Services
General Information
Locations: My practice remains open to all California, Oregon, and Florida residents via video visits during this time. I also see clients in-person in Los Altos, CA.
Support for those affected by the War in Ukraine: For those affected by the war in Ukraine, we are trying to match potential clients with therapists for short-term, pro bono therapy services. Please fill out this Client Form if you are interested as the client, and this Therapist Form if you are a therapist interested in providing services. Refer to our website for more information and/or resources.
Support for the Jewish Community: The Jewish Community Mental Health (JCMH) Initiative at the American Psychological Foundation (APF) recognizes the challenges the Jewish community is facing and is offering free, virtual support groups to the Jewish community. We offer a number of inclusive Jewish Adult support groups, as well as a number of affinity groups, including groups for Undergraduate Students, Graduate Students, Parents of College Students and Teens, College Faculty and Staff, Employees at Jewish Organizations, the LGBTQ+ community, medical students/residents and many more. Each of these support groups will serve to provide a safe space to connect the Jewish community and help members navigate the complex emotions and traumatic experiences of the current climate. To learn more and/or sign up, please complete this Jewish Community Support Groups Participant Form.
Expertise
I offer individual psychotherapy to adults and older adults struggling with a variety of mental health problems or stressors. I specialize in health psychology and geropsychology, as well as trauma and more general conditions. I also love working with college/graduate students and young adults. My specialties include the following:
- Chronic pain and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)
- Chronic illness and medical conditions (e.g., cancer, diabetes, dementia, heart disease, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, COPD, pre- and post-transplant surgery, hidradenitis suppurativa [HS], etc.)
- Trauma and PTSD
- Grief and loss
- Life changes and transitions, including aging concerns and dementia, transition to and from college/graduate school, and other life transitions (e.g., divorce, job changes, etc.)
- Caregiver support
- Anxiety, including general worries, social anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, and health anxiety
- Depression and low mood
- Work stress
- Relationship difficulties and/or family stress
I am trained in a number of evidence-based treatments and therapeutic modalities, including the following:
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- TEAM-CBT (an advanced and specialized form of CBT)
- Prolonged Exposure for Trauma (PE)
- Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
- Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT)
- Inference-Based CBT (I-CBT) for OCD
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
Individual Therapy Sessions
Free Consultation
I believe that it is very important to find a therapist who is a good match for you. Prior to a first appointment, I offer a free 15-minute phone or video consultation, during which we can briefly discuss your concerns and review my treatment methods in order to determine whether I have the appropriate experience and resources to meet your needs. You will also have the chance to ask me any questions you might have in determining whether I am a good fit for what you are looking for.
Intake Appointment
After the phone consultation, we will meet for a first intake session, which will look different from our follow-up therapy sessions. During the intake, we can continue to get to know each other and I will continue to ask you a number of questions regarding your current concerns, as well as your history. This initial appointment will last about 50 minutes, at the end of which we will decide whether we should move forward in our work together. Occasionally, an intake may last several sessions.
Further Sessions
Thereafter, therapy sessions are typically held weekly and are about 50 minutes long, though some clients prefer longer 75-80 minute sessions. We may decide to meet more or less frequently depending on your current needs and schedules.
Treatment length varies substantially for each individual, and it can last from weeks to months. If at any point you decide that you prefer to work with a different clinician, we can discuss appropriate referrals. If we continue to work together, and once we have made significant progress on your goals, we will begin discussing the process of termination. Termination might first include having less frequent sessions (biweekly, once a month, etc.) and eventually discontinuing individual sessions altogether.
If you’re interested in learning more, please see the policies and fees page.
Telehealth
Telehealth, TeleMental Health, Telemedicine, and Telepsychology are all similar terms for the idea of conducting psychotherapy sessions using audio or video technology. Research has demonstrated that therapy services conducted over phone or video were overall just as effective as in-person (or face-to-face) therapy. There are a number of benefits to telehealth, including the ability to have access to psychotherapy from the comfort of your own home (or other preferred location). The main risks to telehealth include disruption of sessions due to technical difficulties and lack of privacy depending on your location.
I am currently doing telehealth sessions in addition to in-person sessions in Los Altos, CA. For our telehealth appointments, sessions will usually be done through Zoom, and you will receive an email with a new link for each appointment. I will sometimes use Google Meet or Doxy as a backup option for telehealth sessions. Just like with in-person therapy, you are expected to be logged on and ready for your session at the scheduled time. Try to find a private and quiet location for the appointment in order to limit interruptions and ensure confidentiality and safety.
Group Therapy Sessions
I sometimes facilitate psychotherapy groups on various topics (including depression, anxiety, grief, chronic pain, etc.), depending on client interest and availability. This section will be updated if any groups are in progress or will soon start.
Clinical Consultation
I am also available to provide clinical consultation to other licensed mental health clinicians. My consultation types are flexible — consultation can be one time, short-term, or ongoing. Typically, consultation can focus on a variety of topics, including utilizing assessments and establishing a diagnosis, creating a case conceptualization, learning and practicing various treatment modalities, or exploring other stuck points that a provider might face. I have worked as a supervisor before, and feel especially comfortable consulting on topics around chronic pain, behavioral health, and trauma, as well as more general mental health issues. In terms of treatment modalities, I am happy to consult on any of the modalities that I am trained in, including CBT, ACT, Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT), CPT, PE, and I-CBT for OCD.