F.A.Q.s• Heart In Mind• Therapy for Estrangement

If you’re interested in starting, please complete the form on the Contact Page.

I will get back to you within 2 business days.

The first session is an initial assessment (sometimes called an “intake”).

It is time for you to share about what concerns, stressors, questions, etc. led to you seeking therapy services at this time. It is also a chance for us to gauge whether or not we’d work well together.

Though this is a bit hard to describe, it is essentially a mix of logic and emotion. More specifically, if you and I determine that my work experiences/formal credentials match what you are needing, that would suggest that logically, we’d work well together. Moreover, if you and I both feel like our conversation flows well overall and you feel comfortable sharing/sense the possibility of being more comfortable sharing, that would suggest that emotionally, we’d work well together.

No, I do not offer a free consultation. From my past experiences, I’ve found that 15-30 minutes was not enough time for my clients and I to be able to have a thorough biopsychosocial assessment and oftentimes, the consultation turned into an assessment.

If you are interested, please complete my contact form. I will email you back to confirm your needs and orient you to the next administrative steps.

Brief 15-min consultation calls are mainly for administrative purposes- not full assessments.

The intake session, our first 75 minute session, will be an overview of my services and policies, and an initial assessment.

If it’s decided that we are not a good fit, I’d be happy to offer referrals to other therapists/providers.

I accept the following insurances:

• Aetna

• Anthem Blue Cross California

• Anthem EAP

• Quest Behavioral Health

In addition to being in-network with these insurances, I also offer limited “Pay What You Can” (PWYC) spots at any given time. Please let me know if you are in need of one of these spots during our initial consultation.

Upon request, I can also provide a “Superbill” (i.e. an itemized receipt of services) for you to use towards any benefits your healthcare plan may offer.

For more information regarding my fees, please visit the “Rates” page.

Yes, this can get very confusing. In short, I am both! More specifically, I am a “Licensed Clinical Social Worker” (or “LCSW” for short) which makes me a licensed mental health therapist. I get it’s a mouthful so I’m fine with being called, a “social worker.” (A “social worker” is not a title-protected designation, so someone that is called a social worker may or may not have the same background as an LCSW.)

There are several routes that one can take to become a therapist. Psychologists are people who have earned doctorate degrees in psychology, who can also provide therapy.

Only a medical doctor (“MDs”) can prescribe medication. A “psychiatrist” is a medical doctor who has additional training in mental health. They would be able to prescribe.

“Mh” refers to “mental health.”

I do not offer therapy in-person at this time and am only offering telehealth therapy via a HIPAA-compliant video platform. I understand that in-person and telehealth therapy each come with their unique benefits and challenges. In the future, I may also offer in-person therapy.

Due to the rules and regulations of my license, I am only able to offer services to people residing in California regardless if it is via telehealth or in-person.

In therapy sessions with me, you can expect that I will work towards creating a space where you can be your most genuine self; where you are not judged regardless of what you bring to the table. I aim to strike a balance between providing direct and indirect guidance. What this looks like is that sometimes, I’ll offer explicit feedback/suggestions on pathways you might consider going and other times, I will prompt you towards reconnecting with wisdom that you’ve likely always had, but perhaps had forgotten or minimized because of your life experiences.

Lastly, you can also expect my quirky humor and personality :)

*For more information about my therapeutic approaches/orientations, please visit the “My Therapy Approaches” section on the About page.

In summary, I specialize in addressing the effects of estrangement among young adults, Asian Americans, and/or caregivers.

More specific issues/topics that I am well-versed in supporting folks with include:*

anxiety (having numerous worries and finding it difficult to manage the worry)

depression (feeling low/empty a lot of the times or all the time, lacking motivation/joy in life, feeling like you’re never good enough)

trauma (feeling like the past is still present/still haunting you, not feeling like yourself ever since, being more cautious to the point of now feeling restricted, having difficulties trusting other people, constantly expecting and preparing for the worst)

existential concerns (i.e. questioning or lacking a sense of fulfillment/purpose/meaning in your life, having trouble making decisions/commitments, feeling like you’re losing control over your life)

social/cultural stress (i.e. struggling with how to address intergenerational differences, lacking a sense of belonging, lacking a sense of identity, feeling pulled in multiple directions, feeling lost, with shame and doubt, struggling with how to address family strain/conflict, navigating differences within interracial dating/marriage, difficulties with communication/resolving conflicts/setting boundaries/people-pleasing)

systemic stressors (i.e. racism, capitalism, sexism, ageism, ableism, politics, workplace stress and burn-out, etc.)

*I strongly believe that all these issues/topics are intertwined.

No, I don't. Unfortunately, I only see individuals who are 18-years-old and older.

This will vary depending on your specific needs and wants from therapy. Generally, I recommend an initial commitment of 1x/week for the first 3 months. During these initial months, it is particularly critical to meet on a more regular basis so that you establish a steady foundation from which to work through your mental health concerns. From there, we can discuss if it feels right for you to decrease the frequency of visits.

*There may be times when you (or I) may determine that having more than 1 session/week may meet your needs better. If this is the case, please let me know and we will work something out to best support you.

When you and I both gauge that you’re in a place that feels “right” to graduate from therapy services, we will discuss and end services from there if appropriate.

If you need to cancel, please let me know at least 48 hours in advance. Texting me at: (510) 200-8425 or messaging me through the client portal works the best.

If you don’t show up to your appointment or cancel with less than 48 hours notice, your account will be charged the full session fee. If you are more than 15 minutes late for your appointment, your session will be cancelled, and your account will be charged the full session fee. You will not be able to schedule another appointment until fees are paid. I offer each of my clients 2 free late cancellations for any reason per 1 calendar year. Beyond that, you will be responsible for a late cancellation fee (equivalent to the cost of your session or the standard rate if you are using your insurance to cover services).

Yes, you can definitely still see me. If you resonate with what you’ve learned about Heart In Mind thus far, I’d welcome the possibility of working with you.

If you need to contact me outside of session, please send me a message through the client portal or by texting me at (510) 200-8425. I will respond when I am able.

I do not respond to messages outside of my business hours (which at this time are: Sundays thru Thursdays, 9am-6pm, by appointment only).

*Note, if it is an emergency requiring a more urgent response, please call your local mental health crisis line, 911, or 988 or go to your nearest emergency room.