Telehealth

I provide telehealth services throughout California, including:

Pasadena, San Marino, La Cañada Flintridge, South Pasadena, Arcadia, San Gabriel Valley, Beverly Hills, Greater Los Angeles, San Francisco Bay Area, Orange County, San Diego, Santa Barbara and throughout California.

Convenient and Effective:

Telehealth fits your life—no commute, no waiting rooms. From San Francisco’s busy tech hubs to rural California’s quiet corners, you can access care from home, work, or anywhere with an internet connection.

Advantages:

You save time and travel costs—vital for Bay Area professionals or Orange County/San Diego residents far from specialists. Plus, telehealth breaks geographic barriers—rural Californians or urbanites avoiding traffic get the same depth-focused care.

Privacy:

Your sessions are confidential, held via a HIPAA-compliant video platform (e.g., Zoom for Healthcare or SimplePractice). You’ll need a quiet, comfortable spot; I’ll do the same from my end, creating a private space for our work together.

Remote Session Guidelines for Therapy:

Adapted from Todd Essig, Ph.D., and Gillian Isaacs Russell, Ph.D., with updates for today’s practice

When in-person sessions aren’t an option—whether due to travel restrictions, health concerns, or personal circumstances—teletherapy via phone or video can keep our work together going. However, a remote session can feel different than meeting in person, and it’s not like a casual call with a friend. To help you get the most out of teletherapy, we’ve put together these guidelines. They’re designed to create a focused, meaningful experience, even from a distance.

1. Protect Your Privacy
   Privacy is key to our work. In my office, I ensure a confidential space, but at home, it’s up to you. Choose a spot where you won’t be overheard or interrupted. Let others in your household know you need uninterrupted time—maybe ask them to use headphones or turn on the TV in another room. If possible, close doors and windows to keep your session just between us.

2. Get Comfortable (But Not Too Cozy)
   Find a spot that feels session-ready. A chair at a desk or table is ideal—something supportive yet upright. Avoid sprawling on your bed, sinking into your TV couch, or pacing around. The goal is to feel at ease but alert, mimicking the mindset of an in-person visit.

3. Set the Scene
   Keep a box of tissues and a glass of water nearby—just like you might find in my office. Skip the snacks or coffee, though; eating can pull your focus away. Save that for before or after our time together.

4. Dress the Part
   Wear what you’d put on for an in-person session. Even if we’re on audio-only or I can’t see your whole outfit on video, how you dress shapes how you feel. Pajamas might signal “relax mode,” while session-appropriate clothes help you stay in the moment.

5. Minimize Distractions
   Silence or put away all devices except the one we’re using. If you’re on a phone or computer, close extra apps, mute notifications, and consider using headphones to keep your hands free. For audio-only calls, flip your phone screen down or, on a computer, turn off the monitor. Fewer distractions mean deeper focus.

6. Give Yourself Transition Time
   Try to carve out 10-15 minutes before and after our session. Take a short walk—outside if it feels safe, or just around your space—or do some light stretching. This helps you shift gears into therapy mode beforehand and process what we’ve discussed afterward. Avoid jumping straight from another call, meeting, or intense activity (work or play) into our session, or rushing off right after.

7. Pick a Consistent Spot
   Whenever possible, join from the same location each time. Consistency helps anchor our work together. Unlike in-person sessions where we share a space, we’re now in separate places. If you’re curious about where I am, feel free to ask—I’ll do the same. Knowing a bit about each other’s surroundings can help us feel more connected.

8. Tech Tips
   Make sure your internet connection is stable (Wi-Fi or a wired connection beats spotty cell data). If we’re using video, test your camera and microphone ahead of time. Have a backup plan—like switching to a phone call—if tech glitches pop up. And please, keep your device plugged in or charged; a dead battery mid-session is a bummer.

9. Embrace the Difference
   Teletherapy can feel different from in-person work—it’s its own thing. It might feel strange at first, and that’s okay. Let me know how it’s going for you, and we can tweak things as needed to make it work better.

These steps help us create a space—however virtual—that supports the depth and care you deserve.