Psychiatry and Therapy Services in San Francisco
My goal is simple, and perhaps uncommon: to help you reach a point where you no longer need me.
Rather than managing symptoms indefinitely, I work toward genuine recovery, helping you build the resilience and psychological flexibility to handle life’s challenges on your own terms.
I am a psychiatrist in San Francisco offering integrated medication management and psychotherapy through a concierge model. I trained at the University of Washington, where I was prepared to treat the full spectrum of psychiatric presentations, which means a precise diagnosis, a clear treatment plan, and the majority of your care under one roof.
Treatment here means more than a diagnosis and a prescription. I take a whole-person approach, drawing on evidence-based therapies including ACT, DBT, exposure therapy, and psychodynamic psychotherapy, on the view that the most meaningful progress comes from living a life aligned with your values rather than one driven by anxiety or avoidance.
I keep a small panel so I can offer longer appointments, faster responses, and the kind of unhurried care that is rare in psychiatry. No one is rushed through a 15-minute medication check-in. If you are looking for a psychiatrist who will be honest with you, invest in your growth, and ultimately work toward your independence, I would be glad to connect.
Request a call to get started. It is a chance to get a sense of whether the two of us are a good fit.
What I offer
Three kinds of visit
What I can help with
Concerns I treat
People come to me for many different reasons. Some arrive with a clear diagnosis they have managed for years. Others are coming to psychiatry for the first time and are not sure what to call what they are experiencing, only that something is not right.
I work with adults navigating a range of concerns, including:
- Depression and persistent low mood
- Anxiety, worry, and panic – Exposure Therapy
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) – Exposure Therapy
- Bipolar disorder
- Borderline personality disorder (BPD) – Dialectical Behavior Therapy
- Personality disorders – Dialectical Behavior Therapy
- Somatic symptom disorder
- Illness anxiety
- Sleep difficulties and chronic insomnia – CBT for Insomnia, Hypnotherapy
- Relationship difficulties and couples conflict – Integrative Behavioral Couples Therapy, Sensate Focus
- Life transitions and chronic stress
- Reducing or stopping psychiatric medication – Deprescribing
If you do not see your concern listed here, that does not mean I cannot help. The surest way to find out whether it is a good fit is to request a call.
Services and therapies
Everything I offer
Medication Management
Medication management refers to the ongoing, physician-supervised process of prescribing, monitoring, and adjusting psychiatric medications to treat mental health conditions.
Deprescribing
Deprescribing is the planned, physician-supervised process of reducing or stopping medications whose current harms or burden may outweigh their benefit.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a structured, evidence-based form of psychotherapy that focuses on identifying and modifying unhelpful patterns of thinking and behavior that contribute to psychological distress.
CBT for Insomnia
Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is a structured, short-term, non-medication treatment that targets the thoughts and behaviors that keep chronic insomnia going.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a structured, skills-based form of cognitive-behavioral therapy developed by psychologist Marsha Linehan.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a third-wave, mindfulness-based form of cognitive-behavioral therapy that aims to build psychological flexibility rather than eliminate difficult thoughts or feelings.
Psychodynamic Therapy
Psychodynamic therapy is an evidence-supported form of talk therapy rooted in longstanding psychoanalytic theory about how unconscious thoughts, past experiences, and interpersonal patterns influence current emotions and behavior.
Exposure Therapy
Exposure therapy is a family of behavioral treatments in which a person gradually and systematically confronts feared objects, situations, memories, or bodily sensations in a safe, structured setting.
Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy is the clinician-guided use of hypnosis – a state of focused attention, reduced peripheral awareness, and heightened responsiveness to suggestion – to work toward specific therapeutic goals.
Integrative Behavioral Couples Therapy
Integrative Behavioral Couples Therapy (IBCT) is an evidence-based approach to couples therapy developed by Andrew Christensen and Neil Jacobson that combines strategies for behavior change with work on emotional acceptance.
Sensate Focus
Sensate focus is a structured, touch-based behavioral technique used in sex and couples therapy to address sexual-intimacy concerns.
The process
How care begins
01
Start the conversation
It begins with a brief phone call to understand what you are looking for and to make sure it is a good fit.
02
Understand you deeply
A 90-minute intake designed to understand you: your history, goals, challenges, and what brings you here. There is no rush. This time is about listening, reflection, and clarity.
03
Create a path forward
Together you decide on a treatment plan tailored to your needs and goals. Before you leave, your next appointment is scheduled, so you know exactly what comes next.
FAQs
Common questions
- As an adult psychiatrist, I typically serve patients older than 18 and work with teenagers on a case-by-case basis. I generally do not prescribe controlled substances without a complete evaluation. When treating these conditions, I prioritize non-controlled medications and psychotherapy whenever appropriate. If a controlled medication is needed, that starts with a thoughtful discussion during your visit. Controlled substances may include ADHD and ADD stimulants such as Adderall and Ritalin, benzodiazepines for anxiety or panic such as Ativan, Klonopin, and Valium, and sleep aids for insomnia such as Ambien, Lunesta, and Sonata.
- I do not work with commercial insurance, which lets me serve patients directly rather than an insurance company. Payment is due on the day of the appointment. I can provide a superbill to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement, and most insurers reimburse 70 to 100 percent for out-of-network mental health treatment. I am not able to see patients with Medicare Part B (original Medicare) at this time, but I can work with patients on Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans. Medi-Cal is not accepted at this time.
- I personalize care by drawing from multiple psychotherapeutic approaches, including CBT, ACT, DBT, hypnosis, and IBCT, to address your concerns thoughtfully.
- Financial situations vary. I offer sliding scale fees on a limited basis to make psychiatric care more accessible by adjusting costs according to income and need. After an initial conversation, I provide a transparent quote with no hidden costs.
- Collaborative, thoughtful, and paced with care. I take time to understand your history, your goals, and how your symptoms affect your daily life, not just a checklist of diagnoses. Together we develop a treatment plan that feels intentional and grounded, which may include psychotherapy, medication management, lifestyle considerations, or gradual adjustments over time. I prioritize listening, shared decision-making, and treatments that support long-term stability rather than quick fixes.
- Same-day cancellations and no-shows incur 100 percent of the appointment fee.
- I am only licensed to practice in California, so I am not able to serve patients who live outside the state.
Request a call
A brief conversation is the starting point. It is how we find out whether this is the right fit.