Individual Psychotherapy

My Philosophy
The decision to embark on the path of healing and face oneself, is not an endeavor to be taken lightly, as it requires courage, vulnerability, and patience with oneself. With that said, intentionally delving into a healing process can be a powerful and liberating experience -- an amazing journey, filled with new discoveries about oneself. Conversely, it can also be scary and difficult at times, as one begins to uncover, explore, and process the various parts of oneself and one's past, including the more vulnerable, uncomfortable, or painful aspects, which may have been repressed long ago most likely as a means of protection and/or survival.

While I think psychotherapy can greatly support the healing process, it is important to keep in mind the multitude of ways one can approach healing, and one has to decide what is best for oneself.

“​Therapy can be a process of co-creation and mutual discovery that centralizes the client's voice with respect to the ways in which their experiences and feelings are real even if their story is difficult for anyone else to relate to or participate in.”

-Dr. Taiwo Afuape

My Approach
​My approach is warm, collaborative, supportive, empathic, and is rooted in my lived experience as a Black Queer Woman. My practice is person-centered, strengths-based, and draws from relational psychodynamic, Intersectional, and social justice frameworks.

Utilizing an integrative lens, I help my clients shed light on their unconscious process, gain more awareness about themselves, including what motivates them, and better understand how they relate to others in their lives. I also support my clients in finding healthier ways of connecting and coping. 
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In addition, I believe it is important to establish a safe space and solid rapport in order to build a strong therapeutic alliance with my clients. I work collaboratively with my clients in order to help them to face and work through problems that interfere with their ability to attain a healthier lifestyle. This is accomplished via empathy, authenticity, transparency, and fostering a sense of hope.

When describing psychodynamic psychotherapy, one of my mentors once said, “I’m not here to save you or fix you. My job is to help you say everything you need to say. The more you can bring your inner world into the room – including your unspoken thoughts, feelings, wishes, and experiences – the quicker we will arrive at what’s troubling you most and what you’re longing to know and understand about yourself.”

“Perhaps this is what we do that's unique to psychodynamic psychotherapy... We sit with the trackless, hopeless, immovable, unspeakable, unutterable wrong. We sit in and with the anguish of it, the barrenness of it, the ickiness of it, the tragedy of it. We sit with sometimes a lifetime's full of discouragement and defeat. We sit with it and in it. And we sit there for a long time--as long as we need to.”

-Dr. Teri Quatman

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FAQs

  • Psychotherapy, AKA talk therapy, is first and foremost a space. A space where people can learn more about themselves and their relationships, how they move through the world, and gain a better understanding of the relationship between their thoughts, feelings, actions, and beliefs.

    It is also a place to think about, process, and gain some resolve around one's issues and concerns. Areas of focus may include: learning to identify, explore, and tolerate difficult feelings and problems; gaining a sense of awareness and insight about one's life and what motivates one; finding healthier ways to cope, decrease problematic behaviors, and arrive at a place of self-acceptance.

    In addition, psychotherapy is sometimes a space wherein individuals can just "BE." In a world that can at times feel overwhelming and chaotic, having a space such as this can be a welcome experience for many people.

  • During the initial session, in effort to learn more about your lived experience and how I can best support you, we will discuss your presenting concerns and what you hope to get out of therapy.

  • The experience of therapy is different for each person. With that said, I meet with clients on a weekly basis and they bring in issues and/or concerns they want to discuss. I do not give my clients advice or solve their problems for them. Instead we sit together, think, and talk about the problem(s) at hand, and with my guidance and support, we work towards trying to find a resolution. It is important to note that sometimes there may not be a solution, the work may just be to explore and process the matter, but either way, the hope is that my clients leave each session with more awareness and understanding than they may have initially had.

  • Match is key -- therapy is not as beneficial if there is not a solid client-therapist match. All of that said, only you will know if I am the right therapist for you. I recommend learning more about me and my practice, by reviewing my website. Furthermore, I recommend contacting me to set up a free 20 minute video or phone consultation.

  • Fees are discussed and established during the initial consultation and vary based on the type of psychotherapy and frequency of sessions.

    If you have financial constraints and require a lower fee, please inquire about this during our consultation. If I am unable to accommodate your financial needs, I will do my best to assist you with other referrals.

    Payment is due at the close of each session. I accept debit or credit card, HSA or FSA card.

  • I am currently not on any insurance panels and therefore do not bill insurance directly. However, I can provide you with a Superbill for reimbursement, to submit to your insurance company.

    Although this is not guaranteed, many Preferred Provider Organizations (PPO's) will reimburse their members when they obtain care outside of their insurance network. Please contact your insurance company for more information.

  • Therapy is different for everyone and may last anywhere from a few months to a few years, depending on your unique needs and what unfolds in the work.

    What’s most important is meeting consistently, typically on the same day and time each week, to support the therapeutic relationship, sustained emotional momentum, and create space for deeper reflection and growth..

  • All psychotherapy sessions will be held via video or telephone until further notice. Virtual services offered to residents of California.