Sport Psychology & Mental Performance Coaching

I work with athletes from middle school age through young adulthood. For younger children showing early signs of performance anxiety or sport-related stress, that's often better addressed through child therapy rather than sport psychology specifically - reach out and we can figure out the right approach together.

Yes. Parents shape a young athlete's mental experience of sport more than most people realize. I offer parent coaching specifically for families navigating the pressures, dynamics, and emotional complexity of raising a competitive young athlete - whether that's how to talk about performance, how to handle a child who wants to quit, or how to support an athlete through injury or a difficult season.

A coach focuses on skill development, strategy, and physical performance. My focus is the mental and emotional side - the anxiety before a big game, the confidence that erodes after a losing streak, the identity questions that come up when sport gets taken away. Those are clinical and psychological questions, not coaching ones. The two approaches complement each other rather than compete.

Mental performance coaching as a standalone service is typically not covered by insurance. However, if we are also addressing clinical mental health concerns - such as anxiety or depression that meet the criteria for therapy - those sessions may be billable. I'm in-network with Blue Shield of California, Anthem Blue Cross California, Cigna, Aetna, Quest Behavioral Health, and Carelon Behavioral Health. We can talk through what applies on a consultation call.

Yes. Alongside individual work, I'm available to work with youth teams on group mental performance, communication, cohesion, and the shared mental skills that make a team function well under pressure. If you're a coach or program director in the LA area interested in this kind of support, reach out and we can talk through what that might look like.

I work with athletes across all sports. My personal background is in soccer and tennis, which gives me particular fluency in those contexts, but the mental skills that matter in competition translate across disciplines. Team sports, individual sports, recreational athletes, high school and club competitors - all are welcome.

Sport psychology applies clinical and psychological tools specifically to the athletic context. The focus is on the mental skills and emotional patterns that affect performance and the overall experience of being an athlete. Sessions might address performance anxiety, confidence, focus and composure, resilience after mistakes, team dynamics, or the psychological weight of injury. When clinical mental health concerns are also present - anxiety, depression, identity struggles tied to sport - I bring my full clinical training to those too. The line between performance and mental health is often thinner than people expect, and I'm comfortable working on both sides of it.

The first session is a conversation, not an evaluation. We'll talk through what's been going on, what you're hoping to get out of therapy, and what your life looks like right now. By the end you'll have a clear sense of how I work and whether it feels right. There's no pressure to have everything figured out before you come in.

Reach out to schedule a free 15-minute consultation call. It's a low-pressure conversation where you can share what's going on and get a sense of how I work. No commitment, no paperwork - just a starting point. From there, if it feels like a good fit, we'll set up an intake session and build a plan around your goals.

Your privacy is a cornerstone of therapy. What we discuss in sessions stays between us, unless a situation arises that legally or ethically requires disclosure under California law and ethical standards.

For child and teen therapy, confidentiality is handled with care and respect for trust. Parents or guardians will receive updates on general themes, goals, and tools to support at home, but not detailed session notes. This helps create a safe space for your child to speak honestly and openly, knowing their privacy is honored.

If you need coordination with other medical or mental health providers (for example, a psychiatrist or pediatrician), I can work with you and your permission to share relevant information, always with your written consent.

‍If you ever have questions about confidentiality or what is shared and why, I’m happy to walk through the details with you or read more here.

Finding the right therapist is an important part of the process, and sometimes it takes a couple of conversations to know what feels right. If at any point it seems like your needs would be better supported by someone with a different specialty, approach, or background, I’ll be honest about that and help connect you with referrals.

My goal is always for you, your child, or your teen to receive the care that feels supportive, comfortable, and aligned, even if that isn’t with me.

You can cancel or reschedule a session with at least 24 hours’ notice. Cancellations within 24 hours are billed at the full session rate.

Yes. I am now in-network with Blue Shield of California, Anthem Blue Cross California, Cigna, Aetna, Quest Behavioral Health, and Carelon Behavioral Health. If you have one of these plans, I will bill your insurance directly. For all other plans, I can provide superbills for possible out-of-network reimbursement. Feel free to bring any insurance questions to your consultation call.

Most clients start with weekly sessions. As progress continues, we may shift to every other week or another rhythm that feels supportive. In some situations, meeting more than once a week can be helpful, especially during times of transition, increased stress, or when someone needs a little extra support. We’ll decide together what frequency feels right based on your needs.

If tools would help you or your child, I’ll provide them, but I don’t force a one-size-fits-all approach. Some clients benefit from worksheets or skills practice; others benefit more from reflection and conversation.

I support clients with anxiety, depression, ADHD, emotional regulation, identity questions, school stress, family conflict, cultural or immigration-related stress, trauma, grief, and general life transitions. I also offer sport psychology and mental performance coaching for youth athletes and young adults. There's no "wrong" reason to reach out.

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Sessions are typically 50 minutes. Family sessions and parent coaching sessions may run slightly longer depending on what we're working on. Sport psychology sessions are also 50 minutes. We'll figure out the right length and frequency together based on your specific situation.

Both. In-person sessions are available at my office in Echo Park, Los Angeles. Virtual therapy is available to anyone in California through a secure video platform. Many clients use a combination of both depending on the week.

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I draw from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills, Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT), and psychodynamic/relational approaches. I also work through an ecological and intersectional lens, which means I consider the full system a person lives within: their family dynamics, cultural background, community, identity, environment, and the structural factors that shape their daily life. Our work together isn’t just about symptoms; it’s about understanding the whole context of who you are and what you’re navigating.

All of this helps me tailor therapy to each individual.

And without boring you with every acronym and piece of therapeutic jargon, it ultimately comes down to this: I’m here to help you understand yourself more fully...your strengths, your patterns, your goals, and the parts of you that deserve support and space to grow.

I’m based in Echo Park and primarily work with clients throughout Los Angeles and the surrounding communities. Through secure telehealth, I’m able to support children, teens, young adults, adults, and families across neighborhoods including Echo Park, Silver Lake, Los Feliz, Atwater Village, Highland Park, Glassell Park, Eagle Rock, Pasadena, and other nearby areas.

If you live anywhere in California, we can work together virtually. Geography doesn't need to be a barrier to getting the support you need. I regularly work with clients in San Francisco, San Diego, the Bay Area, and throughout the state via telehealth.

Not at all. While I love working with youth, I also work with adults who want support around anxiety, stress, identity, relationships, or life transitions. The same warm, grounded style applies at any age.

My practice is fully affirming of all identities. I welcome and support clients of all genders, sexual orientations, cultural backgrounds, races, ethnicities, and family structures. I work from an ecological and intersectional lens, which means I pay close attention to how your identities, lived experiences, and environments shape the challenges you face and the strengths you carry.

Whether you’re exploring identity, navigating family dynamics, facing discrimination, or simply looking for a space where you feel seen and respected, you are welcome here.