What is Psychodynamic Therapy?

This is an approach to therapy that emphasizes the exploration of unconscious thoughts and feelings to gain insights into how they are impacting our present lives and experiences. It aims to create awareness and healing of the deeper-rooted issue(s).

What is EMDR?

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing. It is a psychotherapy approach that was originally developed to help individuals heal from the distressing effects of their traumatic experiences. It utilizes bilateral stimulation, which can be achieved through eye movement, sound, or tactile sensations. EMDR is based on the belief that traumatic experiences can become “stuck” or unprocessed in the brain, leading to the development of symptoms such as anxiety, depression, flashbacks, and avoidant behaviors. By reprocessing these traumatic memories in a safe and controlled environment, EMDR aids in the healing of the effects caused by the trauma and promotes a new belief to take place. 

What should I expect in the first session?

Our first session is an opportunity for us to get a feel for each other.  It allows me to get an idea of what your life has been like recently, learn about your history, and gain insights into your wants and needs. Additionally, I will go over some basic housekeeping. In this session, you can ask any questions that you may have for me as well. In fact, the first several sessions are primarily about gathering information so that I can best serve you as a therapist and for both of us to see if we are a good fit to continue forward together.

What are your hours?

9-5 Monday-Thursday

The above hours are my typical hours. I do have a limited amount of evening sessions available which you are welcome to inquire about. 

Fridays are reserved for clients who may need an additional session.
At the end of each session, we will schedule another session for the following week (or for whatever agreed-upon frequency we have determined.)

Where do we meet?

I offer virtual therapy. However, if you are local to the Long Beach area we can occasionally make in-person arrangements.

How regularly should we meet?

I recommend committing to weekly sessions for at least 12-16 weeks. After this first period,  we can discuss what frequency may be best going forward. This is to provide consistency, allowing us to build quality rapport and providing you with more opportunities for movement and change to occur. I understand that there are limitations that don’t always allow for weekly sessions, and we can always have an open discussion about that.

Do you take insurance?

At this time, I am an out-of-network provider, meaning that I do not accept insurance directly. I can however provide a superbill for you to submit to your insurance company and they will reimburse you directly if you have an out-of-network provider.

How do I pay?

I accept electronic payments.

The easiest method is for you to provide your credit or debit card information in the client portal. I will charge your card after each session.
If you need another arrangement, we can discuss other methods of electronic payment.