FAQ

No, not really, and I really wish it were. The building is older and does not meet all the current specifications for accessibility. There is handicapped parking in a lot I would need to buzz you into, but there is a step up to a walkway that may be difficult to manage in a wheelchair. Once up on this walkway, the restroom is accessible with a wheelchair, but my office has a high door jam that may also be troublesome. I am willing to help in any way I can to maneuver these obstacles.

There is usually street parking open right in front of my building. There is also a small parking lot on the south side of the building. After parking, you will find a pedestrian gate. If we make an appointment, I provide you with the code to the gate in my welcome email (or you can text me).

The real question is… what do you need in session? I have a broad range of skills, from using handouts to teach specific emotion regulation skills to explore the most fragile part of you that has been buried deep. We will work collaboratively to find the best approach for you, and I want you to speak up about what’s working for you and what’s not.

One thing that makes my work unique is that nature can be an important part of healing, so I like to work outdoors when and if that fits your needs.

Haha! For many people, the only “inside view” of therapy they see are old, stereotyped images of a client lying on a couch talking and talking (free-associating). At the same time, the therapist sits out of view, taking notes, and says, “Hmmm,” once in a while. That’s a caricature of a form of therapy called “analysis,” which I don’t do.

I will be across from you (sitting upright on comfy couches) or walking with you, and we will interact a lot. I will be asking lots of questions and providing direction. I don’t “analyze” what you say to come up with a succinct explanation of who you are, why you do what you do, and who is to blame for being the way you are. Instead, we collaborate on understanding what you want in life and how to get it.

And if you want to lie down on my couch, you can! There are throw pillows and a blanket which I regularly launder that you are welcome to wrap yourself in and get as comfortable as you want!

I have some clients that ask for homework, and I am happy to give assignments. I have some clients that shudder at the idea of homework, so I don’t give it.

Whether you have specific assignments or not, I believe it is very important that therapy continues outside the confines of our 50-minute session. If you allow the work to percolate in between sessions, you are more likely to get results. For some people, that percolation looks like journal entries. For some, it looks like talking with a trusted friend about the process. For some, it’s practicing a skill I taught you. I’ll help you find what works best for you.

This is a really challenging question for me. I believe good mental health care should be accessible to all. I know that insurance is the way most people can have access to it. Sometimes it really hurts to tell people that I can’t take their insurance.

I’ve also been there, paneled with insurance companies, and it’s not pretty for me.

And… I still believe you should not have to be rich to get good treatment. I have a few spots in my practice for a sliding scale. Ask me about this. Don’t let insurance be the obstacle that keeps you from calling.

I have had advanced training in Mindfulness, Internal Family Systems, Ecopsychology, Polyvagal Theory, Trauma-informed Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)*, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

If you see one in there you like – great! If you don’t know what any of those are… don’t worry. We will work collaboratively to find the best approach to meet your needs.

*I no longer provide comprehensive DBT. If that’s what you’re looking for, I can give you some good referrals.

I went back to school for a Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy in my forties, after a 20-year professional career in education. One of the best things I ever did!

I did a year of training in LGBTQ+ affirmative therapy at the Los Angeles LGBT Center. I went on to be intensively trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy and worked at the DBT Center of the South Bay for over five years.

Now that I am in private practice, my training has not stopped. I am a lifelong learner, and I find great value in being trained in new modalities and learning the latest about psychology and neuroscience. My recent trainings? Ecopsychology, Polyvagal Theory, and Internal Family Systems.

I work with adults (18+) of all gender identities. I rarely do couples counseling; but sometimes, when working with an individual, it can be extremely valuable to bring in a partner or family member as part of the therapy. I typically don’t work with teens, but I make an exception if the teen is looking for help with climate distress.

You can refer to my Services page for more information on Outdoor Therapy. The bottom line is, however, that we are a part of the natural world. When we get separated (or separate ourselves) from the natural world, we are missing something vital to our well-being. Our stress levels go up; our curiosity and resilience often go down.

You don’t have to hug a tree, but it’s good to notice that the tree is there.

There is a difference between mindfulness and meditation. All meditation is mindful, but you can practice mindfulness without having a formal meditation practice. Mindfulness means being wide awake to your life. Mindfulness is the opposite of shutting down, shutting out, numbing to life.

You can practice mindfulness while playing hide and seek with your kid. You can practice mindfulness while enjoying your morning cup of coffee. I’m all in favor of formal meditation practices, but I almost never prescribe them.

Most of the things you need to know you learned in kindergarten. To paraphrase a few of Robert Fulgham’s points… Play fair, don’t hit, remember the Golden Rule.

And maybe the most important for therapy… tell the truth and be open to wonder.

Putter in my garden.

Have coffee and long conversations with my spouse.

Cuddle with Casey, the stray orange tabby who adopted us several years back.

Play with our rescue dog Olaf and give him warm hugs.

Learn mindfulness from my pet tortoise, Otis.

Do crafts with natural-found objects or walk in nature with a friend.

Travel… visit my adult kid who lives too far away, in my opinion (but good for them!)

…to name a few things.