Therapy is a collaboration between client and therapist and looks different depending on your liking. Generally speaking, the process involves gathering background history in the first session. Also, we will discuss and name your mental health goals, such as improving confidence or processing trauma. This creates a road map for our work. Typically, we start weekly 50-minute meetings. It’s recommended, although not necessary, to bring something in to work on, such as a place you got stuck, an experience that brings up emotions or patterns you’d like to change in your life.

Effective therapy includes two important elements. First, a comfortable, trusting relationship between you and your therapist is key. Second, your willingness and commitment to show up regularly and try new things is the second part of successful therapy. It’s useful to get a recommendation from a friend, health care professional, or community group. Most therapists will offer a free consultation to explore the fit. This is a great opportunity to ask lots of questions and get a sense of what feels right.

There are dozens of treatment options and techniques out there. So how do you choose a good one? Generally speaking, you can choose one that resonates or makes sense for you. Certain issues will match better with certain treatments. So it’s wise to do a little research. For example, it’s often indicated to work with somatic therapy if you’re dealing with the effects of trauma that are stored in the body.

Somatic psychotherapy is a mental health treatment that uses the emotional and primitive parts of the brain and nervous system. While talk therapy relies on the cognitive or thinking parts of the brain, somatic therapy is anchored in body sensations and moment-to-moment awareness. Somatic therapies are referred to as “bottom-up” processing which takes sensory experiences and integrates them into learning or meaning. Conversely, talk therapy is a “top-down” process that uses ideas and models that get applied to your experience.

Many modern human problems arise from a disconnection from our bodily responses. Somatic therapy involves slowing down the mind and noticing sensations, impulses, and emotions. In the process of safely reconnecting with our bodies and noticing our inner workings, self-awareness increases. Famously, it’s been said that in the space between stimuli and response, there is a possibility to access power, growth, and freedom. Somatic therapy explores that space where we can start to make conscious choices, rather than enacting habitual responses.

I practice a method called Hakomi which uses gentle mindful attention toward the present moment and bodily sensations. Usually, we start with happening in the body, such as tightness in the shoulders. Slowly, we’ll unfold the layers of your experience. This often includes moving through emotions, images, memories, core material, parts of the self, and beliefs, and identifying parts that are missing. Hakomi uses explorations or experiments to offer what is missing, such as being seen or being safe. Explorations might include movement, self-touch (such as gentle self-massage), or studying gestures or images. I typically don’t use touch. After several sessions, clients often report decreases in physical pain, an ease in tolerating emotions, increased sense of inner calm. Somatic therapy also helps with impulse control, confidence, and self-trust.

Yes! I am open and welcoming to all types of all types of sexual orientations, and expressions and familiar with struggles particular to the community. Many of my clients identify as queer, bi-sexual, or gender non-conforming in some fashion. I also work with those in non-monogamous relationships.

I am licensed to provide therapy to anyone in the state of California via telehealth. In-person, sessions happen in my office in the Atwater Village neighborhood of Los Angeles.

Most of my clients prefer to store their payment information on my secure note software before the first appointment, which processes payments automatically the evening after the appointment. I also accept Venmo, Zelle or cash.

Item descriptionI do can provide a super bill (or a receipt for therapy services) for out-of-network plans. Most PPO Insurance plans offer out-of-network benefits and will send reimbursement checks with the submission of a superbil. If you’re not sure about your insurance benefits, use my insurance helper form here.

Yes. Psychotherapy conducted over secure video is just as successful as in-person sessions. In-person therapy has some benefits, such as more interpersonal contact and fewer possibilities for distraction. Telehealth offers benefits, such as scheduling flexibility and less hassle with drive times and parking. For telehealth, there are some considerations, like making sure you have a comfortable and private space ahead of time. For most people, the choice comes down to personal preferences and scheduling.