FAQ
Where is your office located?
Wherever my computer is (in a private setting, of course).
And the same goes for you, as long as your in the state of California and in a private setting.
What are your hours?
I have a flexible schedule because I make my own hours.
Clients generally schedule with me around lunchtime, first thing in the morning, or after work Monday through Friday, but if you’re a morning person or have a brief time window, I’ll do my best to make it work.
How long are sessions?
Sessions are generally 50 minutes.
Do you see clients through insurance?
I am in-network with Aetna Insurance. What your personal insurance plan covers can very so be sure to check with them about coverage.
Additionally, many insurance companies give out-of-network reimbursements for mental health services. I encourage you to check with your insurance provider to understand the available reimbursement options.
I am happy to provide you with a monthly “superbill” (an itemized receipt of services) as needed. I am not in-network with any insurance companies.
How do I set up an initial appointment?
Happy you asked! Book here to set up a free 15-minute consultation to see if we are a good fit.
What is your cancellation policy?
If you text, email, or leave a voicemail before the 24-hour period, your appointment will be considered canceled, even if I may be in session or after hours and cannot reply.
With what age ranges do you work?
I specialize in working with adults.
Are you an ally and sensitive toward gender, sexual, weight, ethnic, and racial minorities?
I consider myself: LGBTQ+ allied, trans allied, BIPOC allied, ability allied, sex-positive allied, kink allied, body-positive, racial justice allied, and gender allied.
Inclusivity and humility are very important values of mine as a person and a therapist. I strive always to check my privilege and understanding when working with clients.
#BlackLivesMatter
#TransLivesMatter
Who wouldn’t be a good fit for telehealth?
For the safety of those seeking therapy and due to the physical limitations of telehealth, there are limits on who is best suited for therapy services online.
If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts with a plan or intention of self-harm, have recently been hospitalized for mental health concerns, are experiencing psychosis (hearing voices, etc.), or are in severe distress, I would not be the best fit for you via telehealth. In those cases, in-person therapy may be better suited.
How can I tell if we’re a good fit?
A good way to tell is to jump into a free consult video call with me, and we can chat about your reasons for seeking therapy and what you hope to get out of therapy. This will give us an idea of how we would work together.
You can generally feel whether you are comfortable with me after those 15 minutes.
How often should I come to therapy?
This answer is really on a case-by-case basis.
The long answer is that generally, I will encourage meeting weekly for the first 4 to 6 sessions to set the foundation and create momentum. Some clients move to every other week and then sometimes even monthly. We’d have regular check-ins about your progress and goals, whether you should continue therapy, or if you’re ready to discharge.
What should I expect in a first session?
Before the first session, we’ll have had a short chat on the phone or via video conferencing, so I’ll already have an idea of what you hope to work on. When we schedule the initial session, I’ll send you digital documents to sign, including my informed consent, privacy policy, telehealth policy, intake questionnaire, and credit card authorization form.
The intake questionnaire will help me gain a little more insight into your history and goals. This way, we don’t spend our first session with me asking a lot of random yet important questions.
My goal in the first session is to get to know each other and discuss your goals for therapy. I may ask you some clarifying questions about what’s going on in your world right now and use that to plan and discuss what therapy might look like. You’ll have space to ask questions. And then we’ll dive right in.
Is there homework?
If you want it, yes. I will make recommendations as to what I think could be beneficial to work on or think more about, but the choice is yours to do it or not.
Homework can be very beneficial. I’m with you for less than an hour once a week, and the challenges that we talk about in therapy persist throughout the week, so working on different topics discussed in therapy could yield better results.
What type of therapy do you do?
What is your professional training and experience?
I am a licensed clinical social worker with a master’s degree in social work and a bachelor’s degree in sociology.
I’ve received a lot of training in different therapy techniques, such as EMDR and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy.
I have a background working with many different populations, such as children, adults, and elders. I’ve worked with at-risk populations, the forensic population. and youth in need. Working with trauma has been the cornerstone of my experience. I’ve spent many hours with the inner workings of trauma and how it affects people’s lives.
What are your pronouns?
Thanks for asking! My pronouns are she/her/hers. What are yours?
What are some fun facts about you?
Hmm, I’m basically obsessed with my dog. She’s my best friend, and she has a better life than I do.
I love to paint. I enjoy the tranquil process of making a painting come to life.
I’m a lifelong roller skater. I started skating in elementary school, and I just never stopped. I was an in-line speed skater and played roller derby for a short period.
Traveling gives me life. I like to go anywhere and everywhere I can get a new experience. Documentaries and some quality reality TV are big hits in my house. I like balance in my life – just a little about me.
I look forward to learning some of your fun facts!