My intake process feels more like a conversation to get to know you, not an interrogation. It's semi-structured, so there are certain questions I need to cover, but I always approach it with genuine curiosity and try to keep it natural. When it comes to progress, we'll talk through your treatment goals and objectives together, and set measurable milestones so we both have a way to track how things are going. I do sometimes assign homework, but it really depends on what the treatment calls for. For example, with anxiety, real-life exposure practice is often really helpful, sometimes necessary. That said, if homework isn't something you want, we can always be flexible and find a different approach. I love working with clients from diverse backgrounds. I've worked with immigrants, with moms and dads, with younger people, and with older adults. I'm always open to learning more about you, your culture, and your values, and letting that shape how we work together.

The clients I work best with are the ones who show up to each session open and willing to try the things we talked about. Often, in their own words, what they're asking for is pretty simple: better sleep, fewer tears during the day, fewer depression or anxiety symptoms, or just wanting to feel better overall. It's okay if you don't know exactly what you want, or you don't know how to put it into words yet. Often times clients just want to feel better, and that's completely understandable. As long as you're willing to put in the time and effort, and stay open to working together, that's really all I need from you.

I'm excited about telehealth because it breaks down so many barriers and makes care so much more accessible, especially for people with limited time to commute, or who can hardly bring themselves to leave their room some days. It's also let me reach clients across a much wider geographic range than I could in person. Beyond that, I'm especially excited about the integration of technology into mental health care more broadly. I have some of my own startup projects using AI and hardware, aimed at detecting early warning signs and delivering more proactive interventions. I've also built an automated assistant that can check in with patients between sessions, to see how they're doing and whether they're following through on the action plans we set together, which really helps with treatment engagement and outcomes. I know there's a lot of debate right now about whether AI belongs in mental health care at all. I'm not talking about an AI therapist replacing a human one. The human relationship, the real connection between two people, is something that can never be replaced, and I value that deeply. What I'm passionate about is using technology to support and strengthen that relationship, to make treatment more effective, not to substitute for it. I have a few side projects and research projects in this space, and I'd genuinely love to talk more about them if you're interested.

There's often an evidence-based, "first-line" therapy for a given presentation, like CBT for anxiety disorders. But I don't think that one-size-fits-all approach works for everyone, and I'm comfortable saying so. I often ask what kind of therapy feels right to you, and what actually feels helpful. Sometimes we might spend an entire session just figuring that out together, rather than diving straight into a protocol. I don't see that as a detour. It's part of the work, and it teaches me a lot about who you are. Therapy isn't only about reducing symptoms. It's about you, as a whole person, and I believe almost anything about you can be useful to bring into the room.