Frequently asked questions

The first step is to schedule a free 20-minute virtual consultation. This gives us a chance to talk about what brings you to therapy, what you're hoping to find, and whether working together might be a good fit. You're also welcome to ask me any questions about my approach.

You can schedule your consultation here.

Individual therapy sessions are $250 for 50 minutes. Couples therapy sessions are $300 for 60 minutes.

I reserve a limited number of sliding-scale spaces for patients who aren't able to afford my standard fee. I may also offer reduced rates for patients interested in meeting more than once a week.

I'm an out-of-network provider and don't bill insurance directly. Sessions are paid for privately, and I can provide monthly superbills (itemized receipts) that you can submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement.

Working outside of insurance allows us greater flexibility in how we approach therapy, without insurance companies determining the length or frequency of our sessions.

If you plan to use out-of-network benefits, your insurance company will typically require a mental health diagnosis for reimbursement. We can discuss this together so the process feels transparent and considered.

I meet with patients once a week or, for patients interested in more intensive psychoanalytic work, more than once a week. Regular sessions allow us to build a relationship and develop a deeper understanding of the patterns, feelings, and experiences that bring you to therapy.

I offer in-person therapy for individuals and couples at my office at 999 Sutter Street in San Francisco's Nob Hill neighborhood, as well as virtual therapy throughout California, New York, and Florida.

Both formats offer opportunities for meaningful, in-depth therapeutic work. We can discuss which arrangement makes the most sense for you.

Therapy begins with talking. I encourage you to speak freely about whatever comes to mind, whether it's something that happened during your week, a memory, a dream, a relationship, or a feeling you can't quite put into words.

You don't need to arrive with an agenda or know exactly what you want to say. Together, we'll become curious about your thoughts, feelings, and experiences, and begin to notice patterns and connections that may not have been apparent before.

Couples therapy offers a space to better understand the patterns that have developed between you and your partner. We might explore recurring conflicts, difficulties communicating, feelings of distance or resentment, or the ways your individual histories shape your relationship.

My role isn't to take sides or decide who's right. Instead, I'll help you become more curious about what's happening between you, including feelings and needs that may be difficult to express or hear.

Together, we'll work toward a deeper understanding of one another and new ways of relating.

You can learn more about my work with couples, here.

My role isn't to tell you what to do or make decisions for you. Instead, I want to help you better understand yourself, including the feelings, wishes, fears, and conflicts that may be influencing your choices.

That doesn't mean I'll simply sit silently or never offer a perspective. Therapy is a conversation, and I'll be actively engaged in helping us think together about what's happening in your life.

Sometimes we understand something intellectually but find ourselves repeating the same patterns anyway. We might know a relationship isn't good for us but struggle to leave, or recognize that we're overly critical of ourselves without knowing how to change.

Therapy gives us an opportunity to explore what's happening beneath the surface. As we begin to understand the deeper feelings and experiences shaping our lives, new ways of relating to ourselves and others can become possible.

The relationship we develop in therapy is also part of this process. As we come to understand how you experience yourself and others, including what unfolds between us, there can be opportunities to experience relationships in new ways.

Yes. Dreams can offer a window into feelings, conflicts, and wishes that may be difficult to recognize in waking life. If you remember a dream, I welcome you to bring it into our sessions.

Rather than assigning a fixed meaning to a dream, we'll explore it together. We might become curious about the images that stand out, the feelings it evokes, or the associations that come to mind. Sometimes a dream opens up a new way of understanding something you're struggling with. Other times, we may simply sit with its mystery.

There's no predetermined length of treatment. Some people come to therapy to work through a particular difficulty, while others want to explore longstanding patterns or develop a deeper understanding of themselves.

My approach is generally open-ended. Rather than working toward a fixed number of sessions, we'll allow the work to unfold at a pace that feels right for you.

Change in therapy often happens gradually, rather than through sudden breakthroughs. Just as a seed needs time, water, and care before its first shoots emerge, the work we do in therapy may be taking root long before we can see its effects.

Over time, you might begin to recognize patterns in your relationships, become more aware of feelings you've tended to avoid, or find yourself responding differently to situations that once felt overwhelming.

Progress doesn't always mean feeling better right away. We'll continue to think together about how the work is going and what may be changing.

I hope you'll feel comfortable telling me. There may be times when you feel misunderstood, disappointed, or frustrated with how our work is going. These feelings are welcome in our sessions, too.

Talking about what's happening between us can help us better understand your experience and sometimes open up important new areas of exploration.

Ending therapy is something we'll think about together. You may find that the difficulties that initially brought you to therapy feel more manageable, or that you've developed a different relationship with yourself and others.

Ideally, we'll have time to reflect on our work together, what it's meant to you, and what you hope to carry forward.