Frequently Asked Questions

Yes — I am currently accepting new clients.

My availability is Wednesdays and Thursdays 5:00pm – 8:00pm and Saturdays 9:00am – 1:00pm. I want to be upfront that there isn't a lot of flexibility to move around within that schedule — consistency matters for both of us, and I want to protect the time we carve out together.

If you're interested, the best first step is reaching out for a free 15-minute consultation so we can get a sense of whether we're a good fit.

I'm so glad you're here.

First — there's no pressure to have it figured out before you walk in. It can feel like you need to condense your whole life into 50 minutes and make someone understand everything all at once. You don't. There's no timeline here.

I might start by asking you — what does therapy mean to you? What have you heard about it? I want to meet you where you are, not where I assume you should be.

You don't have to start with your whole life story. We have time. We'll move through the parts of your world slowly, at your pace. I'll check in regularly to see where you're at, and if you're feeling stuck, we'll name that together.

This is your space to explore parts of yourself you may not have had room to explore before. And we'll figure out what that looks like together — one session at a time.

First sessions can feel a little awkward — and I want you to know that's completely normal. There are some important things we need to get through together first: going over policies, confidentiality, informed consent, and making sure you understand what you can expect from me and from this space. Not the most exciting part, but it matters.

From there, we start getting to know each other. I want to hear what brought you here and what you're hoping to get out of this work. And I want you to know — this space belongs to both of us. You are in complete control of what you share and when.

I'm also mindful that therapy can carry a power dynamic where the therapist is the "expert" and the client just listens. That's not how I see it. I don't always have the answers. I'm not a blank slate either — I'm a real person and I'm happy to answer questions you might have about me or how I work.

We figure it out together. And we start wherever feels comfortable.

That's okay — and it's worth saying out loud.

The therapeutic relationship is one of the most important parts of this work. If at any point you feel like I'm not the right person for you, I want you to tell me. You deserve someone who can better meet your needs, and I will never take that personally.

I'm happy to share other options and resources to help you find the right support. The goal was never for you to stay with me specifically — the goal is for you to get what you need.

This is one of the most common things people wonder — and one of the hardest to answer simply.

Progress in therapy doesn't always feel like a dramatic shift. Sometimes it's quiet. You might notice you're responding to something differently than you used to. You might catch yourself thinking about a situation in a new way. You might just be... noticing. And that noticing — that awareness — is growth.

A lot of people come in wanting to feel better right away. I understand that. But some changes happen quickly and some take time, and I can't always tell you which category yours will fall into. What I can tell you is that we'll name the progress together as it happens — even the small things, especially the small things.

Your goals might also shift as we go. What you came in wanting to work on might evolve into something else entirely as you learn more about yourself. That's not a setback. That's the work doing what it's supposed to do.

And if you ever feel stuck — please tell me. That's information too. We'll figure out what it means together.

I understand the desire for a clear answer here. It's easy to want to get from point A to point B as quickly as possible — and I'd gently offer this: sometimes that kind of thinking is a way of keeping ourselves safe. Of staying in control of something that feels uncertain.

The honest answer is that there is no set timeline. And that's actually a good thing.

Some people move quickly. Some need more time. Some take a break and come back. Some reach a goal and discover a new one waiting underneath it. All of that is normal and none of it is failure.

The timeline is entirely up to you. When you feel like you've explored what you came here to explore — when you've met the goals that matter to you — you get to decide when you're ready. This isn't something I'll decide for you.

What I can promise is patience. From me, and hopefully from yourself too. That part takes practice. We'll work on it together.

I know what that feels like.

My guess is that you've been holding it together for a while. And sometimes this work — the slowing down, the being seen, the finally having space — brings things up that haven't had anywhere to go.

I want to ask you something gently: what has expressing emotions been like in your world? Because for a lot of people, crying has been the one way they've been able to release what they've been sitting with — and somewhere along the way they learned to be ashamed of it.

Emotions are okay here. All of them. If you need a moment, take it. If you need to turn your camera off for a minute, that's okay too. There's no performance required in this space.

Crying is one of the most vulnerable things a person can do in front of someone else. I don't take that lightly. And trust takes time — we'll build it at whatever pace feels right for you.

That question means a lot to me — and I want to answer it honestly.

I don't know everything. I can't claim to be knowledgeable about every minority group or every lived experience that exists. What I can tell you is that I am genuinely sensitive to the fact that your experience of the world is different from mine — and that difference matters.

I also want to be clear about something: it is not your responsibility to educate me about your world. You are not here to teach me. You are here to be supported. My job is to listen, to learn from what you share, and to show up for you as a person — not as a representative of a group.

