Individual psychotherapy

You may find yourself considering therapy when you feel stuck or when things don't seem to be getting better, despite your best efforts.

Perhaps you've tried self-help books, journaling, other forms of therapy, but you're still struggling and feeling like something deeper is holding you back from experiencing life on your terms.

Maybe you're ready for something different.

And while I know it doesn’t necessarily feel good right now, I tend to think this is good news. Sometimes it takes doing it differently to get somewhere different.

Together, we will help you make sense of your mind, gain insight into your patterns, and develop the capacity to navigate life's challenges with greater ease and resilience.

I firmly believe in your healing and growth, and I'm here to support you every step of the way.

My therapeutic approach is centered around compassionately and thoughtfully addressing the core of your pain.

Research and experience have shown that the reason why quick fixes and behavior-focused treatments frequently fall short is because they do not address the underlying issues to our emotional suffering. This is also why, despite our best efforts, we can’t think our way out (or will power our way out of) of our psychic problems — because we often don’t fully know our own minds, and what we don’t know is often shaping our thoughts and actions in ways that defy rational understanding.

So instead, I take a different approach, one where I provide a non-judgmental, curious and warm environment for us to work together to explore and unpack what is at the heart of the matter, what needs to change, and what may be getting in the way of the life you want.

Through time, effort and patience, lasting transformation in your life and relationships are possible.

Struggling is a part of life; healing is when those struggles no longer control you.

“Thaís is a deeply devoted, relentlessly curious psychotherapist who is as persistent in her own self-exploration as she is in her clients, inviting honesty, commitment, and levity to create strong therapeutic relationships.”
— K. Milano, LFMT

Specialties

Diagnoses

Complex Trauma, Developmental Trauma, cPTSD

Disordered Eating, Eating Disorders and Body Image Issues

Dissociative Disorders

Mood Disorders

Grief and Loss

Depression

Anxiety

Chronic Pain

Psychosomatic Disorders

Themes

Worthiness Wound/Self-Worth Struggles

Relationship Difficulties

Women’s Issues

Immigration

Mental Health Professionals, Life Coaches, Healers

Loneliness and Finding Self as a Young Adult

Stress, Over-worked, Chronic Burnout

Major Transitions and Life Satisfaction

Existential Crisis and Spiritual Confusion

What you can expect

While I have been trained in various therapeutic modalities (CBT, somatic, family systems), my approach is grounded in contemporary psychoanalytic principles. Psychoanalytic psychotherapy is the deepest, oldest, and most empirically supported way to explore and understand the human mind.

That means our work together will be highly tailored, flexible, and built on the idea that to know one’s own mind, to develop inner trust, to feel expansive in our ability to navigate whatever comes up internally is liberating. It is infinitely richer to find your own truth than to be told it from others.

That is why I do not use a manualized approach and will not give advice or tell you what to do.

You’re a complex person with a profound inner life, you deserve a therapy that holds your multitudes with curiosity and meaning.

Instead I offer a space for thoughtful reflection so that we can work closely to understand the causes of your emotional suffering, explore early attachment relationships to better understand the roadblocks that are in the way of fulfilling relationships, make sense of triggers and emotional responses, and integrate the fragmented, lost, forgotten parts of you that were pushed away because they were too painful, traumatic or shameful to be processed or held.

As we explore your past and present, new ways of engaging with yourself, your goals and your future will emerge.

The wonderful thing about talking and relating in an emotionally honest and meaningful way is that is it will allow you to acquire invaluable competencies that will help you handle the situations you will find on the journey of being human. It is a great commitment, and often hard work, but it brings so many incredible benefits. Psychotherapy can help you gain self-acceptance, self-awareness, and a new way of understanding yourself and the world.

My work is informed by the Health at Every Size (HAES) movement. Additionally, I am BIPOC affirmative. In our work together we will explore the intersection of all of your identities because my approach takes into account the social, cultural, and economic forces that influence your individual development and current struggle.

When we name what hurts in the presence of a curious other, things change.

GETTING SET UP:

In the years I have been doing this work I have developed a structure for our time together that offers the consistency and stability necessary to do meaningful psychotherapy.

  • My fee is $250 per session. I do offer a limited number of sliding scale arrangements starting at $175 on an as-needed income basis. Fee will be determined in our initial consultation.

  • Sessions are 50 minutes and we will find a time to meet at least once, if not, (preferably) twice a week. This will be also determined in our initial sessions.

