongoing personal growth: Some people continue therapy indefinitely at reduced frequency

    EMDR therapy can sometimes work faster than traditional talk therapy for processing specific traumatic memories, though preparation and integration still take time.

    What matters most isn't how long therapy takes, but that you're making meaningful progress toward feeling more like yourself. We'll regularly check in about your goals and how you're feeling about our work together.

  • Yes, confidentiality is a cornerstone of the therapeutic relationship. What you share in our sessions stays between us, with a few important legal exceptions:

    I'm required by law to break confidentiality if:

    • You're at risk of harming yourself or someone else

    • There's suspected abuse or neglect of a child, elderly person, or dependent adult

    • A court orders me to release records (rare)

    I may also consult with other professionals (with identifying information removed) for supervision or professional development, which is a standard ethical practice that helps me provide you with the best care.

    Beyond these exceptions, everything you share is protected. You will receive a comprehensive notice of privacy practices once we begin work together. Please don’t hesitate to ask if you need more clarification!

  • This is a great question—it can definitely be confusing! Here's a simple breakdown:

    Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) - That's me!

    • Master's degree in counseling/therapy

    • Specialized training in relationships, families, and individual therapy

    • Provides psychotherapy but cannot prescribe medication

    • Focuses on emotional and relational healing

    Psychologist (PhD or PsyD)

    • Doctoral degree in psychology

    • Can provide therapy and psychological testing

    • Cannot prescribe medication (in most states)

    • Often more research or academic-focused than counseling-focused

    Psychiatrist (MD)

    • Medical doctor specializing in mental health

    • Can prescribe medication

    • May provide therapy but often focuses primarily on medication management

    As an LMFT, I provide trauma-focused psychotherapy using EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, and mindfulness-based approaches. If medication might be helpful, I'm happy to coordinate with a psychiatrist while continuing our therapy work together.

  • Absolutely! I offer secure telehealth throughout California, and research shows that online therapy can be just as effective as in-person therapy for most concerns.

    Many of my clients actually prefer telehealth because it:

    • Eliminates commute time and parking stress

    • Allows you to be in a comfortable, familiar space

    • Makes therapy more accessible if you have mobility issues, live outside the Westside, or have a busy schedule

    • Still feels intimate and connected through video

    That said, some people prefer in-person sessions, especially for somatic or body-based work. I offer both options (in-person on the Westside of LA and telehealth throughout California), so we can choose what feels best for you—or even alternate between the two.

    The most important factor isn't the format; it's the therapeutic relationship and your commitment to the process.

  • Finding the right therapist is a bit like dating—fit matters more than credentials alone. Here are some things to consider:

    Specialization: Look for someone who has experience with what you're dealing with. If you're working with trauma, anxiety, or relationship issues, you'll want a therapist who specializes in those areas.

    Approach: Different therapists use different methods. If talk therapy alone hasn't worked for you, you might want someone who offers body-based approaches like EMDR or Somatic Experiencing.

    Logistics: Consider practical matters like location, availability, fees, and whether they take insurance.

    Gut feeling: This is huge. Do you feel comfortable with this person? Do they seem like someone you could open up to? Trust your intuition.

    Most therapists (myself included) offer free consultations. Use this time to ask questions and notice how you feel in the conversation. You deserve to work with someone who feels like the right fit.

    And remember: it's completely okay to "shop around" or to switch therapists if something isn't working. Your healing is what matters most.

  • This is such an important question, and I'm glad you're asking it. The therapeutic relationship is the foundation of good therapy, so if something feels off, that matters.

    First, know that it's completely normal for therapy to feel uncomfortable sometimes—growth often does. But there's a difference between productive discomfort and a poor fit.

    If you're feeling uncertain about our work together, I encourage you to bring it up. Sometimes the most meaningful breakthroughs happen when we can talk openly about what's not working. I won't be offended, and your honesty helps us both.

    That said, if after giving it a genuine try you still feel like we're not the right match, that's okay. I'm happy to provide referrals to other therapists who might be a better fit. Your healing is the priority.

Working Together: Logistics & Policies

  • I am not currently contracted with any insurance providers. I am considered an "out of network" provider.

    If you have a PPO insurance policy, I can provide you with a receipt of services (called a superbill) that you can submit to your insurance company for partial reimbursement. Please note that I can not guarantee reimbursement, as this depends on your insurance company’s out of network benefits.

    It is advised to call your insurance company prior to the commencement of services in order to verify out-of-network reimbursement and coverage.

  • My standard fee/your investment: $250 per 50 minute session.

    A core part of my mission is making healing accessible across diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. I believe therapeutic services should reflect the varied access people have to resources, not gatekeep based on ability to pay.

    When clients with financial privilege pay full fee or above, it directly enables me to offer reduced rates to others, create community offerings, and volunteer with nonprofits serving under-resourced and systemically oppressed communities.

    This is an equity-based model rooted in mutual trust, transparency, and community accountability.

    Sliding Scale Pricing Structure

    My pricing is inspired by the Green Bottle Method by Alexis J. Cunningfolk and tailored to the communities I serve. This approach honors both economic realities and anti-oppressive values.

