About Me
I am a licensed clinical social worker who has been practicing psychotherapy for 20 years. I maintain a diverse practice in Pacific Palisades, California where I help individuals, couples and families struggling with a diverse range of issues. I feel incredibly fortunate to work in a profession that I truly love, where I’m able to work with so many interesting people.
I practice out of a beautiful office in Pacific Palisades, close to the Palisades Village. In addition, I also offer teletherapy sessions. My main philosophy and approach is to develop deep, genuine relationships with my clients and to help support them in healing and growth. This is what I love to do!
My philosophy as a therapist has always been to “meet you where you are.” I have worked with clients who are coming to therapy for the first time, as well as people who have previously been in treatment for many years. Regardless of how experienced you are with therapy, I believe in starting wherever you’re comfortable and following your pace at all times.
Therapy is a co-creative process. I will involve you completely in all aspects of your healing. I believe that true change cannot come from me telling you what to do. We must work together to help you establish goals that will help you feel better and to function at higher levels in the world.
You might be wondering what type of therapy I practice...
While I consider myself to be an eclectic therapist, some of the modalities that I utilize are psychodynamic psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, family systems, reflective parenting, and mindfulness techniques. I consider it my responsibility to keep up with new research and often attend trainings and workshops to ensure I’m providing you with the most innovative treatments and modalities. I’m a Level 2 Reflective Parenting Leader and also certified in the PEERS method, an evidenced based social skills program for adolescents and young adults.
My Education and Work Experience
I obtained my Masters in Social Work from the University of Southern California in 2001.
I also trained at the Didi Hirsch Community Mental Health Clinic, as well as Family Services of Santa Monica.
Following graduate school, I worked at HomeSAFE, a clinic providing home visits to families at risk for child abuse.
In addition, I worked for many years at the distinguished CAPPS clinic at UCLA. Here, I provided therapy to adolescents, young adults and their families. Many of these clients were dealing with major mental health issues.
I have also been a field instructor at USC, providing supervision and training to graduate students.
Why did I become a therapist?
I knew from a young age that I wanted to be in a helping profession. I became sure that I wanted to be a therapist while volunteering at a child abuse prevention center while in college in Santa Barbara. I greatly admired the work that the therapists provided and this was a pivotal moment in knowing what I wanted to do for a career.
In addition to my work, I am the mother of two young boys, who also bring me tremendous joy and help me connect better to working with parents. I have had my share of struggles being a parent--as we all do--and have been in the role of not always offering help, but seeking it as well.
I am originally from the suburbs of New York, but have been living in Southern California for the past 21 years. While I almost consider myself a native at this point, I will always feel connected to my New York roots. Although I don’t miss the cold winters!
I love taking advantage of the southern California lifestyle and when I am not working, you will often find me at the beach with my family or hiking the trails in the Santa Monica mountains. I also love working out, cooking, and traveling. I’m always happy to tell you a little bit more about myself if that would help you feel more connected to me and how I can help you.
Insurance
I am not an in-network provider for any insurance companies. I can provide a superbill which you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement. Services may be covered in full or in part by your health insurance or employee benefit plan. Please check your coverage carefully by asking the following questions:
Do I have mental health benefits?
What is my deductible and has it been met?
How many sessions per calendar year does my plan cover?
How much does my plan cover for an out-of-network provider?
What is the coverage amount per therapy session?
Is approval required from my primary care physician?
Payment
I accept cash, checks and all major credit cards.
Please call me to directly to discuss my rates.
Cancellation Policy
Because the scheduling of an appointment involves the reservation of a time set especially for you, a minimum of 24-Hours notice is required for cancelling an appointment. If you do not show up for your scheduled appointment, and you have not notified us at least 24 hours in advance, you will be required to pay the full cost of the session. Insurance companies do not cover the cost of missed sessions.