YOUR  THERAPY  QUESTIONS  ANSWERED

Many people seek help for various reasons, whether it's dealing with a crisis, navigating a major life transition, improving relationships, or simply wanting to grow personally. Whatever your reason, therapy can be a great solution.

Here's how it works: during the first few sessions, I'll get to know you and your unique situation. We'll chat about your strengths and stressors and what you hope to gain from therapy. Together, we'll develop a plan to help you get from where you are now to where you want to be.

Initially, I will invite you to the client portal to review and complete the intake paperwork necessary to begin your journey. I know it’s tedious, but it helps focus your evaluation session on what’s most important. If it’s not your thing, consider filling it out more briefly and letting me fill in the details during the evaluation and follow-up sessions. Whatever works for you, works for me!

We ‘ll initially meet for a 90-minute evaluation session either over secure video or a concierge setting of your choosing. As we spend time together, I will review your intake paperwork with you in more depth, ask questions, LISTEN and gather more information.

These initial sessions provide you with time to settle in a bit, get to know me as your therapist and get a sense of my style and personality. Hopefully, you begin to feel more comfortable and can more easily talk about the things that have been troubling you.

As I learn about the critical factors that have motivated you to call, we’ll discuss what you hope to gain from this experience (or figure this out together) and talk about your desired timeline (therapy doesn’t have to last forever!).

I’ll want to know how you learn best, what has worked for you in the past  has not worked. With that knowledge in hand, I’ll describe my recommended therapeutic approaches and, if it feels right, together we will build a custom treatment plan and continue moving forward.

So why wait? Take the first steps and let’s work together to create a happier, healthier you!

Are you tired of feeling stuck in the same old patterns? Maybe you keep running into the same problems over and over but can't seem to find a way out. It's time to consider therapy.

Let's face it, we can't fix a problem if we don't know what we're dealing with. This is where therapy comes in. In a safe and supportive environment, a therapist can help you uncover the root cause of your struggles by identifying your reactive behaviors and patterns.

Therapy also equips you with the tools and strategies to start living a different, more fulfilling life. Change is hard work, but it's definitely within reach. And it's important to remember that you won't be doing it alone.

Think of your therapist as a personal trainer for your emotions. Together, you'll develop a tailored plan to meet your unique needs and goals. With intentional effort and practice, you'll start seeing results in no time.

So, ask yourself - are you ready to make a change? If the answer is yes, therapy might be just what you need. It's time to take that first step towards a happier, healthier you.

My client focus is to work with, teens (13+), adults and elders (65+).

I offer individual, family and group therapy. I do have a few select and trusted colleagues who specialize in working with children and couples that I can refer you to.

That's a valid question that only you can answer. As a therapist, my priority is making sure you feel comfortable and safe enough to open up about the painful parts of your life. Your experiences are important, and I want to provide the utmost care as we work together.

Trust your instincts and ask questions. Your gut feeling is valuable when it comes to choosing a therapist. After a few sessions, if you feel like I understand where you're coming from, it's a promising sign.

If it doesn't seem like we're a good match, that's okay! It's not personal, and I want you to find the right fit. Please don't hesitate to tell me, and I can provide recommendations for another therapist who may better serve you. Your mental health journey is important, and finding the right therapist is a significant step towards healing.

If you have never been in therapy previously and/or are experiencing distressing symptoms, these types of concerns are most often addressed in an in-depth extended type of therapy model.

Simply described, first you learn skills to assist in stabilizing your moods. Sometimes additional providers are needed for medication management which, in conjunction, work to reduce your suffering.

With this in place, you engage in learning about many different topics and therapy models. This allows you to gain more insight into how your unique life experiences, core issues and traumas may have impacted your development and in turn caused distress. This takes time and must be done carefully, compassionately and with skill.

Treatment usually happens at the weekly /biweekly level determined together with your therapist. Therapy can be the single most helpful thing you do for yourself. Maintenance usually takes place at the end of an episode of care. As an episode of care begins to wrap-up, whatever the length of treatment, you may want to consider a taper down in sessions to monthly.

If, after being in treatment, you begin to feel a return or symptoms or old behavior patterns again due to a specific situation, I would recommend returning for short term solution focus type of therapy.

