Practice Philosophy

It's not easy to seek help. I'm interested to know what brought you here, what your story is, and how you want to tell your story. 

Together we will gain a greater understanding of who you are and how your mind works. My job is to help you feel better and attain a more meaningful life. We will do this through helping you gain an awareness of your desires, fears, patterns, and to access a wider range of feelings and actions.

The mental distress you are experiencing likely did not happen in a vacuum. Traumatic experiences in the past may influence how you feel today. Societal issues and systemic oppression, such as racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, and sanism can add to distress. Sometimes oppression can come from mental health institutions themselves. This does not mean there is something wrong with you. I believe that inequalities and systemic oppression have complex effects on our unconscious mind starting from a young age. This can manifest as mental distress, especially if you must "function" in an impossible system.

Sometimes people who experience psychological difference and mental distress are on many types of medications. For some people, these medications are helpful and necessary. For others, medications might have been started long ago which are no longer working, no longer necessary, or have unwanted side effects. I believe in conducting a detailed review of your history, medical issues, and medication regimen to see if your medications can be simplified and personalized for you. Sometimes this might involve de-prescribing or taper off of unnecessary drugs.

How We Begin

Our initial conversation with be a 10 min conversation over the phone. This will be for me to get a sense of what you're looking for and to see if the services I provide are the right fit for you. 

After that, the next 3 visits will be the initial consultation. These visits are for us to learn more about each other and work together to develop a treatment course. In these visits, I will be interested in know more deeply your concerns, and more details about your thoughts and feelings. You will also get a sense for what it's like to work with me. I will share with you my initial impressions and recommendations, and will be open to your reactions. Sometimes, I might recommend medications that will help you make better use of psychotherapy and alleviate some distress. Together we will start to get a deeper understanding of how your mind works.

After that, we will continue our ongoing work together in follow-up visits that last 45 min each. For some, I will be doing medication management. For others, I will be conducting psychotherapy sessions in which I will be interested in knowing what is on your mind and your heart, your thoughts, your emotions, and your actions. For some, I will recommend a psychodynamic approach where the goal is to work alongside your unconcious, to understand how your past influences your present, and to delve deeper into parts of yourself that may not be within awareness. 

Payment and Fees

Please contact me directly with questions about fees. I accept Medicare and I am out of network with other insurances. 

I will provide you with a statement that you can submit to your insurance for out of network reimbursement.