To help you decide if we are a good fit, here are answers to frequently asked questions.
My passion is utilizing the powerful benefits of EMDR & Brainspotting with clients who are ready to live without anxiety, depression, dissociation, phobias, addiction, and post-traumatic stress. As a client in my private practice, you will receive your own, client-centered therapeutic process.
My approach is relational, and integrates what we know about neurobiology, ego states, and attachment in order to alleviate anxiety, depression, and trauma symptoms. I am an EMDRIA-Approved Consultant and Brainspotting Practitioner with advanced training in Attachment, Complex and Developmental Trauma, Gestalt, Process therapy, and Experiential therapy. I also offer clients expertise in how people learn and change from my 20 years of training, research, and teaching at Vanderbilt University and Stanford University School of Medicine. I believe in clinical excellence, always.
We will choose a mix of techniques and frameworks that are most beneficial for you.
Please note that I only offer EMDR for clients physically in the state of California. If you do not live in California, we can arrange for you to fly here for EMDR treatment. Brainspotting services are available to anyone, anywhere in the world.
It’s highly likely. EMDR & Brainspotting can be effectively utilized for:
- Resourcing: We will work to strengthen internal resources while soothing parts of you that feel limited. EMDR & Brainspotting utilize images, emotions, body sensations, and positive cognitions to increase feelings of calm, safety, and confidence.
- Resolving relationship difficulties: Attachment-focused EMDR works to repair unmet development needs (often called attachment wounding) when we have experienced an absence of care/neglect or abuse.
- Trauma recovery: While I often utilize EMDR & Brainspotting for clients with big “T” trauma (e.g. a major car accident, assault), I also support clients with small “t” traumas (e.g. chronic or ongoing stressful conditions, such as interpersonal conflict, difficult parents, financial stress). One of the most overlooked aspects of small ‘t’ traumas is their accumulated effect. Multiple, compounded small ‘t’ traumas may lead to distress in the nervous system and trouble with emotional functioning.
EMDR & Brainspotting are forms of adaptive information processing which helps the brain evolve from limiting beliefs. EMDR & Brainspotting may avoid some of the long and difficult abreactive work often involved in the treatment of anxiety, panic attacks, post-traumatic stress symptoms (such as intrusive thoughts, nightmares, and flashbacks), dissociative disorders, depression, phobias, identity crisis, and other adverse experiences.
Research in neuroplasticity demonstrates that our brain has the ability to change, create new neural pathways, and produce new neurons. Because the brain has this ability to change, we have the ability to change our way of thinking and improve mood. Neural pathways in the brain are strengthened with repetition. One way to describe this process is “neurons that fire together, wire together.” Constant repetition of an experience leads to changes within the brain’s structure and how the neurons process that experience. EMDR & Brainspotting utilizes our brains’ neuroplasticity to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections, which allows the brain to compensate for injury and adjust to new situations. For more information on the benefits of EMDR, please visit my resource page.
I support EMDR clients who are physically in California in-person and online in 3 ways:
- Adjunct intensive therapy (4-12 intensive sessions) in collaboration with your primary talk therapist
- Personalized treatment programs for individuals (Intensives)
- Personalized treatment programs for families (Parent Support Programs)
Treatment programs are customized for everyone's individual needs. For those on the intensive therapy plan, it can range from half-day to multi-day sessions. For others, it may be weekly or bi-weekly. The frequency can be adjusted to best support your therapeutic journey.
Personalized EMDR & Brainspotting treatment (called intensives) are half-day to multi-day programs that include a customized client workbook specific to your goals. Fees are based on your needs and program design, and are communicated ahead of time in accordance with the No Surprises Act. Typically intensive therapy is $750 /hour.
I do not offer free phone consultations. You can get on the waitlist here for a 45-minute initial session to see if we wish to work intensively together. The rate for our first session is $450.
Yes. Many insurance companies reimburse a portion of the cost of psychotherapy. For insurance purposes, I am considered an out-of-network provider and will provide a monthly invoice for you to submit for reimbursement. It's best to determine the exact details of your policy ahead of time, including what benefits are available regarding out-of-network providers.
Yes. I offer a 12-week, sliding scale program for clients who wish to work with me on targeted treatment goals and are not able to pay my full fee.
An effective therapist is informed, available, and attuned. I stay updated on evidence-based psychotherapy research, continuously pursue advanced training, and receive ongoing consultation with international EMDR & Brainspotting experts. I offer a limited number of spots in my practice to ensure that each client gets the attention, care, and responsiveness they deserve.
Let's find out. It's important that you feel safe with your therapist. Therapy is your space to do your work. The clients in my practice have this experience with me. If we feel we are not a good fit after our initial session, I am happy to share additional referrals of trusted colleagues.