Compassionate therapy designed to help you rediscover balance, enhance resilience, and move forward with confidence.
Welcome, explore at your own pace.
Vera has extensive clinical experience where her practice blends evidence-based techniques with a warm, personalized approach. She offers both in-person or virtual care, making high-quality therapy accessible, confidential, and convenient—wherever you are.
About Me
Hi, I’m Vera — a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. I earned my B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Applied Psychology from UC Santa Barbara and my M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Southern California - fight on! My work focuses on trauma, anxiety, burnout, addiction, relationship strain, and the kind of chronic stress that builds up when you’re the one everyone else relies on.
My therapy style is warm, straightforward, and conversational. I’m not here to throw jargon at you — I’m here to give you a place where you don’t have to censor your humor, your frustration, or your experiences. In our work together, you get a space to decompress, process the calls that stick with you, untangle the stress that builds up at home, and find better ways to take care of yourself without sacrificing the resilience you’re known for.
I have extensive experience in supporting first responders and their families—but I also work with individuals, couples, and families from all walks of life who are navigating stress, transitions, loss, and the complexities of everyday life. Whether you wear a uniform or not, if you’re carrying something heavy, you’re welcome here. We’ll tackle the real stuff head-on—sometimes serious, sometimes lighter, always honest. If you’re used to holding everything together, this is your chance to set it down for an hour.
When I’m not seeing clients, you’ll find me at the beach, on a yoga mat, planning my next trip, spending time with loved ones, or hanging out with my dog, who thinks he’s my co-therapist.
If you’re looking for a therapist who gets the first responder world and supports a wide range of clients with the same dedication and clarity, I’m here — ready when you are.
Specializations
Adults, Children, and Adolescents
Individual
Couples & Family
First Responders & Family
Military Personnel & Family
Trauma and PTSD
Anxiety
Depression
Addiction & Recovery
Grief & Loss
Relationship Issues
Conflict Resolution
Premarital Counseling
Work & Career Stress
Life Transitions
Parenting Support
Teen Counseling
Child of First Responders Counseling
Support Tailored to Your Needs
One-on-one sessions in a confidential and supportive environment, designed to be a collaborative space for self-reflection, personal growth, and meaningful change. Together, we’ll address challenges, explore patterns, and develop strategies that help you move toward your goals and feel more balanced in your daily life.
Couples therapy offers a confidential space for partners to address challenges, improve communication, and explore ways to enhance their relationship. Sessions focus on understanding patterns, navigating conflicts, and supporting growth within the partnership.
Family therapy sessions include two or more members of a family, which may involve parent-child relationships, sibling relationships, or the whole family unit. Sessions are designed to increase awareness of family dynamics, improve communication, and support healthy patterns for conflict resolution and stronger relationships within the family.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a therapy that helps people process and heal from past traumatic experiences. Using guided eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation, EMDR works to reduce the emotional intensity of distressing memories. It’s a structured and supportive approach that can help with trauma, anxiety, and overwhelming stress, supporting clients in moving toward greater emotional balance and well-being.
These consultation sessions are designed for clinicians, trainees, and first-responder peer support members who want specialized guidance and support tailored to their roles.
First-Responder Clinical Consultation
For therapists working with police, firefighters, EMTs, dispatchers, or other public-safety professionals, these sessions provide specialized guidance on first-responder trauma, cumulative stress, shift-work challenges, communication patterns, and relationship dynamics. Safety and risk assessment is also addressed, helping clinicians feel confident navigating high-intensity or complex cases.
General Clinical Consultation
For therapists and MFT graduate students, these sessions offer support on a broad range of clinical challenges, including trauma work, couples and family dynamics, and complex case conceptualization. Sessions also focus on preventative strategies for burnout, helping therapists build sustainable practices and maintain well-being while supporting others. This is a collaborative space to explore treatment strategies, discuss clinical questions, and strengthen your skills and confidence.
Peer Support Consultation
First-responder peer support members can access guidance on behavioral health topics, including strategies for supporting colleagues, managing cumulative stress, recognizing signs of trauma or mental health concerns, and navigating the unique demands of public-safety work.
Each session is tailored to the participant’s needs, providing a confidential and collaborative space to discuss clinical challenges, cultural considerations, and practical strategies. Whether you are a therapist, a graduate trainee, or a peer support professional, these consultations help you feel prepared, informed, and supported in your work with others.
Your Questions, Answered
Individual Therapy FAQs
In your first session, we’ll get to know each other, discuss what brought you to therapy, and set goals together. It’s a chance to ask questions, explore your concerns, and start building a collaborative relationship.
What should I expect in my first session?
How long does a typical session last?
Most sessions are 50-60 minutes, giving us enough time to explore your thoughts and feelings in depth while keeping the pace manageable.
How often will I meet with my therapist?
Frequency varies depending on your needs and goals. Many clients start with weekly sessions, then adjust as therapy progresses.
How long will therapy take?
The length of therapy depends on your goals, the nature of the challenges, and your pace. Some clients benefit from short-term therapy, while others find longer-term support more helpful.
Consultation for Therapists FAQs
Consultation sessions are available for licensed therapists, associate therapists, therapist trainees, and MFT students seeking guidance on complex cases, trauma work, first-responder culture, couples, family dynamics, or safety/risk assessments. If you are a first responder peer support member, consultation calls are also available to help navigate behavioral health questions and concerns.
Who can schedule a consultation session?
Consultation sessions are via phone to accommodate different schedules and locations, and are typically 30–60 minutes, as timing can be adjusted based on your needs.
How long is a consultation session?
We can discuss trauma, first-responder culture, relationship challenges, family dynamics, safety and risk assessment, and other complex clinical scenarios. We can also discuss navigating the therapy profession, self-care and burnout prevention, and how to navigate graduate school stressors.
What can we consult on?
Yes. All consultation sessions are confidential, intended to provide a safe space for professional discussion and guidance.
Is consultation confidential?
Couple & Family Therapy FAQs
While it’s helpful for both partners to participate, there may be times when individual sessions complement couples or family work. We’ll tailor sessions to fit your needs.
Do both partners need to attend every session?
Can we attend therapy even if one partner is apprehensive?
Yes. Therapy can still be productive even if only one partner is initially engaged. The sessions can focus on communication skills, understanding relationship patterns, and exploring ways to improve the partnership; however, therapy is voluntary.
What if family members/partners have different goals for therapy?
We work collaboratively to honor everyone’s perspective and find common ground. Therapy can help identify shared goals while supporting individual needs.
How do you help families manage conflict or improve communication?
We focus on understanding patterns, increasing awareness of dynamics, and practicing strategies that enhance communication and reduce tension, all within a safe and respectful environment.
Practical & Administrative FAQs
I operate on a private-pay model to keep our sessions flexible and confidential. Upon request, I can provide a superbill you may submit to your insurance for potential reimbursement. Limited sliding scale openings are available upon request. If you are interested in a sliding scale fee, please request upon initial consultation.
Do you accept insurance or offer sliding scale fees?
Appointments can be scheduled by phone or email. My contact information is provided on the final page.
How do I schedule an appointment?
What do you charge?
Individual sessions are $250. Couple/family sessions are $275. Fee may vary for EMDR therapy sessions and consultation calls. Fee is discussed and agreed upon prior to commencement of therapy.
Yes. Teletherapy is available for clients who prefer virtual sessions for convenience or accessibility. Please request virtual preference upon initial consultation.
Do you offer teletherapy sessions?
Let's Work Together
Every journey starts with a single step. Reach out today for a complimentary 15-minute consultation and discover how I can support your goals.
