Sometimes, clients begin to feel relief after just a single session when a good therapist helps them feel understood and seen. If you have a specific goal that can be accomplished using a solution-focused approach, it is possible that only 4-8 sessions will get you where you want to be.

However, if you are wanting to process significant childhood trauma, typically more time is needed. If emotions have been avoided or repressed for a long time, therapy may involve some discomfort initially as you build tolerance for experiencing the full range of your feelings. The good news about that is, more joy usually becomes available to you in this process as well!

Some clients choose to stay in therapy even when they are already thriving in their lives, in order to continue their personal growth and blossom into the fullest expressions of themselves. There is no single “right” amount of time to be in therapy, but we can collaborate to form a treatment plan that meets your unique needs.

I recommend starting with weekly sessions, if possible, so that you can gain traction and begin to see results sooner. After some progress, you may choose to reduce to every-other week. When our work together feels complete, we will reflect on your growth and celebrate your progress. You may continue to reach out to me as-needed after that.

If your schedule changes while we work together, or you have a unique scheduling need, feel free to discuss this with me at any time, and I’ll do my best to accommodate you.

In addition to the time we work face-to-face with clients, therapists spend a significant amount of time tracking your progress with clinical notes, scheduling and marketing, and continuing our educational development (which can be costly). We also have expenses associated with running our business, and in some cases have student loans from the many years spent acquiring the degrees necessary to become psychotherapists. The fees you see providers charging are what is necessary to keep ourselves in business bringing services to the community that we hope make an important difference for you.

I wish we had a system in which therapy could be available to everyone at no cost. Until that day comes, we have to function within the parameters as they presently are, while advocating for systems-change.

There are some local agencies, such as Shine a Light Counseling Center, where trainees and associates, undergoing their training for licensure, provide mental health services at a lower cost. I encourage you to explore that option if needed.

I accept cash, check, or credit card. If your credit card is on file with me for convenient payments after each session, it is encrypted for your protection.

If you have MediCal, I will need your ID# and date of birth to confirm eligibility. Once we get started, I bill MediCal directly and all you have to do is show up to your session!

Please give me at least 24 hours notice if you need to cancel or reschedule a session. If you cancel last minute or do not show up, I will charge you for the session. This is because the time has been reserved for you and it is too late for me to offer to time to another client. If you have a medical emergency, I will make an exception and waive the fee, as a one-time pass. If our established schedule isn’t working out for you, please discuss this with me and I’ll be glad to make schedule changes whenever possible.

Only your medical doctor or a psychiatrist can prescribe medication. What I can do is support your exploration of the pros and cons of starting/stopping/changing medication, and help you navigate this decision. I am also happy to collaborate with your doctor, if you wish, to enhance each of our perspectives of your mental health needs and support your overall treatment plan.

If you are eligible for, and choose to participate in, Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy, I can refer you to Journey Clinical, the medical team I collaborate with when providing these services.