CREDENTIALS
Doctoral Degree: University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1999
Licensure: Hawaii Psychology Professional License (PSY729) valid and in good standing since July 2001.
Member of American Psychological Association since 2001
SCHEDULING AN APPOINTMENT
If you would like to schedule an appointment, please contact me at the number provided on the back of this brochure. Please leave a message with the best number to reach you and I will usually call back within 24 hours on regular business days. At that time, I will speak with you to get some basic information about your reasons for seeking services, and I'll be able to determine if I am able to assist you. You may also contact me by email if you prefer.
SERVICES PROVDED
Psychotherapy
I use a variety of psychotherapy techniques and approaches, depending on the needs of the individual these include:
- Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT). This is used to learn how to identify and change unhealthy and irrational beliefs that lead to anxiety, depression, and other psychological problems.
- Group Psychotherapy can be helpful to give and receive feedback to peers who suffer from similar problems.
Hypnotherapy can be helpful in reducing pain, physical/somatic problems, and unwanted habits.
Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is helpful in processing and alleviating distress around trauma/PTSD, fear, and anxiety.
Existential Psychotherapy is used for exploring “meaning of life” issues becoming more “grounded” in life.
- Integrational Therapy, which explores and corrects Core Irrational Beliefs stemming from childhood. It also examines and addresses how people develop unhealthy Mind Tricks to deal with their insecurities.
Reasons for Seeking Psychotherapy
- Spiritual/emotional growth and self-exploration, including identity development, professional development, and exploring barriers and paths to personal happiness and harmony
- Depression, including feelings of sadness, grief, guilt, and shame
- Anxiety, including worrying, fears of social situations, phobias, panic, obsessive-compulsive behavior
- Trauma/PTSD, including physical/sexual abuse, combat related distress, and stressful life experiences
- Behavioral Health, including smoking cessation, weight management, management of unhealthy habits
- Relationship issues, including couples/marital counseling, problems with intimacy, shyness, and interpersonal anxiety
- Childhood issues, which may be unresolved and creating barriers to happiness in relationships and with oneself
For more information, please click on the following link:
Common Reasons for Seeking Psychotherapy
Psychological Evaluation
- Diagnostic Evaluation. This is an in-depth evaluation to identify and clarifiy psychiatric diagnoses, especially around mood, anxiety, trauma, ADHD/learning disorders, problematic or unusual behvaior, stress, and more serious mental illness.
- Personality Assessment, to better understand a person’s personality dynamics and how these affect the way he or she is coping with life.
Neuropsychological/cognitive assessment, to identify organic brain problems that may stem from brain injury, alochol/drug use, stroke, or other brain disease.
For more information, please click on the following link:
INSURANCE/PAYMENT
I accept insurance from most carriers in Hawaii, including HMSA, HMAA, Tricare, UHA, Medicare, Medquest, Alohacare, MDX, Summerlin, Kaiser Added Choice, and others.
Most insurance carriers cover around 20 sessions of 45-50 min psychotherapy sessions per year, though the exact number may vary between carriers. Other services are also usually included, such as psychological testing and evaluation.
Many insurance carriers require a copayment for your visits -- often between $8 - $25 depending on your plan. In some cases, especially with Medquest plans, there is no copayment. For uninsured patients, my current rate for standard psychotherapy session is $125. I offer a sliding scale fee depending on financial need and availability in my practice.