Yes, what we discuss together is strictly confidential.

Sessions are usually 50 minutes long.

Typically, we will meet on a weekly basis. There may be times when meeting more than once a week is recommended.  As you achieve your goals, we will drop to less frequent meetings. I will check in with you often so we can make adjustments to meeting frequency as needed.

That depends on what you want to work on and your goals for therapy. Brief treatment might be as short as six sessions, while longer term therapy could last months or even years. We will decide together the length of treatment that will best meet your needs and is therapeutically appropriate.

Our first few meetings will give both of us the opportunity to get to know each other and decide if we are a good fit to work together. Initial meetings are usually more structured than subsequent therapy sessions. I will ask questions about your history and background. We will talk about your concerns and your goals for therapy. We will also discuss the therapy process and answer any questions you have.

The honest answer - I don’t know yet. I have found that the most important factor in “successful” therapy is you, the client. If you are ready to work hard, learn difficult things about yourself, and make powerful changes I sincerely believe that therapy can be of benefit to you. That said, if we decide that we are not a good fit, or that you need someone with a different therapeutic approach, I will refer you to a trusted colleague who can help you.

Unlike your friends and family members, I don’t have my own agenda when we talk - I am here to provide unbiased, objective support in a way that someone who is a part of your life and will be impacted by your actions cannot. You can speak freely without worrying about social consequences or hurt feelings - in our time together you can focus on you and only you. This helps you sort out how you truly feel and what you truly want to do, versus what you “should” feel and do.

While every person, and session, is different there are a few things that are common in therapy. You are invited to talk about whatever is on your mind. The session is a place for you to get a break from what others think and to focus on your own thoughts, feelings, and point of view. My role is to listen to you, look for patterns, and encourage you to think critically about “received wisdom” from others. Above all, you will feel supported and understood.

I’m glad you asked! In addition to my private practice, I have worked in the following settings - community mental health clinics, large group private practices, college counseling centers, and domestic violence agencies and shelters. I’ve helped people leave dead end jobs and relationships, figure out their cultural identity, recover from postpartum depression, get their finances in order, overcome social anxiety, and improve their relationships with their families.

I hold a doctorate in clinical psychology and have specialized training in helping with the following: cross-cultural identities, financial literacy, prenatal and postnatal anxiety and depression, Circle of Security to strengthen parent-child relationships. I also have extensive training in neuropsychological assessment of adults and children.