FAQ
Do I need therapy?
I believe anyone who is willing to reflect on themselves can benefit from therapy. Many clients enter therapy because they feel desperate, overwhelmed, or stuck in their lives and are having trouble coping.
Others begin when they anticipate an overwhelming change or transition and want to mentally prepare. Some clients are generally content and are looking to enhance their experiences and have a consistent mental check-in.
You don't necessarily have to "need" therapy to begin or wait until your life feels out of control to seek help. Simply having the willingness to improve your life is enough.
How do I know if I have an eating disorder?
Your struggle with food or body image deserves care and attention even if you don't meet criteria for a formal eating disorder diagnosis. Maladaptive behaviors surrounding food, exercise, and body manipulation lie on a spectrum and can feel debilitating regardless of their degree.
I encourage you to think about your relationship with food and/or body image through these questions:
Do you find yourself obsessing about what to eat/not to eat?
Do you often feel guilt or shame after eating?
Are you terrified of gaining weight?
Do you feel out of control around food?
Do you often engage in eating behaviors in private?
Do you find ways to "cancel out" what you've eaten, whether through dieting, exercising, purging, or other behaviors?
Is your dynamic with food/body image affecting your relationships? Your mental health? Your physical health? Your life goals?
Answering "yes" to any of these questions, or simply having a willingness to improve your relationship with food and your body is enough to seek help for disordered eating.
Which populations do you treat?
I offer therapy to clients age 18 and above. My client population tends to consist of young adults, but can range from late teens to older adults. My clinical experience and passion lies in working with college and graduate students and young professionals.
As an Iranian-American myself, I am well-versed and experienced in working with the Iranian-American population, as well as other individuals who identify as bi/multicultural. I also have extensive experience supporting clients who identify as queer, trans, and/or nonbinary.
What is your treatment approach?
See my section on "How I Work" for my therapeutic approach.
How long is each therapy session?
Individual therapy sessions last a duration of 50 minutes. Group therapy sessions can last between 90 and 120 minutes.
How often will we meet?
I will encourage you to meet weekly for individual therapy sessions. Less consistent sessions can disrupt the flow of therapy and turn appointments into "update sessions" that are not as effective and don't allow for deeper therapeutic work.
At a certain point, you and I can discuss whether you are ready to decrease session frequency. We can also increase the frequency to twice a week if you need more support or are going through an unusually challenging time.
My groups typically are a weekly commitment as well. Skipping sessions tends to interfere with what you get out of the group, and also takes away from the experience of the other group members.
What location do you serve?
I am a licensed psychologist in California. I am based in West Los Angeles and can provide therapy to California residents. I offer sessions via telehealth only, using Zoom, a HIPAA-compliant and secure videoconferencing platform.
Do you prescribe medication to treat my symptoms?
No. Clinical psychologists' scope of practice does not include medication prescription. If you are interested in psychiatric medication, I am happy to refer you to a psychiatrist who can perform their own assessment to determine your medication needs. With your permission, I am always open to connecting with them to coordinate your care.
Do you offer a complimentary initial phone consultation?
Absolutely! I offer a complimentary 20-minute phone call to get a better sense of your goals and needs and how I can support you. If we're a good fit, we can schedule our initial session. Otherwise, I am happy to refer you to other resources that offer what you're looking for.
Still have a question? Contact me.