  • I am currently offer both in-person and virtual therapy (California + worldwide). My office is located in downtown San Luis Obispo, CA. For virtual therapy, I use a secure videoconferencing platform and your confidentiality will be held in the upmost regard.

If you are interested in working together, please click the button below to complete the contact form and I will be in touch:

FAQ

  • The initial consultation is a brief check-in where I will gather some background information to assess if I can assist you effectively. It’s also an opportunity for you to ask questions and get a sense of my working style. If you have any concerns about starting therapy, please let me know so we can discuss them. We’ll also cover logistical details such as fees and session frequency. If we decide to proceed, we will schedule a consistent time to begin our work together. If not, I’m happy to provide referrals to others who may be a better fit.

  • My standard rate for therapy is $250 per session.

    That said, I recognize that financial circumstances vary, and I am open to discussing a fee that is sustainable for you on an ongoing basis. My goal is to earn a living wage while remaining accessible to a diverse range of clients. I invite each client to consider a fee that reflects both their financial reality and the depth of work we are engaging in together.

    For those with greater financial flexibility, paying the full rate supports my ability to offer reduced fees to individuals who face structural and economic barriers to accessing care. This approach helps ensure that therapy remains available to those who might not otherwise be able to afford it. If you would like to discuss sliding scale options, please reach out, and we can explore what feels both fair and feasible.

  • The initial sessions focus on determining if we are a good fit and how I can best support you. During this time, you’ll have the opportunity to share your story and what has led you to therapy. We’ll explore the issues you want to address and establish a mutual understanding of the therapy’s goals and how to achieve them. Our collaboration will help us find the most effective way to work together.

  • Every session and every patient is unique.

    However, I want you to know that you will be encouraged to speak freely, and I will help you explore the underlying meanings behind your thoughts and feelings. Nothing is off-limits. As we work together, we’ll begin to notice that the struggles you face outside therapy often emerge within the therapeutic relationship. This is because our earliest relationships shape how we understand ourselves and interact with others. Since this relational template is deeply ingrained, it can be challenging to recognize on our own. By putting words to our present experiences, we can explore new ways of relating and being understood. Through this process of self-awareness and collaborative repair, we work towards feeling more integrated and whole.

  • I’ve chosen not to accept insurance to prioritize the quality and integrity of the work I do with my clients. Insurance often imposes restrictions on the type and length of treatment, which can limit the depth and flexibility needed for meaningful, lasting change. It also requires a mental health diagnosis to justify treatment, which may not align with the complexities of a person’s experiences or their goals for therapy. By working outside of the constraints of insurance, I can focus fully on providing care that is tailored to each individual’s unique needs, honoring the time and space necessary for a thoughtful and collaborative process.

    However, I am happy to offer you a monthly super bill for you to submit to your insurance company if your policy provides out-of-network coverage (Most PPO's do so check your policy!)

    If you have insurance and would like to seek reimbursement, it may be helpful for you to ask the following questions to your insurance company before starting our work together:

    * Do I have mental health insurance benefits?

    * Does my policy offer out-of-network coverage? What percentage of my bill will be reimbursed from an out-of-network provider?

    * Do I have a deductible for mental health?

    * How many sessions are covered per calendar year?

    * Do I have a co-payment?

  • The relationship between therapist and patient is crucial, and finding the right match is essential for effective therapy. Sometimes, it takes a bit of trial and error to find a therapist who truly fits your needs. Over the years, I’ve worked with many patients who have faced challenges with previous therapists for various reasons. If you’ve been disappointed with other treatments, I’d be happy to discuss whether working together might be a good fit for you.

  • Often when we think of psychoanalytic psychotherapy, we imagine Freud smoking a cigar while a patient lies on the couch. Although Freud made significant contributions to our understanding of the human mind, psychoanalysis has evolved considerably over the past 150 years. Its transformative quality lies in its depth and focus on long-term change: by uncovering unconscious thoughts and feelings, it promotes profound self-understanding and emotional growth, leading to lasting transformation in a person’s emotional life and relationships.

  • Choosing to prioritize your mental health can be a huge undertaking. You may have all sorts of thoughts and feelings about the fee, the time commitment, and what may be asked of you. I remember being nervous too when I first started. However, we never quite know where the process will take us until we start. And the thing about psychotherapy is that you won't have to figure it out alone. You are welcome to reach out with any questions by completing the form above and I will get back to you soon.