Open Meadow
Therapy

No. While a lot of my work is with veterans, combat veterans, military spouses, and first responders, I also work with any adult who’s carrying something heavy - whether that came from a difficult childhood, a high-stress career, a relationship, or years of holding everything together for everyone else. Trauma doesn’t require a uniform. If something has been weighing on you and you haven’t had space to put it down, you’re welcome here.

Yes - and honestly, most of my veteran clients come in having never done therapy, or having had one bad experience that put them off it. There’s no expectation that you know how to do this. We go at your pace, you don’t have to talk about anything before you’re ready, and a lot of people are surprised that it doesn’t have to feel like what they imagined it would. Active duty and post-service veterans are both welcome - most of my clients are post-service, typically two to fifteen years out.

It can be. Anger - especially the kind that comes out of nowhere, goes from zero to ten fast, or shows up after years of feeling fine - is one of the most common and least talked about symptoms of trauma and PTSD. It’s not a character flaw. It’s what happens when your nervous system has been in survival mode for a long time and never got a chance to come down. Therapy can help you understand what’s underneath it and give it somewhere to go.

Trauma therapy helps you process experiences that your nervous system never fully got to work through - whether that’s combat exposure, childhood experiences, loss, or years of chronic stress. It doesn’t always mean going back and reliving everything. Often it’s about understanding how your past is showing up in your present, and building enough safety to start releasing what you’ve been carrying. I use trauma-informed, attachment-based, and DBT approaches, tailored to what works for you.

Yes. First responders - firefighters, law enforcement, paramedics, dispatchers - carry a similar kind of cumulative trauma to veterans, often without the same recognition or support. The culture of pushing through and being the one everyone depends on is something I understand and work with directly. You don’t have to explain that world to me.

That’s a completely normal place to start. Most people aren’t sure. Reaching out doesn’t commit you to anything - it just starts a conversation. As for how long therapy takes, it depends on what you’re working through. Some people feel significantly different in a few months. Others want something more ongoing. I don’t push long-term commitments - we check in regularly about whether what we’re doing is working for you.

Yes - I accept Aetna, Cigna, Blue Shield, Anthem Blue Cross California, Carelon Behavioral Health, and Providence through Headway. Sessions booked through insurance are scheduled and billed directly on the Headway platform. Some clients prefer to pay out of pocket (cash pay) because it keeps a mental health diagnosis off their insurance record and keeps our work completely private. Cash pay sessions follow the sliding scale fee schedule listed above.

Click “Request an Appointment” to send me an email. I work exclusively via telehealth, so sessions are held on a secure video platform - you can meet with me from anywhere in California. I’ll reach out within 1 to 2 business days to schedule your first session. I ask for at least 24 hours notice for cancellations or rescheduling. Life happens - just communicate with me early and we’ll work it out.