Frequently Asked Questions

Aren’t psychoanalysts kind of distant?
Not anymore, really. Contemporary psychoanalysis has moved very far from the stereotype of Freud’s blank slate style.  Few people know that Freud actually had a beloved pet dog in the room with him through every session in his later years to help clients with anxiety.  I’m specifically trained relational and intersubjective psychoanalysis.   

Doesn’t psychoanalysis entail multiple days a week of therapy?  

Traditionally, yes, but not always now.  I like to think of psychoanalysis as a way of listening, as Donna Orange describes.  Session frequency depends on a lot of factors.  Donald Winnicott’s famous case, The Piggle, focused on a girl who saw Winnicott less than 10 times. 

Who do you specialize in working with?

Given my background as a cultural anthropologist, I am especially suited to work with those who struggle with belonging and relational tears in whatever community they define around them.  I have extensive experience with working with queer and Asian and Asian American individuals. 

My new research focuses on insomnia, depression, and anxiety from a psychoanalytic perspective.  Most contemporary psychoanalytic thought considers insomnia as a form of resistance against a regressive state.  As a broad topic, insomnia may cross over with many other issues, like trauma, relationship issues, and other issues. I incorporate aspects of CBT-I, the gold standard for insomnia with key psychodynamic or psychoanalytic interventions.  

Do you work online?
Yes, I see clients exclusively online through a HIPAA secure platform.

What is your fee for psychoanalysis?

As a psychoanalytic training candidate, I offer session frequency of 4 times per week for clients who wish to be a psychoanalytic control case under supervision at a discounted rate.

Where do I go from here? 

Contact me below or at (714) 908-7378.

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Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the expected charges for medical services, including psychotherapy services. 

You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency healthcare services, including psychotherapy services.

You can ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule a service.

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