Frequently Asked Questions

Sessions are 50 minutes long (or 75 minutes for couples) and take place  either in my office in Pasadena (address below) or online using Zoom. We  can meet weekly, twice weekly, or every other week, depending on the level of support you need.

In our first session I’ll gather information about your personal, family, and medical history and find out more about what you’re going through. I’ll explain the rules and limits of confidentiality and ask you to complete some paperwork. We will also start developing a plan, shaped to your needs and lifestyle, to help you achieve your professional or personal goals. I am the type of therapist who is very involved in a session and will ask questions, and make comments and suggestions. 

Online therapy is very similar to in-person therapy except you get to sit in the comfort of your own home. If privacy is an issue you can call in from your office, car, a park, or even a closet. 

I don’t like to say ‘it depends’ but it really does. I have seen some people for therapy every week for 2 years and they continue to make progress and get a lot out of our sessions. Others come for twelve sessions and feel they have made enough progress to get by. They leave  knowing they are welcome to return any time. 

Nothing gives me more pleasure than when a client says they are doing a lot better and are ready to reduce the frequency of sessions or even stop altogether as they no longer need therapy.

My fee is $180 per 50 minute session, or $220 for couples therapy (75 minutes). My fee is a reflection of my experience as a therapist and in the business world, and my extensive training.

I am licensed with the Board of Behavioral Sciences #LMF 109466, I am a certified EMDR therapist and a member of EMDRIA (EMDR International Association) and the International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy. 

I no longer accept insurance as I found that it could actually be a disservice to my clients in the long term. By not taking insurance our sessions remain confidential and I don't have to send information about our work to your insurance company. Insurance companies require proof of ‘medical necessity’ which means I have to provide a diagnosis that matches symptoms. They also sometimes determine how long you can see me for. Many people who benefit from regular therapy neither want nor need a diagnosis. insurance companies have been known to suddenly decide to stop paying for therapy without notice which obviously causes a lot of stress and upset. As such, I provide a superbill (summary of what you've paid) for you to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement under your out-of-network benefits.

Although my degree is an MA in Marriage and Family Therapy, I mainly  work with individuals. The term ‘marriage and family therapy’ is more to  do with how I view a person’s issues – I look at a person in the  context of their relationships, both past and present since, 'No man is an island'.