What to Expect
We’ll start with a brief introductory call where we can start to get to know each other. It’s a chance for me find out what you’re looking to get help with. It’s also a chance for you to get a feel for my style and ask me questions. If we both agree, we then set up an initial consultation.
During the initial consultation sessions, we’ll explore your current symptoms, health and family history, lifestyle, sources of support and stress, and your goals for treatment. I’ll share my initial impressions and recommendations, and we’ll check in about whether it makes sense for us to move forward into treatment. I generally don’t prescribe during the consultation sessions.
The first few follow-up sessions will focus on symptom relief, especially if your symptoms are getting in the way of your functioning. What are the immediate steps we can take to help you feel better? This may or may not include starting a medication or supplement.
Subsequent sessions will focus more on psychotherapy and mindfulness. During this time I will continue to evaluate how medical conditions, diet, and lifestyle are contributing to symptoms, and will monitor medications, supplements, and neutracuticals.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of psychotherapy do you practice?
My background is in psychoanalytic (also called psychodynamic or insight-oriented) psychotherapy. It’s a type of therapy that particularly helps people who feel like they know what they should do, but they aren’t doing it. It aims to go “under the hood,” to uncover unconscious blocks and maladaptive ways of thinking. I’ve also trained in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), interpersonal therapy (IPT), and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT). I use elements of all these approaches in my work with patients.
Are you going to be largely silent during our sessions?
No! I’m active in sessions. I’m actively listening, questioning, reflecting, making connections, and pointing out patterns. I might lead a short meditation, or use a Zen koan to expand our thinking.
Do you do medication management alone?
Generally, I don’t. While medications can be useful part of our work together, I believe in doing psychotherapy in tandem for the most impactful change.
How does meditation/mindfulness fit into the work?
Developing a mindfulness practice is very helpful for depth psychotherapy. When we explore our unconscious, it can bring up difficult feelings. There’s truth in the saying, “you’ve got to feel it to heal it.” With mindfulness, you can learn to go underneath the difficult feelings without trying to get rid of them, and drop into present moment awareness. While the surface of your mind can still be choppy and agitated at times, like the surface of the ocean, you can learn to accept the mind being that way and at the same time experience an underlying sense of equanimity. This also creates some space between thoughts/feelings and actions. You can recognize you’re going into an old pattern, pause, and then choose a different way of responding.
Do you take insurance?
I’ve chosen not to contract with insurance companies in order to offer the highest quality, personalized care without the limitations imposed by third-party payers. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean your insurance won’t help cover the cost of my services. Depending on your specific plan, you may be eligible for partial reimbursement for out-of-network providers—often ranging from 20% to 80% of standard fees. I’m happy to provide monthly superbills (detailed receipts) that you can submit directly to your insurance for potential reimbursement.
How long will therapy last?
I offer both short-term and long-term therapy, depending on your needs. In short-term therapy, we choose a specific area to focus on and set a clear time frame—often 3 or 6 months. We check in along the way, and when our work concludes, I may recommend additional resources to support you going forward.
In long-term therapy, we take a more open-ended approach. I help you explore and work through challenges as they arise, gaining insight into patterns that may be holding you back. Over time, you develop the tools to navigate life with greater ease, clarity, and fulfillment.
Do you see patients in-person or virtually?
I see people in-person, virtually, or in a hybrid of the two. If possible, I would like to see you in-person for the first visit.
What is your stance on psychedelics?
I’ve trained in psychedelic-assisted therapy and believe it can be profoundly life-changing when practiced safely and thoughtfully. I’m currently exploring how best to integrate this work into my practice. At this stage, I offer psychedelic education to help patients understand the current research on psychedelics for various mental health conditions, including both potential benefits and risks. I also plan to begin offering sublingual ketamine-assisted psychotherapy to established patients in the near future.
Mindfulness
There are ways to shift our relationship to what is most disturbing without fighting with yourself. You can learn to go underneath the difficult feeling without trying to get rid of it, and drop into present moment awareness. You learn that it is possible to trust a stable inner core within yourself that is reliable, dependable, and unwavering. Gradually the tension in your body and the disturbance in your mind become less intrusive and lose some of their force. While the surface of your mind can still be choppy and agitated at times, like the surface of the ocean, you can learn to accept the mind being that way and at the same time experience an underlying inner peace.
Medications/Supplements
Medications and supplements can be a useful part of care. They can help relieve symptoms while doing the deeper work to address root causes. But there are always risks and benefits. Sessions include thoughtful consideration and discussion of medications and supplements.
Lifestyle
Nature is medicine. Connection is medicine. Eating healthy is medicine. Walking, running, hiking, playing sports is medicine. Taking 2 minutes to stretch is medicine. Figuring out how to incorporate these things into your daily routine is an integral part of the work together.
“Out beyond ideas of rightdoing and wrongdoing there is a field. I’ll meet you there.”
-Rumi