Getting Started

How to Start

Schedule a consultation

Contact me to set up a free 15-minute phone consultation. You can call, email, or fill out the form below.

Get to know each other

During the consultation, we can learn more about each other and I can answer questions you may have.

Set up an appointment

I'll send you the intake forms, which most people complete online. You will also receive directions to the office, or a link to your telehealth appointment.

Ready to take the first step?

Contact me for a consultation

I try to respond to all inquiries within 1-2 business days

Rates

Rates

$200 per 55-minute session

For family conflict resolution rates, please Click here.

For consultation and professional rates, please Click here.

Insurance

Insurance

I am an in-network provider with Aetna. As of 1/1/25, I will NOT be enrolled as a Medicare provider. Before we meet, I will help you confirm your insurance benefits.

If you plan to use insurance benefits, it can be helpful for you to know in advance what they are. Look on the back of your insurance card for the phone number for “behavioral health” or “mental health” services.

I’d recommend asking these questions to your insurance provider to help determine your benefits:

  • Do I have a deductible? If so, what is it and have I met it yet? 
  • Am I covered for both in-network and out-of-network providers?
  • What is my copay or co-insurance for each appointment? 
  • Does my plan limit how many sessions per calendar year I can have? If so, what is the limit?
Good Faith Estimate

Good Faith Estimate

You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical and mental health 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 expected charges for medical services, including psychotherapy services.

You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency healthcare services, including psychotherapy services.

You can ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule a service.

If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill. Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate.

For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises.

Other Financial Questions

I understand that paying for therapy can be a big financial decision. I am happy to answer any questions you may have. Please reach out via phone, email, or the form at the bottom of this page.

At this time, I do not have any more reduced-fee or sliding scale appointments available.

Rates and Insurance

The Pasadena Office

Clients love the private, cozy, comfortable office. Located in the beautiful Playhouse District, my office has the following:

  • easy, free street parking
  • an elevator up to my space on the 2nd floor
  • clean, accessible bathrooms
  • coffee, tea, and water in the waiting room

Note: my office is at the end of a 50-foot hallway. Please keep this in mind if you have mobility limitations.

Covid/Masking: clients are not required to wear masks in the building or in my office. You are welcome to wear a mask, and you are welcome to request that I wear a mask during our session.

The Virtual Office

Whether you call it telehealth, video conference, or virtual visits, many clients prefer to use technology to attend sessions. Reasons may include:

  • distance from Pasadena (or just hating to drive)
  • mobility limitations
  • being in the comfort of home
  • time constraints

I use a secure, HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform for virtual visits. You are able to log in from your desktop, phone, or other mobile device. 

Not a fan of technology?

You've come to the right place! I have developed (or, more accurately, maintained) low-tech solutions for folks who aren't comfortable with tech or online activity. 

  • intake forms can be sent via postal mail or completed in person on actual paper 
  • appointment reminders can be sent by telephone instead of text or email
  • telephone visits are an option, and allowed by Medicare through 2024
  • good ol' office visits, and in some instances house calls, are available
  • I accept paper checks as payment
  • handouts, homework, or resources can be provided as a paper rather than digital copy

I am committed to finding solutions that increase access to mental health care, regardless of proficiency with technology.

I’ve never been to therapy. What’s it like?

It’s understandable to feel curious or even apprehensive about beginning therapy. Most people find that therapy is challenging, but brings real rewards, kind of like a good workout! We will meet in my office or over video. I’ll ask some questions to better understand your background and what your current situation is like. Then we will decide together what will be the areas of therapeutic focus (the problems/issues /goals). During each session, I will listen to you, sometimes asking questions or offering a different perspectives. Between sessions, I often give a homework assignment. This could be a worksheet to complete, a topic to think or write about, or a behavior to track. I find that this helps keep the work fresh in your mind and maximizes your progress.

Do I know you??

It's possible! I've lived in the San Gabriel Valley for 25 years, the last 15 in Pasadena. I made countless home visits to local families as a hospice and community-based social worker. I have kids in Pasadena public schools, and I'm a member of a great local running club (shout-out to the Pacers!). If our paths have casually crossed, it's usually still ok for me to be your therapist. But if we know each other well, or you'd prefer a therapist you don't know at all, I'm happy to provide a referral. In any case, your privacy and confidentiality are of utmost importance to me. I take great care to protect your privacy, even if we run in to each other around town.

Are you knowledgeable and comfortable working with someone with my background or identity?

One of the key foundations of my practice is to explicitly inform clients of my willingness to serve a diverse client population. I welcome clients from the LGBTQ+ community, of all ethnic and racial backgrounds, of various immigration statuses, of all levels of physical ability, and from all (or no) faith backgrounds. Issues related to racism or other types of systemic oppression are always welcome in session, with sensitivity to a client’s interest in engaging in those discussions. I cannot claim to be a member of, or expert in, all social and demographic groups. What I CAN and WILL do is to provide a space to explore how social issues or identities impact your life. If I recognize that I do not have the training or background to best serve you, I will offer a referral to a provider who might be a better fit.

How do I know if you are the right person to help me?

Choosing a therapist is an important decision, and it’s okay to interview several before finding the right fit. You will want to find someone with experience and training in treating the symptoms or concerns that bring you to therapy. But there’s also an aspect of temperament or “style” that can be equally important. Having the opportunity to ask questions of a potential therapist, and get a sense of interactive style, is why having a consultation is so important.

What modalities do you use? And what’s your therapy style?

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I look at the biological, psychological, and social factors that impact a client’s life. I practice from a humanist, strengths-based, person-centered approach. The primary modalities I use include psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, positive psychology, and mindfulness-based practices. I describe my therapeutic style as warm, empathetic, and supportive, but with a willingness to push and challenge clients when I notice an unhelpful thought or behavior pattern.

What’s your view on medication?

For some clients, medication can be a very important part of maintaining mental health.  I am not licensed as a prescriber, but I am happy to coordinate care with your prescribing provider. It is beyond the scope of my practice to recommend a client take, or not take, ANY medication, supplement, or drug. It IS within the scope of my practice to explore your views about medications, to assess the presence of symptoms and suggest you talk with your prescriber, and to help connect you with a prescriber if that is your wish.

How long will I have to be in therapy?

It’s not uncommon for clients to begin therapy hoping to be done as quickly as possible, then to find that they enjoy therapy so much they don’t want to stop! The answer to this question depends on many factors, including the reasons for which you are seeking therapy, your personal preference, and insurance requirements. Some people want to focus on a particular problem or situation, and need only a few sessions to address their needs. Other clients have more complex needs or symptoms, and need more time to build skills and insights. My goal is always to help clients work towards the day when they no longer need my services! For the average client, this looks like 3-6 months of weekly visits, moving toward every-other-week visits, and eventually deciding together that it’s time to end therapy. Clients generally work with me for about 6-12 months, but again, there are certainly people on both sides of that estimate. And clients will sometimes elect to schedule a “booster” session 3 or 6 months after the end of regular sessions, so that we can check in and confirm that they are continuing to use their new skills and managing life’s stressors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Let's get started

Call, email, or complete the form to request a free consultation. I usually respond to inquiries within 1-2 business days.