Frequently Asked Questions About Therapy
Questions are welcome
Starting therapy often comes with questions about what to expect, how the process works, and whether a therapist will be the right fit. You do not need to have everything figured out before reaching out. Below are answers to some of the questions people commonly have when considering therapy.
Starting Therapy
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You do not need to be certain before reaching out. People begin therapy for many reasons, including anxiety, difficult experiences from the past, relationship patterns, self-doubt, health changes, or simply feeling that something is not working anymore. Therapy may be worth exploring if what you are carrying is affecting your daily life or if you want support understanding yourself and making changes.
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Description text No. You do not have to wait until you reach a breaking point. Some people begin therapy during a particularly difficult time, while others come because they have noticed a pattern they want to understand or want life to feel different. Wanting support is enough of a reason to start.goes here
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You do not need to arrive with a prepared story or clearly defined goals. We can begin with what has felt difficult lately, what prompted you to reach out, or what you would like to feel different. I will ask questions and help us find a place to begin.
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A previous therapy experience may not have been the right fit, approach, or timing for you. You are welcome to tell me what felt helpful and what did not. I want you to be able to give honest feedback so we can adjust our work rather than expecting you to continue with something that does not feel useful.
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The free 15-minute consultation gives us a chance to talk briefly about what you are looking for and answer initial questions. A good fit often includes feeling respected, understood, and able to be honest. You do not have to make a decision during the call, and scheduling a consultation does not obligate you to begin therapy.
Sessions & What to Expect
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My style is warm, collaborative, and active. I will listen, ask questions, offer observations, and help you notice connections between what you are experiencing now and patterns that may have developed over time. Sessions can include deeper therapeutic work as well as space to talk about something difficult that happened recently.
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The first session gives me time to learn about what brought you to therapy, what has been affecting you, and what you hope will feel different. I tend to ask several questions because I want to understand your experience rather than make assumptions. You can take your time, ask questions of your own, or let me know when you are not ready to discuss something.
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Standard therapy sessions are approximately 55 minutes. EMDR intensives follow a different structure and include longer sessions, beginning with a 90-minute intake. We can discuss which format may fit your needs during the consultation.
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Many clients begin with weekly sessions, although frequency may depend on your needs, goals, availability, and the type of work we are doing. We will discuss a schedule that supports the work and revisit it when your needs change.
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No. I will usually begin by asking whether there is something specific you want to discuss that day. If there is, we can make room for it. If not, we can return to the goals, EMDR work, or skills we have already identified together.
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Sometimes. You may choose to practice a grounding skill, notice a pattern, try responding differently, or follow through on something we discussed. I will check in about what you tried and what got in the way. The purpose is to help therapy carry into your daily life, not to judge you for completing or not completing an assignment.
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Progress may include feeling less overwhelmed, recovering more easily after difficult moments, recognizing your needs sooner, setting boundaries with less guilt, responding to yourself with less criticism, or noticing that an experience from the past carries less emotional weight. We will revisit your goals over time and talk openly about what is changing and what may need a different approach.
EMDR & EMDR Intensives
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EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It is a structured form of therapy that can help the brain work through experiences that continue to affect how you feel, respond, or see yourself today. It may involve focusing briefly on a memory, emotion, belief, or body sensation while using guided eye movements, alternating sounds, or tapping.
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No. You do not have to give a detailed account of a painful experience from beginning to end. You can share the general theme while keeping details private. I will need enough information to understand what you want help with and support you through the process, but you remain in control of what you share.
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No. You remain awake, aware, and in control throughout EMDR. You can speak, ask questions, slow down, pause, or stop the process at any time. You might think of it as keeping one foot in the past while the other remains grounded in the present.
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We will make that decision together. Before processing, we will spend time understanding what is affecting you, building trust, and identifying ways to help you feel grounded. Readiness is not something you pass or fail. If we discover that more preparation or support would be helpful, we can slow down and return to processing later.
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Yes. EMDR can be incorporated into standard 55-minute sessions. Not every appointment will involve active processing. Some sessions may focus on preparation, grounding skills, identifying what to work on, or addressing something happening in your current life.
