Frequently asked questions.

How do I know you’re the right therapist for me?

Therapy is definitely a two way street, it’s important that you feel comfortable with your provider as you will likely discuss difficult, intimate, or personal topics during your sessions. Making sure that you find a therapist you align with is super important (and research shows the biggest indicator of therapeutic progress for clients is relationship with the therapist!), and I want to make sure you feel comfortable with me. This is why I offer an initial, free consultation for you to get to know me in real life and get a sense of what sessions may be like together. Take this time to ask any questions you have, and be honest about what you are looking to get out of therapy. If you’d like to move forward, then great! If you don’t feel a connection, or vice versa I don’t feel I’d be the best therapist to support you on your journey, that is completely ok and I don’t take it personally. I’ll be happy to provide you with referrals to other providers who may be a better fit for you.

How long does therapy last?

This is a very typical therapist answer, but it honestly depends! When starting therapy, we’ll talk about what your goals are for our work together. You may find that after these issues resolve, you would like to step away from therapy as the issue you came to work on has been addressed. Other times, you may notice that other concerns arise during treatment that you would like to pivot and work on. While there may be a clinical recommendation for care, you are the ultimate decision maker in how long therapy lasts.

What is HAES?

You may have seen this term other places on my website and thought to yourself “What is that?!” HAES, pronounced “haze,” is an acronym that stands for Health At Every Size. It is a model of treatment that focuses on the importance of providing health care to all, regardless of weight or body size. HAES frameworks de-emphasize the sole importance of weight as a health indicator, and instead look at a more wholistic view of a person. Practice often includes a focus on health promoting behaviors, joyful movement, stress management, social connection, sleep hygiene, and mental health.

Why do you say/believe therapy is political?

As a social worker, my education and training is built on the foundation that we live in an environment that we are impacted by and we are able to impact as well. Policies that have been enacted historically or are enacted now often have real-life consequences for people living with marginalized identities, specifically women, people of color, indigenous folks, the LGBTQIA community, people who have been incarcerated, immigrants, people with low access to financial resources, people with disabilities, the list goes on. By acknowledging these systemic and historical inequities in the therapy room, we can discuss the impact of these systems both community-wide and personally.

Where are you located? What time zones are sessions in?

I am currently located in California, however am able to work with people in California, Virginia, and Connecticut. I offer sessions from 8 AM - 4PM PST or 11 AM - 7 PM EST.