Considering therapy can bring up many questions. Here are answers to the most common questions I receive. If you don't see your question answered here, please reach out—I'm happy to help.
Getting Started
Can I schedule a consultation before committing to therapy?
Absolutely! I offer a free 15-minute consultation call to discuss what brings you to therapy, answer your questions, and ensure we're a good therapeutic fit. There's no pressure or commitment—this is just an opportunity to see if working together feels right for both of us.
Are you accepting new clients?
Yes, I am currently accepting new clients for both in-person and online therapy. I typically have availability for new clients within 1-2 weeks. Schedule a free consultation to discuss your needs and check current availability.
Where is your office located?
My office is located in Oakland's Grand Lake neighborhood at 3637 Grand Ave A, Oakland, CA 94610. The office is easily accessible from Oakland, Berkeley, Piedmont, and Alameda. Street parking and nearby public transit available. I also offer telehealth throughout California.
What areas do you serve?
I provide in-person therapy in Oakland and secure online therapy (telehealth) throughout California. My in-person Oakland office serves clients from Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda, Piedmont, Walnut Creek, and throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.
Fees & Insurance
Do you accept insurance?
I am in-network with several insurance plans including Aetna, Cigna, and Blue Shield of California. I can also provide you with a superbill for out-of-network reimbursement if your insurance offers that benefit. Contact me to verify your specific insurance coverage.
How much does therapy cost?
Session fees vary based on whether you're using insurance or private pay. If using insurance, you'll pay your copay or coinsurance amount. For private pay clients, I offer a sliding scale based on financial need. Contact me for specific pricing information and to discuss payment options.
Session Details
Do you offer in-person or online therapy?
I offer both in-person therapy sessions at my Oakland office (Grand Lake neighborhood) and secure online therapy (telehealth) throughout California. Many clients find that Brainspotting works effectively via telehealth, giving you flexibility to attend sessions from the comfort of your own space.
How long is each therapy session?
Standard therapy sessions are 50-55 minutes. I also offer extended 80-minute Brainspotting sessions for clients who find they benefit from longer processing time. We can discuss what session length works best for your needs during our consultation.
How often should I attend therapy?
Most clients start with weekly sessions to build momentum and establish therapeutic progress. As your symptoms improve, we may reduce frequency to bi-weekly or monthly maintenance sessions. The frequency depends on your goals, symptom severity, and what's sustainable for your schedule and budget.
About Brainspotting
What is Brainspotting therapy?
Brainspotting is a brain-body based therapy that uses eye positioning to access deeper subcortical brain regions where trauma, anxiety, and emotional pain are stored. It's gentler than traditional talk therapy because healing happens through your brain's natural processing ability rather than verbally re-living traumatic events.
Learn more about Brainspotting →Is Brainspotting better than EMDR?
Both Brainspotting and EMDR are effective brain-based trauma therapies. Brainspotting tends to be gentler and more client-directed with fewer protocols, while EMDR follows a more structured approach. Many clients who didn't connect with EMDR find Brainspotting more effective. The best approach depends on your individual needs and how your brain responds to treatment.
Do I have to talk about my trauma in therapy?
No. Brainspotting works through body-based processing, so you can share as much or as little verbal detail as feels comfortable. Many clients prefer this approach because they can heal without having to verbally relive traumatic events. The processing happens through your brain's natural healing capacity.
About Grief Recovery
What is the Grief Recovery Method?
The Grief Recovery Method is an evidence-based, action-oriented program that provides concrete tools to complete the unfinished emotional business that naturally follows loss or life changes. It's not just for death—it works for divorce, job loss, health changes, miscarriage, relocation, and other significant losses.
Learn more about Grief Recovery →How long does grief therapy take?
The Grief Recovery Method typically takes 8-12 weeks for the core program. However, grief work is unique to each person and the nature of your loss. Some clients benefit from longer-term support combining Grief Recovery with Brainspotting for deeper emotional processing.
Specializations
Can therapy help with anxiety?
Yes. Brainspotting is highly effective for anxiety because it addresses the root nervous system dysregulation underlying anxious symptoms. Rather than just managing anxiety cognitively, Brainspotting helps your nervous system return to a regulated state. I also use the Safe & Sound Protocol for nervous system regulation.
Do you work with trauma survivors?
Yes, trauma therapy is one of my core specializations. I work with both single-incident trauma (accidents, assault, medical trauma) and complex trauma (childhood trauma, prolonged abuse, developmental trauma). Brainspotting is specifically designed for trauma treatment and is often gentler than traditional exposure-based therapies.
What is the Safe & Sound Protocol?
The Safe & Sound Protocol (SSP) is a non-invasive auditory therapy based on polyvagal theory that helps regulate the nervous system. It's particularly effective for sound sensitivity (misophonia), chronic anxiety, and nervous system dysregulation. The protocol uses specially filtered music to calm the nervous system through the vagus nerve.
Learn more about Safe & Sound Protocol →Do you provide fertility psychological evaluations?
Yes, I provide ASRM-compliant psychological evaluations required by California fertility clinics for egg donors, gestational carriers, and intended parents. These comprehensive assessments are typically completed within 1-2 weeks and include clinical interview, psychological testing, and a written report for the fertility clinic.
Learn more about Fertility Evaluations →Still Have Questions?
If you don't see your question answered here, I'm happy to discuss your specific situation during a free 15-minute consultation call.
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