FAQS

 I offer sessions online to Individuals in California or Oregon, or in person in San Jose, or Santa Cruz

A: Online therapy works well to support clients who want help with anxiety, trauma and feeling more like themselves.  Both EMDR and Brainspotting can be done virtually with the same success as in person therapy. 

A: Yes, I offer in-person sessions in San Jose and Santa Cruz, California. 

Your first session is about getting to know each other and figuring out if we're a good fit.

We'll talk about what's bringing you to therapy—what you're struggling with, what you've tried before, and what you're hoping will be different this time. I'll ask questions to understand your story and what matters most to you.

I'll also explain how Brainspotting and EMDR work, answer any questions you have, and help you get a sense of what therapy with me will actually look like. There's no pressure to dive into deep trauma work on day one—we move at your pace.

By the end of our first session, you'll have a clearer picture of whether this feels right for you, and we'll start mapping out a path forward together.

A: This varies based on what you're working on and how you respond to treatment. One of the advantages of Brainspotting and EMDR is that they often work faster than traditional talk therapy. Many clients with specific issues like phobias or single-incident trauma see significant relief in 6-10 sessions. More complex issues like chronic anxiety, codependency, or long-term trauma may take 15-25+ sessions. We'll regularly check in about your progress and goals. My aim is always to help you heal as efficiently as possible—not to keep you in therapy indefinitely.

A: Traditional talk therapy is valuable—it helps you understand your experiences and develop insights. Sometimes you need to talk things out to figure out how you feel, what you want, and what action you want to take. But often I see clients who have done a lot of talking, both in therapy and outside of it, and they still feel confused, anxious, and triggered.  Talking about problems primarily engages your thinking brain, and many issues (especially anxiety and trauma) live deeper, in your nervous system. That's why you can understand a fear is irrational and still feel terrified, or know exactly where your anxiety comes from and still be controlled by it.

A: That's completely fine. You don't need to have your issues figured out before starting therapy. Part of our work together is helping you understand what's driving your anxiety or keeping you stuck. And with Brainspotting and EMDR, we can often access and release things that you aren't even consciously aware of. Your brain knows what it needs to heal—my job is to help facilitate that process.

A: Absolutely. While Brainspotting and EMDR are well-known for trauma treatment, they're effective for many issues: anxiety, phobias, perfectionism, people-pleasing, codependency, burnout, performance anxiety, grief, and more. Any time something feels "stuck"—emotionally, mentally, or behaviorally—these approaches can help your brain release and move forward.