FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: Who do you work with?

A: I provide in-person counseling in Santa Monica, CA and therapeutic intensives for individuals, couples, and families. A therapeutic intensive is focused therapy that provides longer, more frequent sessions over a shorter period to accelerate growth and healing. Intensives are held in person in Santa Monica office or at a location in Ojai, CA. My expertise is in unresolved relational trauma, anxiety, depression, codependency and people-pleasing, challenging life transitions, and couples/family work. I do not provide counseling for children or adolescents.
Q: What happens during the first session?

A: The initial session is when you will start to share your story, create goals, identify areas of growth, and how I can get you there. This is also the time to get to know each other, and ultimately build our foundation if we find that we are a good fit.
Q: For how long, and how often will we meet?

A: Appointments are fifty-five minutes, and we will start off meeting weekly. I find it’s important to gain some momentum in the beginning, or progress can stall out. Once some or all of your goals are met, meeting less often will make sense. If you are interested in a longer session (90 minutes), please contact me regarding availability and pricing.
Q: Do you accept insurance?

A: No, I do not accept any insurance.
Q: What is your cancellation policy?

A: Please give at least 48 hour notice if you need to cancel an appointment, or you will be charged for the full session. It’s important that we meet consistently in order to make progress.
Q: What theoretical approach do you use?

A: While I pull from a variety of different methods and techniques, I find that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Internal Family Systems, and DBT techniques for emotional regulation are often most helpful for my clients.
Q: Do you prescribe medication?

A: I do not prescribe medications as I am not a physician. Many of my patients find medication helpful, however, many also progress in therapy without medication. If you want to be evaluated for psychotropic medication, please contact your primary care physician or a psychiatrist. If you are already taking medication, I would be happy to coordinate care with your doctor.
Q: Are there any issues or types of clients that you DON’T work with?

A: I do not work with children, nor do I provide child custody recommendations or evaluations. I also do not provide treatment for eating disorders, psychotic disorders (schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, etc), or personality disorders.
Q: What is trauma?

A: Trauma is a person’s emotional response to a distressing experience or event. It is rare that a person will go through life without some type of trauma. It impairs a person’s sense of safety, perhaps even creating a feeling that disaster could happen at any time. Examples include experiencing violence, abuse, or neglect, losing a parental figure during childhood, sexual assault, the unexpected loss of a loved one, and many more. Trauma-informed therapy encourages positive health outcomes, improves relationships, and builds coping skills.