Frequently Asked Questions about Therapy
Choosing the right therapist is a big decision. Below you'll find answers to the questions I hear most often about my therapy practice, including my approach, fees, virtual therapy, feminist therapy, expressive arts therapy, and my work with women navigating perimenopause and midlife in California. Please feel free to reach out with any additional questions or, after perusing the FAQ, book a free consultation here.
What types of clients do you work with?
The majority of the women I help are in midlife, navigating perimenopause. They often reach out feeling lost and overwhelmed in throws of hormonal flux and life stressors. I help them find their way during an inherently vulnerable time. They may be tackling one or more issues just like these: career stress, self-esteem, burnout, issues of identity and purpose, spirituality, body image, parenthood/caregiving, relationships, health, family dynamic, boundaries …
Do you work with Younger Women in your practice?
Yes, I do. While the majority of my practice is now focused on supporting midlife women, I am still passionate in helping women of all life stages to feel confident and trust themselves in a world that often encourages them not to.
What issues do you specialize in?
I specialize in helping women navigate perimenopause, midlife transitions, anxiety, ADHD, burnout, relationship challenges, and questions about identity and purpose. My approach is grounded in feminist therapy and integrates expressive arts, mindfulness, body-based practices, and women's spirituality for clients who wish to include it in their work. Many of my clients are thoughtful, high-achieving women who want a deeper understanding of themselves while building lives that feel more authentic, balanced, and meaningful.
Do you specialize in perimenopause and midlife mental health?
Yes. I specialize in working with women navigating perimenopause. Perimenopause can affect mood, anxiety, sleep, concentration, confidence, relationships, and overall well-being. I help women understand these changes while developing practical strategies to care for their mental, emotional, and physical health.
Who is the best fit for your practice?
My practice is a good fit for women who are ready to better understand themselves and make meaningful changes in their lives. I work with client's no less than 1x per week and I ask that client’s commit to regular attendance as consistency is key to effective therapy. Many of my clients are successful professionals who have spent years caring for others and are ready to invest in their own well-being.
Who is Not a good Fit for your practice?
Some client’s may need a higher level of support than what I currently offer through my telehealth practice. I currently do not work with client’s who are actively self-harming or experience active suicidal ideation. I also do not work with severe and persistent mental health concerns such as BPD, Bipolar Disorder or psychosis.
It’s important to know that I am not licensed to prescribe hormone therapy or any medication. I do work with clients to find medical providers they feel comfortable with and often support clients working through their own medical anxiety in this process.
What therapeutic approaches do you use?
My work is informed by feminist psychology and centers the experiences of women within the therapeutic context. I integrate a vast toolkit of modalities and interventions to support each client with their individual goals. These may included narrative therapy, DBT, expressive arts therapy, somatic psychology and psychospiritual interventions such as ritual or dreamwork.
What is expressive arts therapy?
Expressive arts therapy uses creative processes such as writing, drawing, collage, movement, imagery, or metaphor to explore thoughts and emotions. Creative activities can help access insights that are sometimes difficult to reach through conversation alone.
Do I have to be artistic to benefit from expressive arts therapy?
Not at all. Artistic ability is never the goal. Expressive arts are simply another way to explore your experiences, emotions, and strengths. Many clients who describe themselves as "not creative" find these approaches surprisingly helpful.
Can therapy help if I don't know exactly what's wrong?
Yes. Many people begin therapy because they know something feels different, but they cannot clearly explain why. This is particularly common during the midlife/perimenopause years. Therapy provides space to slow down, understand what is happening, and identify meaningful next steps.
How do I know if therapy is right for me?
Therapy may be helpful if you feel overwhelmed, anxious, disconnected, emotionally exhausted, or stuck. You do not have to wait until you are in crisis. Many people begin therapy because they want greater clarity, healthier relationships, and a stronger sense of purpose.
What happens during the first session?
