Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis in California: What to Know

In California, many people come to therapy already familiar with the language of mental health. They may have worked with therapists before, tried different approaches, or spent time thinking carefully about their emotional life. At the same time, familiarity does not always lead to lasting change. For some, therapy has felt supportive but limited—helpful, yet not quite enough.

Psychotherapy and psychoanalysis offer a different kind of work—one that is slower, more focused, and oriented toward understanding patterns that have shaped a person over time.

I am a clinical psychologist and certified psychoanalyst in private practice in California. I offer in-person psychotherapy and psychoanalysis in San Diego, and telehealth services to individuals located elsewhere in the state. My work with adults, adolescents, and children is grounded in careful listening, consistency, and sustained attention to emotional experience.

In-Person and Telehealth Treatment in California

For individuals located in San Diego, treatment may take place in person. For those elsewhere in California, psychotherapy and psychoanalysis are available via telehealth. While the setting may differ, the structure of the work remains the same: regular meetings, a stable therapeutic frame, and ongoing attention to how emotional life unfolds over time.

Telehealth does not make psychotherapy casual or abbreviated. When conducted thoughtfully, it allows for depth-oriented work that remains consistent and focused, particularly for individuals with demanding schedules, frequent travel, or geographic movement.

What Psychoanalytic Work Is Like

People often come to psychoanalytic treatment not because they lack insight, but because insight alone has not led to meaningful change. They may be articulate, reflective, and psychologically minded, yet find themselves repeating familiar patterns in relationships, work, or emotional life.

Psychoanalysis and psychoanalytic psychotherapy focus on understanding these patterns as they emerge in the present, rather than offering techniques or strategies to manage them. Over time, this work can lead to greater psychological flexibility, emotional stability, and a deeper sense of coherence.

Psychoanalysis involves a more intensive treatment frame, while psychoanalytic psychotherapy occurs less frequently. The appropriate format depends on the individual and is discussed carefully during the consultation process.

About Fees and Insurance

My practice operates on a private-pay basis. Working outside of insurance allows treatment to proceed without restrictions on frequency, duration, or approach, and supports a level of privacy and continuity that is important in depth-oriented work. Patients who have out-of-network benefits may choose to submit documentation for reimbursement according to the terms of their individual plans.

Beginning Treatment in California

Beginning psychotherapy often reflects a desire for something more precise, more personal, or more effective than what has been available before. An initial consultation provides space to reflect on what has felt unresolved and to consider whether this kind of work feels like the right fit.

This approach is not designed to be efficient or formulaic. It is meant to be thoughtful, individualized, and grounded in a genuine engagement with the person seeking treatment.