Types of Therapies I Provide I provide cutting edge transdiagnostic Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which often provides quicker results by looking at root causes perpetuating difficulties. From that framework, I use a variety of modern forms of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, EMDR, Mindfulness-based therapies, Exposure Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy.

Psychotherapy Specialty Areas
Trauma and PTSD
Anxiety and worry
Social Anxiety
Panic Attacks
Phobias
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Depression
Life and career transitions
LGBTQ-related challenges

Coaching specialty areas
Managing leadership challenges effectively
Building Emotional Intelligence skills
Navigating difficult workplace environments and/or workplace politics
Easing life and career transitions
Mastering effective leadership skills

Education and Training I completed an advanced APA-accredited postdoctoral fellowship at the San Francisco VA Medical Center, where I specialized in working with veterans with trauma, anxiety, acute and chronic illness, substance use, and mood disorders.  At UCSF, I conducted neuroscience research on HIV and cognitive impairment and co-authored a funded grant to assess the impact of mindfulness on reducing cognitive impairment in older adults with HIV.   My research has been published in peer-reviewed journals and I have extensive public speaking experience across academic, startup, and public sectors.

For several years, I co-directed The Berkeley Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Clinic with Dr. Matt McKay. The Berkeley CBT Clinic offers sliding scale therapy to those in the community who otherwise would not be able to afford it. As the Training and Operations Director, I had the honor and pleasure of training and supervising doctoral therapists in how to use evidence-based therapies. I created an intensive transdiagnostic therapy training program and oversaw the effectiveness of this approach within a clinic that served approximately 100 clients at any given time.

To help bridge the gap between therapy access and cost, I co-authored a self-help workbook, The Emotional Intelligence Skills Workbook. I also created a therapy program and content for digital healthcare products and companies aimed at democratizing therapy access and conducted studies on their effectiveness. I am the author of an FDA-approved prescription digital therapeutic program for Fibromyalgia called Stanza. I am a proud Board Member of the Bay Area Trauma Recovery Clinic, a sliding scale non-profit clinic for those who’ve experienced trauma and have limited financial resources.

Fees My fees are commensurate with other doctoral-level therapists in the Bay Area.   Click here to contact me for further information. 

Attendance and Cancellations In the beginning, therapy and coaching are most effective when attended once a week.  Weekly attendance helps us maintain the momentum of our work together and ensures you are making progress toward your goals.  Because this regularity is crucial to the success of your treatment, I ask all clients to commit to weekly attendance until progress in treatment suggests less frequent sessions would be more supportive.

Progress Check-ins Effective therapy and coaching require a consistent commitment of time and energy from both the therapist and client. I will work closely with you to share your progress and help you identify what you’re learning so you can also notice the changes you’ve set out to make.

Who provides psychotherapy? There are four main types of licensed mental health practitioners providing psychotherapy:

  • Psychologist (Ph.D. or Psy.D)

  • Psychiatrist (M.D.)

  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker

  • Marriage & Family Therapist (MFT)

A licensed clinical psychologist has a doctorate in clinical psychology (PsyD or PhD). Psychologists complete the most rigorous training for providing psychotherapy: either a 4 or 5 year graduate program, completion of a dissertation, plus 1-2 years of post-doctoral supervised training. Additionally, to be licensed in California, psychologists must complete a minimum of 3,000 hours of supervised clinical care and pass 2 state licensing examinations.

A psychiatrist (M.D.) is licensed as a physician and surgeon in California. When consulting with a psychiatrist, look for training in the field of psychiatry, such as a post-graduate residency training in psychiatry and board certification in psychiatry.

A licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) has a master's degree from an accredited school of social work, typically a 3 year graduate program. LCSWs have obtained 3,200 hours of supervised experience and passed the appropriate state licensing examinations.

A marriage and family therapist (MFT) has completed as masters program in psychology, typically a 2 year program, obtained 3,000 hours of supervised experience and passed the appropriate state licensing examinations.

Insurance I do not accept insurance and am considered an out-of-network provider. Upon request, I can provide a monthly statement you can send to your insurance provider to obtain reimbursement.  Many but not all PPO health insurance plans will reimburse for therapy provided by a licensed therapist.  However, plans vary widely and you will need to contact your insurance to determine what benefits you are eligible to receive.  When contacting your insurance, please check your coverage carefully by asking:

  • What is my deductible and has it been met?

  • What is my coverage amount per therapy session for an out-of-network psychologist? What percent of the cost will be covered?

  • Do I need a particular diagnosis to obtain reimbursement?

  • Are telehealth appointments reimbursed at the same rate as in-person?

Location My office is located in downtown San Francisco and is easily accessible by BART and Muni.  A parking garage is located on the block behind my office.

Good Faith Estimate You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost. Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.

  • You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees.

  • Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service.

  • If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.

  • Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate.

  • For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call (800) 368-1019

I offer a free 20-minute consultation to see if we're a good fit. To set one up, click here to contact me.