“Someone I loved once gave me a box full of darkness. It took me years to understand that this too, was a gift.”
ADULT THERAPY
Areas of Expertise
Anxiety, including generalized worry, specific fears/phobias, social anxiety, panic attacks, perfectionism, avoidance behaviors
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Chronic low mood and/or clinical depression
Trichotillomania and/or other body-focused repetitive behaviors
Insomnia, or other sleep concerns
Coping with acute medical conditions, chronic illness, and/or caregiver stress
General stress management, life transitions, and coping with uncertainty
Parenting issues, stress and support
Grief and trauma
Communication skills and relationship challenges
ADULT THERAPY
Getting Started
1. Initial Phone Call
When I receive an inquiry about my therapy practice, I will reach out to you and set up a time for a brief complimentary phone call (usually 15-20 minutes). In this initial call, we’ll discuss your concerns and reasons for seeking therapy. I will tell you more about my therapy practice approach, session fees, and availability. If your needs seem generally compatible with my practice and availability, we will schedule an initial consultation and meet at a mutually agreed upon time.
2. Initial Consultation Meeting
The first meeting is a 75-minute consultation to discuss your concerns and reasons for seeking therapy in greater detail. While I do offer telehealth therapy for some clients, the initial consultation is typically in person at my office in downtown Palo Alto. If for some reason this is not possible for you, please let me know so we can discuss and plan accordingly.
I will ask you to review and complete paperwork in advance of this consultation. The paperwork includes therapy treatment consents, confidentiality forms, and a general background questionnaire about your current life circumstances, academic and employment history, medical health, any prior therapies, and family history.
Toward the end of the consultation, we will discuss whether my therapeutic approach is appropriate for your needs, and whether you feel that I am a good fit for you. If we agree to move forward, we’ll arrange a meeting schedule. I can provide more information about the expected course of therapy and answer other questions you may have about the process.
If for any reason we believe that my services are not a good fit for you and your needs at this time, I will offer targeted referrals to other providers to support you in establishing more appropriate care.
ADULT THERAPY
Therapy Guidelines & Policies
Once we are meeting regularly, the following guidelines/policies provide a structure for our collaborative work together.
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Sessions are typically scheduled for 50-minutes in length, unless we agree upon a shorter or longer session. In the beginning of therapy, we usually meet once a week although each situation is unique. We will discuss and agree upon a plan that is suitable for you.
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I understand that life can be unpredictable. If you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment, please provide at least 24 hours’ notice. Cancellations with less than 24 hours notice or no-shows will be charged at my standard fee, unless there is an emergency.
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My fees are discussed in our initial telephone call and payment is due at the time of service. I do not accept insurance; however, I can provide you with a receipt (superbill) that you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement. Please check with your insurance for specific details on coverage and reimbursement for “out of network providers” before we meet for the first time.
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Communication outside of scheduled sessions is typically limited to brief administrative matters, such as scheduling changes and sharing of forms and/or insurance invoices. I use a HIPAA compliant communications platform called Spruce Health which allows us to send messages quickly, securely, and efficiently. Information about using Spruce and support in setting up your account is provided early in the process.
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If you experience an emergency or crisis, please contact your nearest emergency services or visit the nearest hospital. I am unable to provide 24/7 crisis intervention. The following emergency services may also be accessed:
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 (Available 24/7)
Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 (Available 24/7)
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You are welcome to end therapy at any time. However, I recommend we discuss your decision in session, so we can plan for appropriate closure (reviewing your progress and discussing any ongoing needs).
I may also determine that therapy is no longer effective or that a different treatment approach is needed. When this happens, I talk about this with clients and refer them to other more appropriate providers and/or resources.
In most cases, we decide together to end treatment. There is often a period of time in which we meet less often (every 2 weeks or once per month) allowing you to move more gradually toward ending a course of treatment.
