Insurance

I am an in-network provider with Aetna and original (also called fee for service) Medicare. 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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.