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An EMDR intensive offers longer, more focused sessions for clients who want uninterrupted time to address a particular experience or concern. My intensive structure begins with a 90-minute intake, followed by three- to four-hour extended sessions and a 90-minute closing session. Preparation may continue beyond the intake depending on your needs. Extended sessions may occur weekly or more than once during the same week.
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A longer session is not automatically the best option for everyone. Your history, current circumstances, support system, goals, and readiness all matter. We will consider these factors together and discuss which format is most likely to support you safely and effectively.
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EMDR can sometimes feel mentally, emotionally, or physically tiring. When possible, it can help to leave yourself some breathing room afterward, particularly following an intensive. We will discuss what to expect and what support may be useful before beginning.
Fees & Insurance
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Standard 55-minute therapy sessions are $185. EMDR intensives are billed at the same private-pay rate of $185 per hour.
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I accept select Aetna and Providence plans, as well as fee-for-service Medi-Cal, sometimes called straight Medi-Cal. Participation can vary by specific plan, so I will confirm whether I am in network with your coverage before your first session.
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After the consultation, you can provide images of your insurance card or upload the information with your intake paperwork. I will use that information to confirm whether I am in network and check your eligibility.
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I recommend calling the number on your insurance card and asking about your benefits for outpatient mental health therapy, including your copayment, coinsurance, deductible, and telehealth coverage. Information provided by an insurance company is not always a guarantee of payment, but calling can give you a clearer idea of your expected costs.
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Yes. Some clients choose private pay for greater privacy or flexibility. Private-pay treatment decisions remain between us without requiring an insurance company to determine whether services are medically necessary or request information about your diagnosis and treatment.
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No. Insurance cannot be used or billed for any portion of an EMDR intensive, including the 90-minute intake, extended sessions, or 90-minute closing session. The full intensive process is private pay at $185 per hour.
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A limited number of reduced-fee openings may be available. Availability can change, so you are welcome to ask about current options during the consultation.
Privacy & Confidentiality
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Yes. What you share in therapy is generally private and will not be disclosed without your written permission. Confidentiality is an important part of creating a space where you can speak openly. I will review these protections and their limits with you before we begin.
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There are specific situations in which I may be legally or ethically required to share information. These can include suspected abuse or neglect of a child, elder, or dependent adult; a serious safety concern involving harm to yourself or another person; or when disclosure is required by law or a valid court order. If one of these situations arises, I will share only the information necessary and, when possible, discuss the next steps with you.
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Only with your written permission, except in an emergency or another situation in which disclosure is legally permitted or required. If coordinating with a neurologist, psychiatrist, physician, rehabilitation provider, or another member of your care team could support your treatment, we will discuss what information may be helpful to share.
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Insurance companies generally require information such as a mental health diagnosis, dates of service, and sometimes additional treatment information to process claims or determine whether care is medically necessary. If you choose private pay, claims are not submitted to an insurance company.
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Sessions take place through a secure telehealth platform. You will need to join from a private location in California with a reliable internet connection. At the beginning of a telehealth session, I will confirm your current location and how I can reach you if the connection is interrupted or an emergency occurs.
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To protect your privacy, I will not approach or acknowledge you first. You are welcome to say hello if you choose, but I will allow you to decide whether and how we interact.
Online & In-Person Therapy
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I provide virtual therapy to individuals located anywhere in California. You must be physically present in California at the time of each session. Please let me know in advance if you will be traveling outside the state.
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Limited in-person appointments are available at my Santa Barbara office on Fridays and Saturdays. Current availability may vary. The office address and arrival information will be provided before your first in-person appointment.
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You will need a device with a camera and microphone, a reliable internet connection, and a private location where you feel comfortable speaking. Joining from a computer or tablet generally provides a better experience than using a phone. For your safety and privacy, sessions cannot take place while you are driving.
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Yes. EMDR can be provided virtually using guided eye movements, alternating sounds, tapping, or another form of bilateral stimulation that works well for you. We will discuss your environment, privacy, and ability to feel grounded before deciding whether virtual EMDR fits your needs.
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We will first try to reconnect through the telehealth platform. If the interruption continues, I may contact you by phone so we can decide whether to continue another way or reschedule the remaining time. We will confirm your location and a backup contact plan at the beginning of virtual sessions.
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This may be possible depending on current office availability, your location, and what would best support the work we are doing. We can discuss changes to your session format as your needs or circumstances change.