    I have a limited number of sliding scale spots available. Priority is given to BIPOC individuals and/or those who have been historically and systemically oppressed.

    Sponsorship Tier: $255-$280/session

    Choose this rate if you:

    • Have substantial earning potential and/or proximity to power due to race, class, education, gender, ability, etc.

    • Comfortably meet all basic needs (food, housing, transportation, healthcare)

    • Own your home or investment property, or rent a higher-end property

    • Own or lease a vehicle

    • Have significant financial savings or family financial support

    • Have expendable income for dining out, entertainment, travel, hobbies

    • Can afford regular vacations without financial stress

    • Employment is a choice rather than necessity, or you can decline work and still meet needs

    • May have some debt but it doesn't impact your ability to live comfortably

    This rate reflects the market value for specialized somatic and EMDR trauma therapy in Los Angeles and helps subsidize community access.

    Standard Tier: $225-$250/session

    Choose this rate if you:

    • Meet all your basic needs consistently

    • Have housing security through comfortable rent or mortgage

    • Own or lease a vehicle

    • Are employed or self-employed with stable income

    • Have some financial savings

    • Have expendable income for occasional dining out, entertainment, and purchases

    • Can take an annual vacation without significant financial burden

    • May have some debt but can still meet all primary needs

    This is my sustainable baseline rate that allows me to maintain my practice.

    Sliding Scale Tier: $185-$220/session

    Choose this rate if you:

    • Sometimes stress about meeting basic needs but still regularly achieve them

    • Have limited income due to underemployment, student status, or other circumstances

    • Are employed or self-employed but your income or capacity is currently limited

    • Rent but may face periodic housing insecurity

    • Have limited or no financial savings

    • Have minimal expendable income

    • Must actively save to afford time off or holidays

    • Debt impacts your ability to meet some needs

    Community Tier: $50-175/session

    Choose this rate if you:

    • Frequently struggle to meet basic needs and stress about making ends meet

    • Are unemployed, on disability, or have extremely limited income

    • Experience housing instability or rely on support systems for shelter

    • Have no financial savings or safety net

    • Have little to no expendable income

    • Are supporting dependents on a very limited income

    • Face compounding systemic barriers to economic stability

    Alternatively, please explore Community Counseling Centers under Resources for additional low-cost options.

  • I am operating a “hybrid” practice, offering some hours in-person in addition to telehealth.

    My hours are Mondays through Thursdays, 9am-6pm most days. On Mondays, Wednesday and Thursdays, I offer some in-person hours. My office is located in a quiet neighborhood in West LA called Mar Vista.

    I typically book clients on a standing weekly appointment. Should you require more flexibility with scheduling, we can discuss further during our initial phone consultation.

    I’m available via email and text message. In general, please utilize these forms of contact to discuss billing and scheduling only, keeping personal details for our sessions. I will respond to all emails and inquiries during business hours only. Should you contact me after 6:00pm your call/message/email will be replied to the following business day. Should you contact me on Friday-Sunday, all messages/calls will be responded to on the next office day.

  • All therapy sessions are 50 minutes. I strongly advise that when engaging in the deep work of therapy, a weekly commitment is best for both the therapeutic process, particularly in initial phases of treatment. This is especially true when engaging in somatic interventions such as EMDR and Somatic Experiencing. That said, less frequent meetings can be accomodated if we collaboratively determine your therapeutic goals can still be met during our consultation call.

  • I am currently conducting a “hybrid” practice, with some hours available for in person and others via telehealth. Many of my clients have opted to remain virtual, meeting weekly via a secure telehealth platform.

    If you choose to see me in-person and have been exposed to COVID19 or if you suspect that you are suffering from any communicable illness, please contact me so we can discuss either rescheduling or moving to telehealth.

    Though the world has “opened up” and seems to be rushing to “get back to normal” we can choose to do so at whatever pace feels good to you.

    Please note: you must be a resident of California in order to receive counseling services.

  • In fairness to all my clients and my own scheduling capacity, I have implemented a standard cancellation policy: More than 24 hours in advance, you may reschedule or cancel a session at no charge. Exceptions may be made for true emergencies, but in these instances please contact me as soon as possible, otherwise you will be charged for the session.

    If you do not show up at your regularly scheduled appointment, or if you make a cancellation with less than 24 hours notice you are responsible for the full session fee.

    I offer a 15 minute grace period to attend all scheduled appointments. Should you fail to show up within 15 minutes of beginning of session start, the session will automatically be rescheduled to a later date.

    After 3 weeks of consecutive late cancellations/no shows I will consider our therapeutic contract closed. You can contact me to resume our work together. If I no longer have availability, I can provide you with a list of referrals.

  • You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical and mental health care will cost.Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the expected charges for medical services, including psychotherapy services. You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency healthcare services, including psychotherapy services.You can ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule a service.If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill. Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate. For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit http://www.cms.gov/nosurprises

For questions regarding EMDR Consultation sessions for psychotherapists who have completed EMDR Basic Training, please check out this page, and feel free to email me if you have further questions.