My Approach
At the heart of my work is the belief that change happens when we meet our challenges with curiosity, compassion, and clear, practical tools. I specialize in helping adults navigate anxiety, OCD, and overthinking so they can build resilience, find clarity, and live in alignment with their values. Whether we're sitting together in an office, engaging in experiential surf therapy on the water, or exploring mindfulness practices, my approach is collaborative, adaptive, and rooted in evidence-based methods. Psychotherapy is available via secure telehealth and in person in Santa Monica.
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP): Facing Fears, BREAKING CompulsiVE CYCLES
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is the gold-standard treatment for OCD and one of the most effective ways to reduce anxiety over time. Together, we’ll gradually face the thoughts, images, and situations that trigger anxiety, while resisting the urge to engage in compulsions or avoidance behaviors.
This process teaches the brain that anxiety is tolerable and short-lived, and that you don’t need rituals to feel safe. Over time, ERP helps reduce the power of intrusive thoughts, break compulsive cycles, and expand your capacity to live a meaningful life without being ruled by fear. Our work will always proceed at a pace that feels challenging yet manageable, building confidence and flexibility along the way.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): BUILDING Psychological Flexibility, CHOOSING WHAT MATTERS
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a powerful, evidence-based approach that helps you stop fighting your internal experiences and start building a life guided by your values. Rather than trying to eliminate anxiety or control every thought, we focus on changing your relationship with them, cultivating psychological flexibility and making space for what matters most.
We’ll use tools like cognitive defusion, values clarification, and committed action to help you move toward a more meaningful life, even in the presence of uncertainty. I’ve completed extensive ACT training through Praxis and integrate these principles throughout my work, helping clients shift from avoidance and control to openness, purpose, and growth.
Mindfulness-based practices:
Cultivating Awareness, REGULATING THE Nervous System, and Presence
Mindfulness isn’t about clearing your mind; it’s about learning to meet your experience with awareness, curiosity, and compassion. Together, we’ll cultivate the ability to stay present with difficult emotions, tolerate uncertainty, and respond rather than react. These practices are especially powerful in OCD and anxiety treatment, helping you build tolerance for discomfort and loosen the pull of mental compulsions.
In our work, we may integrate grounding techniques, breathwork, body-based awareness, and compassion practices. My approach also draws from the Trauma Resiliency Model (TRM), a somatic framework that supports nervous system regulation and builds capacity for presence.
Over time, mindfulness becomes more than a coping skill; it’s a way of relating to yourself and the world with greater clarity, flexibility, and ease. I bring over 15 years of personal practice and advanced teacher training with Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach to this work, grounding our sessions in both depth and lived experience.
My Therapeutic Toolkit
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Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
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mindfulness-based practices
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somatic awareness
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Nature-based Therapy
I draw from these modalities and integrate them to meet your unique needs. Together, they help retrain the nervous system, cultivate a more flexible relationship with thoughts and emotions, and strengthen your ability to stay grounded and present, even when life feels uncertain or overwhelming.
Frequently asked questions
Visit the FAQ page for a full list of frequently asked questions.
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My standard fee for individual psychotherapy is $250 per session (50 minutes). Payment is due at the time of service via major credit cards, debit cards, or HSA/FSA cards.
In-Network Coverage (via Alma):
To make specialized care more accessible, I am in-network with select insurance panels through Alma, including Aetna, Cigna, Optum / UnitedHealthcare, and Carelon (Anthem Blue Cross). If you plan to use one of these providers, I can check your benefits and verify your coverage before our first session.
Out-of-Network Benefits (PPO):
For all other insurance plans, I am considered an out-of-network provider. Many PPO plans offer partial reimbursement for outpatient mental health. If you'd like to use out-of-network benefits, I can provide a monthly superbill (a detailed receipt with clinical codes) for you to submit directly to your insurance company.
Questions to ask your insurance provider:
Do I have out-of-network benefits for outpatient mental health (CPT codes 90834 and 90837)?
What is my out-of-network deductible, and has it been met?
What percentage of the session fee is reimbursed once my deductible is met?
Private Pay Option:
Some clients choose to pay out-of-pocket directly rather than use insurance benefits. Paying privately allows for complete privacy (no mandatory clinical diagnosis on your medical record) and full control over the frequency and duration of our work together.
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I see clients in person at my Santa Monica office (720 Wilshire Blvd) and virtually via HIPAA-compliant telehealth across the state of California. In-person office availability in Santa Monica is limited, while telehealth offers flexible scheduling statewide.
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Yes, I am currently accepting new clients for both in-person sessions at my Santa Monica office and telehealth sessions across California.
How to Get Started:
Initial Consultation: We begin with a complimentary 20-minute phone consultation to discuss what you’re experiencing, answer any questions, and ensure we’re a great fit.
Intake Session: During our first official 50-minute session, we’ll dive deeper into your history, clarify your goals, and map out a tailored treatment plan.
Session Format & Structure:
Standard Sessions: Individual therapy sessions are 50 minutes, typically scheduled on a weekly basis to build momentum and consistency.
Evidence-Based Approach: Sessions are collaborative, active, and focused on practical outcomes—combining Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and mindfulness.
Specialty Offerings: For clients interested in deeper experiential work, I also offer extended sessions and surf and nature-based therapy by request.
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If you need to cancel or reschedule your session, please provide at least 48 hours' notice. Cancellations or missed appointments with less than 48 hours' notice will be charged the full session fee.
Healing is not one-size-fits-all.
Our pace will be intentional: active enough to create momentum, yet grounded in safety and respect for your lived experience. Together, we’ll clarify your values, develop sustainable strategies for regulating your nervous system, and build habits of mind and behavior that support the life you want to live.
Whether we’re addressing OCD, anxiety, or navigating major life transitions, my goal is to create a space where you can reconnect with your body, expand your perspective, and rediscover a sense of possibility. My role is to walk alongside you, offering structure, expertise, and care, as you chart a path forward.