I bring my own lived experience into this room too. I'm a Latina woman who has navigated multiple worlds, multiple identities, and the complexity of not always belonging fully to any of them. That gives me some understanding — but not all of it.

I'm aware that I can make mistakes. Cultural humility means I take responsibility for how I show up in your world — and I'm committed to doing that with care. If I get something wrong, I want to know. That's part of how we build something real together.

I like to start new clients with weekly sessions — and here's why. Consistency matters, especially early on. It gives us more time together, helps us build momentum, and allows us to really understand what you need from this work.

There's also something to be said for having a consistent time slot. Knowing you have a dedicated space each week gives your mind and body a chance to prepare — because sometimes we move through things that take something out of you, and it helps to know that time is coming.

I ask that the first four sessions be weekly. After that, we can talk about what works best for you — financially, emotionally, and practically. Life changes. Schedules shift. I understand that.

If you need a break, if something comes up, if you're overwhelmed — just let me know. We'll work through it.

Life happens. I understand that — and I don't want my cancellation policy to feel like a punishment for being human.

What I do ask for is communication. If you need to change or cancel an appointment, please let me know at least 24 hours in advance. That gives me the chance to offer your time to someone else who needs it.

I also know that true emergencies don't come with 24 hours notice. So you have one session where you can cancel last minute without being charged the full fee. After that, please know that I work hard to protect your time slot — and that comes with a responsibility on both sides.

My preference is always to reschedule rather than cancel outright. Consistency matters for the work we're doing together, so if something comes up, let's see if we can find another time that same week. If it's available, I'll do my best to make it work.

When in doubt — just reach out. We'll figure it out.

All of my sessions are held virtually via secure video — which means you can access therapy from anywhere in California without leaving your home.

Before we begin, I want you to feel comfortable. Grab a cozy chair, a warm blanket, something to drink. Create a space that feels like yours. That's not a small thing — how you show up physically affects how you show up mentally, and both matter here.

Please find a space where you won't be overheard and where you can be fully present. I ask that you're not driving or moving around during sessions — presence, physical and mental, is part of the work.

Your information is protected under the same laws that govern in-person therapy. Sessions may not be recorded by either of us without written permission.

Occasionally connections drop or technical issues come up. If that happens, we'll reconnect as quickly as we can and pick up where we left off.

At the start of each session I'll verify your name and current location — this is a standard requirement for telehealth practice.

If at any point it seems like telehealth isn't the right fit for your needs, I'll talk with you directly about that and help connect you with other options. And if you ever experience an emergency, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.

Individual and family sessions are $120 for a 50-minute session.

I am currently in-network with Optum, UnitedHealthcare (UHC), and UMR. If you have a different insurance plan, I can provide a superbill — a receipt you can submit to your insurance for potential out-of-network reimbursement.

A sliding scale is available. I want therapy to be accessible — for some people, having this kind of support has never felt attainable, and I don't want cost to be the reason you don't get what you need. At the same time, I have to be honest that I need to be financially supported too. We meet somewhere in the middle.

If you're ever feeling financially stretched, please tell me. I'd rather know so we can be thoughtful about it together. The goal is for this space to feel supportive — not to add one more thing to your plate.

AMFT stands for Associate Marriage and Family Therapist. It means I'm actively working toward full licensure while receiving regular supervision from a licensed clinician — in my case, Yvette Kumar, LMFT #91273.

I'd push back gently on the idea that associate status means less qualified. While I'm building my hours, I have consistent support and guidance from an experienced licensed professional on how to best meet your needs. In some ways that means you're getting two sets of eyes on your care.

And I'd offer this: being licensed doesn't automatically mean expert. It doesn't mean experienced with your specific situation. A license tells you someone has met a professional standard — it doesn't tell you whether they'll actually understand what you're going through or show up for you the way you need.

I'm early in my career and I'm honest about that. What I can tell you is that I take this work seriously, I'm actively supported in it, and I'm not here to check a box. I'm here because I genuinely want to help.

Sí. Yes — I offer sessions fully in Spanish.

I also want to be honest with you about something. Spanish is a language that holds multitudes. Different cultures, different regions, different families — we all have our own ways of saying things, our own words, our own nuances. I'm still learning to be mindful of that. There will be words I don't know. There will be expressions that land differently depending on where you come from.

And that's okay. What I can offer is a genuine willingness to listen to you in your own language, in your own comfort — without asking you to translate yourself first.

People deserve to be heard in the language that feels most like home. That matters to me. If Spanish is that language for you, just let me know when you reach out.

Solo dímelo cuando me escribas.