Individual Psychotherapy for Self-Discovery
Depth-Oriented Virtual Therapy
Online psychotherapy for adults in California and Oregon. Sessions offer space to slow down, turn inward, and work with what’s beneath the surface.
The Work
I think of what I offer as mindfulness-based assisted self-discovery. I owe the phrase and much of the spirit behind it to Ron Kurtz. His vision of therapy as a collaborative exploration lives on in the methods I draw from and in how I approach the work.
Mindfulness-based
We spend much of our time in a more present, receptive state of awareness. We slow down. We notice what's actually happening—in the body, in emotion, in the subtle movements of attention. This quality of presence creates conditions for material to surface that might otherwise stay guarded or inaccessible. It also deepens our sensitivity to the good that's already present in our lives.
Assisted
Even experienced therapists who know this territory well find it helpful to have a guide when they do their own work—I know I do. Someone who holds space. Someone who can offer reflections, notice what we might miss, and ask questions that open new doors. The work is collaborative: I bring years of experience with this territory; you bring yourself and your willingness to explore.
Self-discovery
The locus of the work is with you. I'm not here to diagnose, interpret, or prescribe. We're exploring together, following what emerges, and you're almost certainly going to make meaningful discoveries.
How Sessions Unfold
Some people feel apprehensive about depth work. What will come up? Can I handle it?
But rest assured: nothing here is forced. We move toward things as you feel ready, with a relationship and structure that helps it feel safe and manageable. You set the pace. We go where you’re ready to go.
And sessions vary. Sometimes we do go deep—contacting emotion, working with memory, or meeting long hidden parts of yourself. Other times we consolidate: integrating changes, clarifying understanding, exploring where to aim next. Sometimes we shift to talk about practices. Other times we just need to be heard, understood, and supported. I’m here for that too.
An Integrative View
We are more than a psyche. We are embodied, and exist within a web of relationships, environments, and influences—and for many, within a spiritual ground as well.
All of this is always present. Depending on what is most alive, we might attend to:
Body and health
sleep, diet, movement, sunlight, nervous system regulation
Relationships
patterns of connection and disconnection, attachment history, intergenerational patterns
Environment
living situation, work conditions, daily rhythms, connection to nature, physical space (clutter, beauty, order)
Social and cultural context
economic pressures, collective events, cultural messages we've absorbed
Habits and addictions
the ways we cope, numb, or avoid
emotional memory
impressions from the past that continue to shape present experience
The existential
loss and grief, challenges with meaning and purpose
Spiritual life
for those oriented toward this dimension, connection to something larger
No single lens captures the whole picture. These dimensions inform how I listen and where we might look together.
Making Virtual Therapy Work
Most people find virtual sessions a highly convenient substitute for in-person work. The therapeutic relationship and depth of exploration translate well to video. But this isn’t the case for everyone, and there are things we can do to optimize effectiveness.
In-person therapy has built-in ritual. The commute creates transition. We settle into the couch. The environment signals a shift of mind, an expectation of connection and depth. When we meet from home or office, we might bypass that transition entirely—sitting at the same desk where we just wrestled with a stressful email or were absorbed in online shopping.
Creating your own ritual can help. Some suggestions:
- Set yourself up for a distraction-free period, and use headphones for better audio and privacy.
- Dedicate a space if possible. Even a particular chair, facing a different direction than your usual work setup, can help signal a shift.
- Place a symbol nearby — something meaningful to you. It doesn't need to be elaborate. It could be your journal. A plant. A candle. A family memento.
- Take at least five minutes beforehand to settle in. Sense into your body and mind.
- Review your notes from last session, if you keep them. Is there a thread calling for continued attention? Or is something else alive today?
- Consider what you hope for from the session. Even a vague sense can help orient us.
- After the session, give yourself a few minutes before jumping back into regular activity. The transition back into the flow of the day is important too.
These small gestures create a container. They help the mind register that this is different: it’s time to turn inward.
— James Baldwin
Next Steps
If you’re curious whether this approach fits what you’re looking for, we can start with a conversation.