Welcome:
Are you facing mental health challenges that are oppressive in nature?
Maybe people are using labels that seem chronic and don’t accurately reflect either what you are experiencing or what you’ve been through! Maybe it is hard to put your finger on exactly what is wrong. Maybe you’ve had experience with institutionalized care and you don’t want to go back! Could it be you are a family member and don’t know how to be supportive! Or maybe you’ve been through the fire, found a sense of safety, and are ready to get back to your hopes and dreams! I stay current with the latest trauma modalities and believe that healing can help you live the life you want to live.
It could be that you have lingering depression, anxiety, or states of dissociation that just won’t go away. Or maybe you have experienced things that other people say shouldn’t be real even though they are. Maybe you got caught up in a conspiracy that was very traumatic that could bring up issues related to childhood neglect or other forms of abuse that you’ve experienced.
Maybe you’ve had spiritual experiences for which you are getting persecuted. Or is it that substance abuse is somehow part of the picture. It makes sense to fear stereotypes or realities associated with the labels, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Maybe you’ve been through it before and are going through a life transition.
I am very collaborative and sensitive to power dynamics. Rather than be a blank slate, I am transparent about who I am. I work respectfully with you under your direction because I believe you can heal and improve your life. I am trained in EMDR , EFT, and DBT and am pursuing IFS and Somatic trainings because I believe trauma can be healed and great improvements in your lifestyle can be made.
I accept many forms of insurance for Telehealth services. I work on Friday and Saturday and may have some opining. Please do reach out and inquire about services, I want to hear from you.
Currently Accepting Clients for Friday and Saturday Appointments!!
Family Consultations
What if you or your loved one is not sure that therapy is really for them? Perhaps, like many other family members, you think therapy is a good idea, but your loved one just doesn’t feel that way. This can lead to conflict and challenges in the relationship.
Unfortunately the standard of care for working with experiences associated with “psychosis” involves efforts to suppress those experiences. I feel starting out with an expectation of suppression is the wrong approach. Many people who may have received treatment in the past reject this standard of care and don’t want to deal with a therapist who only reinforces it.
Sometimes learning how to engage and be curious about your loved ones experiences can help. For this reason, I offer Friday or Saturday consultations when I get therapy cancellations. I charge a fee of ninety dollars and can contact you sporadically as soon as space opens up. I offer reflections on my lived experience, support for the anxiety you may be facing, and ideas about how to better connect with your loved ones and have a better relationship.
Meeting People Where They Are At:
When a person just isn’t sure therapy will work for them based on their past experiences, it may help working with the family first. Let’s say you both see improvement in terms of the guidance you have gotten, perhaps there might be more interest in trying therapy. Sometimes people may want to start infrequent appointments and test things our while they wait for a space to open up on my caseload. I can meet California residents where they are at by trying consultation sessions with them to demonstrate the utility of the hearing voices network approach.
Out-of-State Consultations:
I am limited to doing therapy in California. However, I am willing to do family consults with people out-of-state that help support the wisdom of the hearing voices movement. It’s true I have developed my own Redefining Psychosis approach, but have also studied and worked with the HVN movement to learn what I know. Unfortunately, in working with voice hearers or message receivers, I am not able to differentiate what I would do in consultation from what I would do in therapy and therefore am limited to family consultations when it comes to working with people from out of state.
Specialties
Multicultural Connections
Schizophrenia Labels
Schizoaffective/Bipolar Labels
“Psychosis”/Special Messages
“PTSD”/Complex Trauma and Generational Trauma
Dissociation States
Attention/Social Learning Disabilities
“Personality Disorders”/trauma syndromes
Dual Diagnosis/Addictions
Depression/Anxiety/Pain
Therapy Modalities
Person Centered
Narrative/Social Justice
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Wellness Recovery Action Planning
Peer Support Models
Motivational Interviewing
EFT/EMDR Trained
IFS Curious
Redefining Psychosis
Insurances:
Carelon
Magellan
Gold Coast Health Plan
MSN
Optum
Medicare (Nordian)
Blue Shield of California
Anthem Blue Cross of California
Quest
Aetna
Cigna
Health Net of Oregon and California
Issues
Spiritual Emergencies
Hearing Voices
Conspiracies/Capers
Code-Switching
Multicultural Needs
Social Exclusion
Life Transitions
Institutionalized Care
Substance Abuse
Isolation/Withdrawal
Eating Issues
Depression
Anxiety
Self Esteem
Sexual/Physical Abuse
Attention Problems
Mood Swings
Mood Extremes
Learning Disorders
Legal Challenges
Waiting List Policy:
I recommend that interested parties check out my webpages to learn some about my approach to make sure we are a good fit.
The best ways to get my attention is to call the number below or click the picture to the right and leave me a message on my contact page. I try to be fair, but letting me know that you’ve read some of my work and multiple phone calls do help get my attention. I want to serve everybody, but finding people who are a good fit is mutually beneficial.
415-888-2451
Cost of Therapy
As a person with a great deal of lived experience, I prioritize making therapy affordable. You should be commended for your desire to work on yourself, not drained dry. For this reason I keep my fee low and prefer to use insurance panels. I can also send you a superbill without any problem if I am out of network.
Some think those who accept insurance panels are bottom of the barrell therapists. I think finding a good therapist is more about a cultural fit. It can be work and it is very frustrating, but investing the time tofind a cultural fit is worth while.
