FAQ

If you’re interested in services, please contact me via form below (without including sensitive details) to schedule a 20-minute consultation call, where you can share what you’re looking for help with, your goals for treatment, and any questions you may have. If we decide that working together is a good fit, the next step is a 90-minute intake appointment. Ongoing sessions are typically 50 minutes.

My fee is comparable to that of other local psychologists with specialized training in pediatric psychology. Please note that I do not accept insurance. However, I can provide a superbill that you may be able to submit to your insurance company for partial reimbursement, depending on your plan. I recommend contacting your insurance company to ask about out-of-network mental health benefits.

At this time I am providing all services via secure telehealth (video) sessions. Because I am licensed in California, I can only see clients physically located in California. In the future, I plan to offer in-person psychotherapy in addition to telehealth services.

I primarily work with children, teens, and young adults (roughly ages 7–25), along with parents and caregivers. I also work with families when it’s helpful, especially around health conditions, chronic pain and chronic illness, identity, and communication.

Pediatric pain psychology is specialized therapy for children, teens, and young adults with chronic pain and the emotional distress that comes with it. Oftentimes when families are seeking pain psychology they may have already gotten past messages that the child’s pain is “all in their heads.” I want to stress that I know your pain is real and there are things we can do to help manage pain flare-ups and get you back to the things that bring you joy. Pain psychology involves pain science education, learning and practicing coping skills, improving daily habits (e.g., sleep, hydration, nutrition), and working with caregivers on supporting their youth, with the goal of young people getting back to the things pain has gotten in the way of (school, friendships, sports, hobbies, and independence.

Pediatric health psychology may support the emotional and practical sides of living with ongoing health issues or adjusting to a new health condition. We might work on managing symptoms, flare ups, and fatigue, coping with uncertainty, coping with anxiety related to medical appointments or procedures, identity changes, grief/anger, treatment adherence, family communication, supporting youth independence, and staying connected with school, friends, and hobbies.

Yes! With your written permission I will happily collaborate with your care team. I can collaborate with physicians, PT and OT teams, dietitians, and school staff to support consistent goals and enhance treatment.

Gender-affirming therapy creates a space where gender identity and expression are respected and explored in therapy. It can include support for dysphoria and stress, building coping skills, processing challenges, strengthening family support, navigating social environments, and reducing minority stress. Gender-affirming therapy is strengths-based, focused on a young person's resilience, agency, and embracing their true self. 

Yes! I work with LGBTQ+ children, teens, young adults, and caregivers on identity development, anxiety, depression, family communication, stress related to discrimination, building support systems, and any other issues relevant to a young person’s life. Therapy is always grounded in evidence-based strategies and cultural humility (i.e. there is no one size fits all, and each young person has a unique lived experience and goals for therapy).

Yes! Many clients come in with stress related to immigration, adjusting to a different cultural context (acculturation), intergenerational differences, identity development, bicultural stress (feeling “in-between” cultures), and discrimination. Therapy can help families improve communication, better understand each other’s perspectives, and may support parents communicating values to their children while still protecting the young person’s autonomy.

It means your culture, context, and lived experience are integral to the therapy, not an add-on. I pay attention to how family values, community expectations, racism and discrimination, language, and identity shape stress and coping and culturally specific protective factors. Therapy is always grounded in evidence-based strategies and cultural humility (i.e. there is no one size fits all, and each young person and family have unique lived experiences, cultural contexts, and goals for therapy).

Yes! Parent coaching can be a great fit when a child is overwhelmed, tends to avoid activities that are stressful or unpleasant, has academic issues, or a difficult time listening to parents or caregivers. Parent coaching may also be an option when a young person is not ready for individual therapy. Parent coaching focuses on concrete strategies including communication skills, boundary setting, reinforcing positive behavior, and supporting the young person's developing independence.

Common focus areas include chronic pain, chronic illness, anxiety, depression, academic issues, identity development, caregiver support, family communication, and stress related to immigration, cultural identity, gender-identity, and sexual orientation. If you’re unsure, a free brief consult can help determine fit and next steps.