Frequently Asked Questions

Therapy is a safe, confidential relationship where you can freely discuss your challenges and experiences without fear of judgment. There are different types of psychological support that therapists provide to increase self-awareness and fulfillment in your life. We will examine your thinking patterns, emotional experiences, and the behaviors impacting your personal, professional, and family life. In our work together, I will help identify your goals and work collaboratively with you to achieve them.

Psychologists are not trained to give you advice. Instead, my training is to help guide you towards making your best choices given your family, relationship, and work circumstances. I will help you evaluate the pros and cons, understand your motivations, and anticipate the consequences of your life’s choices, but it is largely up to you to make your choices. With that said, if I feel concerned about your choices, I will be honest and we can discuss your thought process and decision-making.

The average length of therapy treatment is 12 sessions. However, treatment varies for each individual. Many factors contribute to the length, including the issues you want to address, the goals you want to achieve, and your motivation for treatment. We can discuss how to best work together at the beginning of our counseling relationship.

Therapy appointments are typically 50 minutes and scheduled weekly. However, this plan can be customized based on your needs.

My sessions generally consist of a combination of me asking questions to facilitate growth and my clients sharing topics that they wish to discuss. My clients often decide which topics they want to address between their sessions, and they generally come to sessions with insight from the homework I assign. While you are in session with me, I also recommend being open to any new thoughts and feelings that emerge for discussion as well.

Our therapeutic relationship is unique in that it IS all about you! With that said, if there is something you would like to know about me, please feel free to ask. Yes, the treatment is about you, but I try to not be a complete mystery to the people I work with and will share my experiences if and when relevant.

I am a hybrid practice. I see clients in-person in my office in Newport Beach, and I also offer virtual teletherapy using a HIPAA-compliant platform.

Yes, but I only take Lyra. I also accept private pay for each session. However, I am happy to provide superbills that you can submit to your insurance for reimbursement.

My individual therapy session fee is $275 for 50 minutes and $350 for a 1-hour initial intake session. My family and couples session fees are $350 for 60 minutes. I offer complimentary 15-minute consultation calls for new clients interested in working with me.

Our sessions and your mental health records are confidential. Confidentiality allows you the peace of mind to be open, honest, and comfortable with what you wish to share safely. There are, however, limits to confidentiality related to harming oneself or others. I will review the limits of confidentiality at the start of therapy and answer any concerns that you may have regarding privacy.

Minors generally have the same right to confidentiality as adults to encourage openness and safety. I will discuss a minor’s care with their parents or guardian when there are safety issues or other serious concerns. Depending on therapy goals, I often consider involving parents or other family members to support the minor’s emotional well-being.

I utilize evidence-based theories of psychotherapy that I customize to each client’s needs, learning style, and personality. My work is highly informed by cultural sensitivity, and I value being a strengths-based therapist who enjoys building collaborative relationships with clients.

I generally draw from cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), a well-known modality that focuses on the relationship between your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Learning how to change your thoughts or behavioral patterns can facilitate your growth and success. CBT is effective for treating many concerns, including anxiety, depression, challenging family dynamics, phobias, and stress. I also implement solution-focused therapy, humanistic therapy, family systems theory, and psychodynamic approaches. I often assign homework between sessions and create customized tools to assess treatment progress.

Please let me know. I am comfortable talking about our relationship and will take steps to resolve issues coming up in the therapy. I welcome feedback regarding your needs and experiences within therapy. Your experiences with me are often part of the therapy itself, as people tend to repeat patterns of communication and behaviors with their therapist.

Choosing to understand, resolve, and invest in yourself through therapy is a tremendous act of courage and forward-thinking. Many people benefit from working with someone objective, non-judgmental, and consistent in listening. My goal is to provide you with feedback and support your well-being. Seeing a psychologist for emotional health is an important aspect of self-growth and development - just like visiting a medical doctor for physical health care. Life is challenging, and it’s helpful to develop effective skills that can help you cope.

No, I do not prescribe medication. If you want to discuss medication options, I recommend seeing your physician or a psychiatrist. I am happy to coordinate care if needed.

You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical 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 bill for medical items and services.

If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill. For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call 1-800-985-3059.

I respect my clients and their time, and, in return, ask for the same. My office has a 24-hour cancellation policy. If appointments are missed or canceled with less than that notice, I charge my full session fee. Please contact me at least 24 hours in advance to cancel and/or reschedule your session, otherwise I charge the full session fee.

Resources:

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255

SAMHSA’s National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233