Once you have the basic skills from participating in previous treatment, many concerns can be addressed in 6-8 week period of time. In this model, client’s treatment plans are specifically focused on an identified issue. (i.e. work issues, problematic friendships, career concerns). Think of it as a tune up for your mental health.

Are you wondering if your insurance will cover and reimburse your therapy costs with me even though I am a fee for service provider?

Click here to access our (free) Benefits Checker Tool.

Our simple claims auto-submission process through Mentaya, takes all the headaches out of filing claims, gets your claims validated to reduce denials and get you reimbursed faster. It also gives you access to a team of insurance experts and concierge customer support to answer any questions or concerns you may have during the process. The whole process is explained in detail on the Insurance page.

Please also read the Fees and Insurance page to fully understand your payment options and rights, which include a Good Faith Estimate.

I don't bill insurance directly, but I can give you a "superbill" that has all the details you need to submit a claim for potential reimbursement. It even includes the diagnosis information your insurance company may need as they consider your claim.

But before you do anything, it's important to confirm with your insurance provider if they cover out-of-network services. You don't want any surprises, right? So give them a call or check their website to make sure.

All you have to do is log in to your insurance company's member website or portal and follow their instructions for submitting out-of-network claims. It's an easy process that could save you some money.

Please don't let the cost of therapy hold you back from getting the help you need. Take advantage of your insurance benefits and let's work together towards your wellness!

It’s powerful to attend in-person sessions, but sometimes that just may not work for you or your schedule.
You are welcome to mix and match In-Person or Telehealth sessions according to your location and convenience with a minimum of 24-hours advance notice of a change. Having the flexibility to choose session types, especially if you live farther away, are feeling under the weather and want to social distance or have a busy schedule, is a great way to stay consistent in your treatment, and here at Better Self Better Life we strive to make it easier and more convenient than ever!

All sessions are by appointment only.

In-Person Individual Sessions & Group Programs are held at my office: 100 Clock Tower Place, Suite 120-M, in Carmel CA 93923.

Virtual Telehealth Individual Sessions & Group  Programs  all use a HIPAA compliant, secure private video link for each session. You can join the session via desktop or laptop computer, tablet, or phone.

Concierge Care services provide the utmost level of privacy and convenience.  Available by appointment, subject to our mutual schedules, travel time and your location. Please contact me via email or phone to discuss concierge options and costs. 

Absolutely! We do provide emotional support letters here at our practice. However, to ensure the best possible care for our clients, there are a few steps involved. First, you would need to register as a client with us. This helps us maintain a comprehensive understanding of your needs and history.

Next, we would conduct an in-person or telehealth evaluation, which allows us to provide a proper diagnosis, create a personalized treatment plan, and determine whether an emotional support animal is suitable for you. We want to ensure that any recommendations we make are tailored to your specific circumstances, promoting your well-being in the most effective way.

Once we've completed the evaluation and determined that an emotional support animal is appropriate, we can provide you with an ESA letter. It's important to note that these letters are valid for one year and will require a reevaluation session for renewal. This helps us ensure that your treatment plan continues to meet your evolving needs and that you receive the ongoing support you deserve.

Our dedicated team is here to guide you through the process, answer any questions you may have, and provide the necessary support every step of the way. We understand the importance of emotional well-being, and we're confident in our ability to assist you in obtaining the appropriate documentation for your emotional support needs.

Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any further inquiries or would like to begin the registration process. We're here to help you on your journey towards emotional well-being.

Please click the button below to send your question via email. I will respond to you within 24-48 hours.

If you are having a psychiatric emergency, please call 911 for immediate assistance or go to your nearest emergency room for help.

You may also receive help by calling the numbers below:
Nationwide Suicide & Crisis Hotline Calling or texting 988
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-(TALK) 8255
National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-7233
LGBTQ Hotline 1-888-843-4564,
Trans Lifeline 1-877-565-8860
Self-Harm Hotline 1-800-(DONTCUT) 366-8288

Make sure to contact your therapist or doctor as well, but keep in mind that seeking emergency support is crucial, and your therapist may not be able to receive your message or return your call immediately.

Consistent therapy involvement can greatly reduce symptoms and avoid crisis.

Thank you for trusting us, and we hope to support you in the future with the right care plan in place.