The first session is an opportunity to get to know one another. We'll talk about what brings you to therapy, your personal history, your goals, and any questions you have about the process. It’s a discussion not an evaluation.
Can therapy help women with ADHD?
Yes. I work with many women who have ADHD or who begin questioning whether they have ADHD during perimenopause and midlife. ADHD can affect much more than attention. Many women struggle with overwhelm, perfectionism, emotional regulation, self-criticism, burnout, relationship challenges, and the feeling that they are constantly falling behind. I will also add there are many (often looked-over) gifts of ADHD. Therapy can help you better understand how ADHD affects your daily life - challenges and gifts. As well as identify your strengths, develop practical strategies, and build greater self-compassion.
Can spirituality be part of therapy?
Absolutely. For many women, spirituality is an important source of meaning, healing, and resilience. If spirituality is important to you, we can thoughtfully incorporate your beliefs, values, rituals, creativity, dreams, or spiritual practices into therapy.
My approach is inclusive and welcoming of diverse spiritual paths. Whether your spirituality comes from an established faith tradition, nature, meditation, witchcraft, tarot, or another personal practice, therapy is a space where these parts of your identity are respected and explored with curiosity and care. You are always free to decide how much or how little spirituality is part of our work together.
How often do clients usually meet?
Consistency is extremely important for effective therapy. I work with clients a minimum of 1x a week.
Do you offer virtual therapy?
Yes! I offer therapy from the comfort of YOUR own space. My practice is based in Oakland, California, and I work with clients throughout the state using secure telehealth.
Where are you licensed?
I am a licensed marriage and family therapist serving women in California.
Do you accept insurance?
I am an out-of-network provider and do not bill insurance directly. If your plan includes out-of-network mental health benefits, I can provide a superbill that you may submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement. Payment is due at the time of session.
How much do you charge?
50- minute session ($250)
For clients seeking regular weekly sessions and feel 50 minutes gives enough time for the depth and support they need. These sessions may be structured a variety of different ways depending on client’s preferences and goals.
80-minute sessions ($350)
These sessions are perfect for folks who crave more time for support and exploration, but don't feel the need for 2x per week sessions. The extended sessions allow us more space for deeper work including expressive arts processes, intuitive exploration, and the meaningful narrative work that often accompanies midlife and identity transitions. As well as getting into the nitty gritty of real life - organization, optimizing schedules, priorities, parenting/relationships and so on.
• Therapy Intensives: Half-Day (4-hour) Deep Dives ($900)
For clients wanting concentrated time for significant inner work, intensives offer an immersive experience. These are ideal for rites-of-passage work, unraveling long-held patterns, midlife reinvention, and psychospiritual integration. Each intensive is uniquely structured to your goals and includes grounding, somatic, expressive, and integrative practices.
Do you offer a consultation?
Yes. I offer a complimentary consultation so we can discuss your concerns, answer your questions, and determine whether my practice feels like a good fit for your needs.
Can therapy help with the emotional symptoms of perimenopause?
A big yes to this one. Women were not meant to go this journey alone. While therapy cannot change hormone levels, it does provide a safe environment to unpack and process your unique experience in this phase of life. I am there with you as an ally. Therapy can also help you better understand the emotional impact of perimenopause while building effective strategies for managing anxiety, stress, mood changes, identity shifts, and relationships during this stage of life. With your consent, I can also work closely with your team of providers such as gynecologists, acupuncturists, pelvic floor PTs, to ensure you have a strong web of care during this vulnerable time.
Can therapy complement hormone therapy or medical care?
Absolutely. Therapy works well alongside medical care, hormone therapy, and lifestyle changes. Many women find that combining emotional support with medical treatment provides the most comprehensive approach to well-being.
Are you currently accepting new clients?
If I have current availability, I'd be happy to discuss your needs during a complimentary consultation. Please contact me to learn about current openings and scheduling options or book a consultation here. I look forward to speaking with you!
