How Therapy Works

People come to therapy for many different reasons. You may be feeling stuck in certain patterns, struggling in relationships, navigating a major life transition, or simply sensing that something in your life does not feel quite right.

Many people reach out after thinking about therapy for some time but not quite knowing where to begin. Therapy offers a space to slow down and reflect on these experiences with curiosity and care.

The First Conversations

Our work usually begins with an initial consultation where we talk about what brings you to therapy and what you hope might become clearer or different in your life.

You don’t need to prepare anything in advance. Many people begin simply by describing what has been weighing on them, even if the reasons for coming to therapy still feel somewhat unclear.

What Sessions Are Like

Sessions are conversations that unfold over time. Some days we may focus on events happening in your life now; other times we may explore patterns in relationships, emotions, or ways of thinking that have developed over many years.

My work is informed by psychodynamic and relational therapy. This means we pay attention not only to the immediate concerns in your life, but also to the deeper emotional patterns that shape how you experience yourself and others.

You won’t receive a list of quick tools to “fix” your life. Instead, therapy offers a space to understand your experiences more deeply and to explore the underlying patterns that may be influencing your relationships, decisions, and emotional life.

The Process of Change

Insight alone is not always enough to create change. Often transformation happens gradually through the experience of exploring your thoughts and feelings in a thoughtful and supportive relationship.

Over time, many people find that therapy helps them develop greater clarity about themselves, more flexibility in their relationships, and a deeper sense of connection to their own inner life.

Practical Details

Therapy sessions are typically 50 minutes and take place on a weekly basis. I offer sessions in English, Mandarin, and Russian, both in person in Berkeley and online throughout California.

If you’re considering therapy, you’re welcome to reach out to schedule a brief consultation so we can see whether working together might feel like a good fit.