FAQ
Where is your office located?
My office is located inside the SmartSpace Building near the Vista courthouse.
450 S. Melrose Dr., Suite 114Vista, CA 92081
What are your hours?
I have quite a lot of flexibility and am able to see people when it is convenient for them.
I see people by appointment on weekends, on Monday and Wednesday 10 am – 7 pm, and on Friday 9 am – 6 pm. I am also able to see people by appointment on Tuesday and Thursday, if needed.
How long are your sessions?
Sessions are approximately one hour in length.
How much do you charge? Do you take insurance? Do you have a sliding scale?
My fee is $150/hour.
I am on the insurance panels for Aetna, Cigna, Blue Shield, and Tricare.
I have a couple of spots for those who have a more limited budget. Please ask me if I have an opening available at the lower rate.
How do I set up an initial appointment?
Complete the form below to send me an email or call (760) 683-4279.
Is there any paperwork I need to complete prior to my appointment?
The initial paperwork takes only 10 – 15 minutes to complete. You can fill out the paperwork during your first visit to my office.
What is your cancellation policy?
If you are unable to attend a scheduled appointment, I ask that you please give me a minimum 24-hour notice. Otherwise, you will be charged a late fee of $60, which insurance will not pay.
What age of clients with whom you work?
My preference is to work with financially independent adults. However, this can vary greatly.
Do you work with women? Men? Couples?
I work with any human suffering from “the human condition.”
Will I have to do any work between appointments?
If you want to make a change, the answer is yes. No magic happens in my office. The magic happens out there in the real world… in your life.
We talk about ideas in my office; if they make sense to you, you take a version of that into your life and see how it works.
What techniques do you use in your work with clients?
I do not use techniques. I have a theory that guides my practice and my life. I am a genuine and authentic person. What you see is what you get!
What is your professional training and experience?
My degree is a Master’s of Art is in Counseling Psychology, which was conferred in January 2000. In 2004 I became a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in Texas, and I received my license for California in 2013. You know California is special!
Shortly after graduation in 2000, I began the study of Bowen Family Systems Theory (BFST). Although life events have nearly derailed me at times, I continue to be drawn back to this powerful yet “simple” (complex) theory.
What got you interested in psychology?
This may come as a surprise, but my life has not been all rainbows and butterflies.
When I was hospitalized for severe depression, I was enrolled in an introductory psychology course in undergraduate school. My experiences that year compelled me to change my major to psychology.
Why do you not focus on feelings?
In a therapist’s office, there is generally a focus on feelings. That is not something I do. It’s not that I don’t think feelings are important. They are very important, and they color our world. But in general, there is too much focus on feelings.
My job, as I see it, is to help people get out of their feelings (“heart,” “gut”) and more into their thoughts (“head”). That is where we all do our best thinking. And changing your thinking is the best way to get out of the situation you are currently experiencing.
So, you will not ever hear the question, “How does that make you feel?” come out of my mouth. And if you do, I will pay you $5.00!
Are you offended if someone drops the F-bomb?
Not at all. Sometimes there is no better way to express yourself than a well-placed curse word.