FAQs

What is your style of working?

I am a neurodiversity-affirming psychotherapist specializing in anxiety disorders, OCD and relationship support.  I believe that the most essential element is that we connect on a personal level.  While I am a specialist working in several clinical areas, I deeply respect my clients and I believe that they are the experts in their lives. I enjoy working collaboratively with clients.  We will work together to set the pace, and collaborate on a treatment plan.

Another important component of my approach to my work is to acknowledge that we exist within a context of culture and environment, and have experiences and knowledge that affects how we feel. I will be interested to hear about how you interact with “systems” (school, work, relationships, etc.) you are a part of. I am curious about how you identify yourself, and the communities you are engaged in. It will be important for me to hear about the things that are working, as well as areas that are causing distress. Additionally, I recognize that we are not all treated fairly or equally, and things like one’s gender presentation or race, a student’s learning style or invisible disability can impact how one experiences the world. I believe difference is essential and beautiful, and I am supportive of finding new ways of being. I think everyone deserves to be able to occupy their own unique space in the world, free from overwhelming anxiety.

How long can I expect it will take to see changes?

That depends!  The short answer is that the more work you are willing to do outside of session, the faster things begin to shift.  Often times the “results” are visible and recognizable very quickly. Sometimes it takes longer to put some of the pieces together in a way that makes sense “in the real world.” In fact, how things are progressing is something I like to discuss in our sessions. We will track progress every time we meet.

What do you think about medication?

I think medication can be extremely helpful and can make a significant difference in some lives. I do not believe that everyone needs medication, and I would defer to a physician to make the determination, but we can certainly discuss it, if it seems like something that may be helpful.

Do you work with children?

I have worked with adolescents for many years, and they are inspiring. I prefer to work with age 12 or older for individual therapy. However, if I am working with a family to implement SPACE, children can be very young.  

What are your hours?

I am available for appointments on weekends, weekdays and weekday evenings.  I work remotely and in person, for residents of the Oakland/Berkeley area.

Relationships FAQs

How is this different from regular couples therapy?

General couples therapy focuses mostly on communication skills, which helps many couples. This practice adds depth in specific areas where communication advice alone falls short: OCD and anxiety in relationships, ADHD and neurotype differences between partners.  

What is relationship OCD, and how is it treated?

Relationship OCD, sometimes called ROCD, involves persistent, distressing doubt and anxiety focused on a relationship or partner, often driving reassurance-seeking, mental reviewing, and checking. It can masquerade as ordinary insecurity or incompatibility. With specific advanced training in OCD and anxiety disorders, Sonia can help identify when this is what is happening and work with the underlying pattern directly, rather than treating it as a communication issue it will not respond to.

Do you work with neurodivergent couples?

Yes, and this is a particular focus. When partners have different neurotypes, ADHD, autism, or other differences in how you each process the world, the friction that results is often misread as not caring or as being controlling. The work helps both of you understand the real differences underneath, in a way that is affirming rather than pathologizing, so you can navigate them as a team.

Is this in person or telehealth?

Sessions are held by telehealth across California, which makes it easy to meet regardless of where in the state you live, and the practice is based in Oakland. Sonia has limited availability for in person sessions in the Oakland area.  

Do you work with LGBTQ+ and non-traditional relationships?

Absolutely. The practice is queer-affirming and welcomes couples and partners of every configuration, including non-monogamous and other non-traditional relationship structures. You will be met with language and understanding that fits your actual relationship, not a one-size-fits-all assumption.

SPACE FAQs

How can therapy work if my child never attends?

Because much of what maintains childhood anxiety happens at home, in the daily interactions between parent and child, not in a therapy office. When parents change how they respond, reducing accommodation and offering steady support, the child's anxiety has room to shrink. Yale research found children whose parents did SPACE improved as much as children who received individual CBT directly, without the child attending sessions at all. For children who refuse therapy, this is often the most effective path available.

Is SPACE just telling me to stop coddling my child?

No, and that framing misses the entire point. SPACE is not tough love, and it is not about withdrawing warmth or support. You reduce specific accommodations while increasing genuine, verbal support for how hard the anxiety feels. The message your child receives is not "figure it out yourself." It is "I know this is hard, and I know you can do it, and I am right here." Acceptance and confidence together, never one at the expense of the other.

What is family accommodation?

Family accommodation refers to the changes parents make in their own behavior to help a child avoid or reduce anxiety: giving repeated reassurance, sleeping in the child's room, speaking for them, helping them avoid feared situations, or participating in OCD rituals. Nearly all parents of anxious children accommodate, because it relieves a child's distress in the moment. Over time, though, it tends to reinforce the anxiety, which is why easing it is central to SPACE.

Does SPACE work for OCD?

Yes. SPACE is used for childhood OCD, where family accommodation is often especially heavy because relatives get drawn into reassurance and rituals. It can be used on its own or alongside Exposure and Response Prevention, the frontline OCD treatment. When a child is willing to do ERP, SPACE supports that work by reducing accommodation at home. When a child refuses, SPACE offers a way to make progress anyway.

How long does SPACE take?

It is short-term, structured work. In the Yale study, the parent sessions ran about twelve weeks, though the exact length varies with the family and the situation. The focus throughout stays on a small number of concrete, workable changes rather than an open-ended process.

My child's anxiety feels severe. Is SPACE still appropriate?

SPACE helps many families with significant anxiety, but every situation is different, and some circumstances, such as co-occurring depression or safety concerns, need to be considered in how and when the work proceeds. The right first step is a conversation about your specific situation, so any plan fits your child and your family.