Common Questions About Starting Therapy:

Therapy is a space to talk openly, understand patterns, and begin making sense of what feels stuck or unclear.

You don’t need to know what to say or have things figured out before starting. Many people come in unsure of where to begin. In my Walnut Creek practice, therapy is a conversation that unfolds over time—at your pace—where we make sense of what’s going on beneath the surface.

If you feel stuck, overwhelmed, or dissatisfied despite functioning well in your daily life, therapy can help you understand and change underlying patterns.

Many of my clients in Walnut Creek and the East Bay consider themselves high-functioning—they’re managing careers, relationships, and responsibilities—but something still doesn’t feel right. You don’t need a crisis to benefit from therapy. Often, it’s about wanting a deeper understanding of yourself and more ease in your life.

Therapy can support adults experiencing depression and anxiety, grief and loss, trauma, relationship challenges, and issues related to identity or culture. It can also help if you feel stuck, overwhelmed, or want to better understand your emotions and patterns.

I combine psychodynamic and relational approaches with warmth, candor, and humor, helping clients understand themselves, navigate challenges, and live more authentically. Therapy with me focuses on both insight and practical change.

I’m deeply passionate about this work. The psychodynamic framework allows me to bring intellectual rigor, creativity, and problem-solving into every session.

I invest in ongoing training, reading, and professional development to continuously refine my skills and hone my craft. I’m fully engaged in the process and love the work I do.

If you want a deeper sense of how I think and work, you can explore my writing and blog, where I share reflections and insights that reveal my approach in action.

Feeling stuck often comes from underlying emotional patterns that aren’t immediately visible but still shape how you think, feel, and relate.

Feeling stuck often comes from underlying emotional patterns that aren’t immediately visible but still shape how you think, feel, and relate.

If you notice recurring struggles, persistent sadness or anxiety, difficulty in relationships, or want to explore yourself more deeply, therapy could be beneficial. Even a few sessions can provide clarity, perspective, and emotional support.

Repeated relationship patterns are often shaped by earlier experiences and unconscious dynamics that continue to influence how you connect with others.

This is something I work on frequently with clients in the East Bay. These patterns can feel confusing or frustrating, especially when you’re aware of them but can’t seem to change them. Therapy helps make those patterns more visible and gives you more choice in how you relate.

The right therapist is someone you feel comfortable with, who understands your concerns, and whose approach fits what you’re looking for.

There are many excellent therapists in Walnut Creek and the East Bay, so fit really matters. Beyond credentials, it’s important to find someone whose style resonates with you. You should pretty quickly feel like there is just good chemistry. I offer a consultation so you can get a sense of whether working together feels like a good match.

I offer therapy in Walnut Creek and virtual sessions for clients across California.

I am an out-of-network provider and do not bill insurance directly, but can provide superbills for reimbursement.

Fees are discussed during the consultation so we can determine the best fit.

It’s normal to feel anxious or unsure. Many clients feel relief after just one session. Therapy is a safe space to be yourself, ask questions, and explore your feelings without judgment.

Therapy length varies depending on your goals and needs. Some clients notice progress in a few months, while others benefit from longer-term work. We’ll find a pace that works for you.

If you’re looking for quick tools, therapy can help with that. But many of the people I work with want more than short-term relief—they want to understand themselves in a deeper way and create lasting change. That kind of work takes time, but it can be incredibly meaningful.