FAQ
Why pay for therapy when I have family, friends and my pastor to talk things out?
But I already take medication?
Therapy is a safe space where we can focus on you and only you. There is no guilt about receiving support or prioritizing your experience, no need to edit yourself or worry about judgment. There is safety in knowing that your information will be secure and not discussed with others. Therapy is confidential and evidence based to tackle your symptoms. We will access new skills, gain distance and perspective in processing difficult experiences and reactivate your strengths.
Therapy and medication are like exercise and a healthy diet. You can do either one or the other for fitness goals, but it is most effective to use both together. Medication along with behavioral skills and insight can be the most effective to helping support you in your wellness goals.
What do I have to do in sessions?
Show up regularly and participate. I will be getting to know you, your experiences, values and struggles. I work from a CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy ) base and we will actively tackle your schemas ( core beliefs and templates), automatic thoughts (shortcuts and stereotypes), self talk (criticism), cognitive distortions ( skewed filters) and relationship patterns. I will assign you weekly homework to build up your skills, but will be going at your pace.
How long will it take?
I recommend weekly sessions and aim for 6 months of regular active participation. You and I set the goals and we may discover that once you meet that goal, you may want to continue to process and explore other difficulties. It can be an ongoing conversation with the ultimate goal to graduate out of therapy. And you are always welcome to return when you need extra support.
Why should I work with you?
You have all the choices and options and deserve to work with someone that you respect, trust and feel fully seen and validated by.
I am an immigrant, a BIPOC woman, a polyglot, a person that has lived within the special blend that is the bay area. I have worked in managing expectations of achievement, competition and self worth and we may have some similar experiences and/or values.
What are your modalities?
Some CBT- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. A heavily researched and validated evidence-based modality to effectively treat anxiety, depression and trauma. CBT focuses on the connection with your experiences, the ways you create a template of understanding and how it informs your actions/ behaviors. We can explore why you develop these schemas or beliefs, how you internalize it and what shortcuts you use to tackle or respond. We can also explore what no longer works for you.
Some DBT- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. DBT utilizes mindfulness to manage reactivity and increase distress tolerance. Dr. Marsha Linehan developed this in depth modality to target those with difficulty managing large emotions and self regulating. It has been extremely effective with populations with personality disorder and with dual diagnosis/ co-occuring disorder and addiction.