Frequently Asked Questions

I offer in-person therapy for teens (12+) and adults with three options based on your goals and how in-depth you’d like to go.

• 50-minute sessions – $200
  Ideal for weekly support, skill-building, and steady growth.
• 100-minute sessions – $350
  Designed for deeper processing using EMDR, Brainspotting, or Schema Therapy.
• Half-Day Therapy Intensive – $850
  Includes one 50-minute planning session and one 3-hour intensive session. Perfect for clients seeking focused, accelerated progress.

To learn more about which option is the best fit for you, visit my Investment & Session Options page.

Once you reach out through my contact form, we’ll exchange a few brief emails to make sure I might be a good fit for what you’re looking for. If it feels aligned, we’ll schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation.

During the call, I’ll ask a bit about what’s bringing you to therapy, what you’d like support with, and what you’re hoping for from the process. I’ll also share how I work—including options for weekly sessions, longer-format work, or short-term intensives.

There’s no pressure—this is simply a chance to connect, ask questions, and see if the fit feels right on both sides before moving forward.

Before your first appointment, you’ll get access to a secure client portal where you can complete intake forms and manage appointments. There’s also a free mobile app (SimplePractice) if you’d like easy access from your phone.

Your first session, typically 50 minutes, is focused on getting to know you. We’ll go over the basics—like confidentiality and logistics—then spend most of the time exploring what’s bringing you in and what you’re hoping to get out of therapy.

Whether you’re feeling anxious, stuck, or just unsure where to start, we’ll begin wherever you are. As we continue, we’ll decide together what format—weekly therapy, longer sessions, or a short-term intensive—feels most supportive for your goals.

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. The length of therapy depends on what you're working through, how long it’s been impacting you, and the support you have outside of therapy.

Some clients come in with a specific goal and begin to feel relief within a few sessions—especially when using EMDR or Brainspotting to target trauma, anxiety, or emotional blocks. Others stay longer to explore deeper issues, process complex histories, or navigate life transitions.

Most clients begin with weekly 50-minute sessions to build trust and momentum. For those seeking more focused progress, I offer Therapy Intensives—a 50-minute planning session followed by a 3-hour in-person intensive session. This format allows us to go deeper in a shorter timeframe and is tailored to your needs. Intensives are available as a one-time experience or as part of a broader therapy plan.

Therapy is flexible and collaborative. We'll choose the pace and format that best supports your goals—and adjust as we go.

I offer in-person appointments Monday through Thursday at my Carlsbad office, with session times that vary by day—typically between 9 AM and 2 PM or 2 PM and 7 PM. You can choose from weekly or biweekly 50 or 100 minute sessions or Therapy Intensives scheduled on select days, for clients seeking a focused and accelerated format. During our free 15-minute consultation call, I’ll share my current openings and help you find a time and format that fits your goals and availability.

I do my best to avoid it—truly. I’ve found that in-person therapy offers the deepest connection, clearest attunement, and best results (especially with trauma work, EMDR, and Brainspotting). That said, once we’ve established a strong working relationship in person, occasional virtual sessions may be available in certain situations—like travel or illness. If you’re hoping for ongoing telehealth, I may not be the right fit, but I’m happy to help with a referral.

I work with teens (ages 12 and up) and adults of all ages. While I don’t currently offer therapy for children under 12, I’m happy to provide referrals to trusted child therapists if needed.

While my primary focus is working one-on-one with your child, I welcome you to join us for the first 10–15 minutes of the intake session if you're available (though it’s not required). This gives us a chance to briefly connect and address any questions before I shift into helping your teen feel at ease in the therapy space.

I offer in-person sessions for the most grounded and connected experience. Virtual sessions may be available later on, once we’ve built a strong foundation in person.

During the first session, I’ll focus on building rapport, understanding what’s been going on, and beginning to establish therapeutic goals. As we move forward, I’ll offer updates and check-ins with you (with your teen’s comfort in mind) and may offer communication tools or ideas for supporting your child between sessions.

If at any point I feel another type of support would be a better fit, I’ll offer thoughtful referrals to ensure your teen gets the care they need.

I draw from several evidence-based and trauma-informed modalities, tailoring the approach to your needs, goals, and readiness.

Depending on what you’re working through, we may use:

• EMDR or Brainspotting – to process trauma, anxiety, and emotional blocks at the nervous system level
• Schema Therapy – to explore and shift long-standing emotional patterns and beliefs
• Narrative Therapy to help you explore and reshape the stories you carry about yourself
• DBT and CBT – to build practical skills for emotion regulation, thought patterns, and decision-making

Some clients want structure and tools; others need space to reflect and process. Many benefit from a blend of both. We’ll work together to find what fits best for you.

Yes, absolutely. Many clients come to me for a one-time EMDR or Brainspotting Intensive while continuing their ongoing work with another therapist.

Intensives can be a powerful complement to the therapy you’re already doing—especially if you want to focus on a specific issue, process something that feels stuck, or move through trauma in a deeper way. With your permission, I’m happy to collaborate with your primary therapist to ensure continuity of care and support your overall progress.

You do not need to stop working with your current therapist to benefit from an intensive.

My practice focuses on individual therapy for teens and adults. I don’t offer formal couples or family therapy, but in some cases, I may invite a parent or caregiver to join a teen session—with the teen’s full comfort and consent—if it feels supportive to the therapeutic process.

If you're specifically seeking ongoing couples or family therapy, I’m happy to provide referrals to trusted local clinicians who specialize in that kind of work.

I’m considered an out-of-network provider, which means I’m not in-network with insurance—but many clients are able to receive partial reimbursement through their PPO plan.

If you have out-of-network benefits, you’ll pay the session fee at the time of service, and I’ll provide a Superbill (a detailed receipt) that you can submit to your insurance. I also partner with a free platform called Thrizer, which can submit superbills directly to your insurance company to help streamline the process.

To check your coverage, call the number on the back of your insurance card and ask:

• Do I have out-of-network mental health benefits?
• What is my out-of-network deductible, and has it been met?
• After I meet my deductible, what percentage is reimbursed?
• Are CPT codes 90791 (intake) and 90837 (therapy) covered?
• How many sessions per year are included?

Many of my clients with Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO and Cigna PPO have had success getting reimbursed.

Payment is processed automatically after each session using a debit, credit, or HSA/FSA card. A card is kept securely on file through my encrypted client portal, and most charges are processed the evening of your appointment.

You're welcome to use a Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA). Many clients also take advantage of out-of-network insurance benefits for potential reimbursement (see above for details).

I ask for at least 24 hours’ notice to cancel or reschedule a session. Late cancellations or missed appointments will be charged the full session fee. I do keep a few flexible spots open each week and will always try to accommodate changes when possible—just reach out as soon as you can.

Under federal law, you have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate outlining the expected costs of your care if you’re not using insurance or don’t have insurance coverage.

This estimate provides a clear breakdown of anticipated costs for non-emergency services, including therapy sessions. If it’s not included with your intake paperwork, feel free to ask—I'm happy to make it easy to access. You can also request an updated estimate at any time.

If you receive a bill that’s $400 or more above your Good Faith Estimate, you have the right to dispute the charge. I recommend keeping a copy of your estimate for your records.

For more information about your rights under the No Surprises Act, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises.