Frequently Asked Questions

Are you accepting new patients?

I am currently accepting new patients in St. Louis. I continue to see patients in California, but I am not accepting new patients in my San Francisco practice.

What type of patients do you treat?

I treat adults age 18 and older and my practice is not limited to women. I work with adults experiencing a range of emotional and psychiatric concerns.

Do you offer telehealth?

Yes. I offer telehealth when necessary for patients in Missouri and California. The default for patients in my St. Louis practice is to meet in person at my office in Clayton.

Do you accept health insurance?

I do not accept health insurance and am an out-of-network provider. I can provide a superbill upon your request that you may submit directly to your insurance company for possible reimbursement through your out-of-network benefits. Reimbursement, if any, depends on your individual insurance plan.

For patients who would prefer assistance submitting out-of-network claims, Reimbursify is an independent service that allows patients to submit claims to their insurance companies. Use of Reimbursify is entirely optional, and patients may submit claims themselves or use any service they choose.

Do you provide psychotherapy or medication management?

I provide both psychotherapy and medication management when indicated. Medication is not automatically part of treatment. Treatment is individualized and determined collaboratively based on each patient's needs.

What conditions do you treat?

My areas of specialization include women's mental health, planning for pregnancy, pregnancy, postpartum depression and anxiety, adjustment to becoming a mother, the perimenopausal transition, depression and sadness, bipolar disorder, anxiety and stress, ADHD, and loss and grief.

Do you work with women during perimenopause?

Yes. Perimenopause is an area of specialization within my women's mental health practice. In addition to my specialized Women's Mental Health training at UCSF, I have completed many hours of continuing medical education focused specifically on perimenopause. For some women with ADHD, symptoms may also change during periods of hormonal fluctuation, including perimenopause. I consider these changes as part of the broader psychiatric and medical picture rather than assuming that a particular symptom has a single cause.

Will you communicate with my other doctors or therapist?

When appropriate, and with your written consent, I can collaborate with your other physicians, previous mental health professionals, and members of your personal support system.

What is Control-Mastery Theory?

Control-Mastery Theory is a framework for understanding how psychological problems develop and how people work in psychotherapy to overcome them. The theory recognizes that people are motivated to pursue healthy and meaningful goals, but experiences and beliefs developed earlier in life can sometimes make those goals feel unsafe or difficult to achieve. Therapy can help patients understand and challenge beliefs that may be getting in their way. Control-Mastery Theory does not require a particular set of psychotherapy techniques. Instead, it helps the therapist understand the individual patient's goals, experiences, beliefs, and needs so that therapy can be personalized to that particular person.

My approach to psychotherapy is informed by Control-Mastery Theory, and I also teach the theory to other mental health professionals through the Personalized Psychotherapy Institute.

Do you provide consultation or supervision for other mental health professionals?

Yes. I provide one-time consultation and ongoing supervision to psychiatrists and psychotherapists.

Where did you complete your medical and psychiatry training?

I earned my medical degree at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), where I also completed my internship and residency training in psychiatry. During my training, I received specialized training in Women's Mental Health, worked with a committee to create the UCSF Women's Mental Health Focus Track, and became its first graduate.

Are you board certified?

Yes. I am a board-certified adult psychiatrist.

Are you licensed in Missouri and California?

Yes. I am licensed to practice medicine in both Missouri and California.