In short, yes! It’s a difficult thing to put yourself out there with the pain that your concerns bring up; however, avoidance of that discomfort and pain isn’t going to help you in the long term. As you may have already experienced, emotional and mental distress don’t just go away on their own. Typically, putting it off can risk it becoming worse and unnecessarily impacting more areas of your life. Additionally, the concept of “readiness” is tricky because often we don’t feel fully ready to do something that we know will be tough and uncomfortable. Sometimes, we just have to do it because we know it will be helpful in the long term, even if we don’t feel “fully ready” now. I know it’s a lot easier said than done, but that’s where us professionals come in to provide you with support.

People seek out therapy for many reasons. Maybe it’s difficulty managing intense emotions, relationship issues, body image, feeling overwhelmed, or just feeling “stuck” in life. Even though people may not talk about it publicly, The majority of people will seek counseling at least once in their lifetime. If you are here, even considering therapy, then that’s a huge first step! Investing in your mental and emotional health is essential to a well-balanced and healthy life. The guidance of a professional can provide new perspectives and insight that you may have never thought about before. We see medical professionals and do a variety of things to maintain our physical well-being; our mental and emotional health deserve the same!   

This is a common feeling people struggle with when seeking out therapy, especially if it’s for the first time. I like to share the following to address this concern:

“Imagine you’re holding a glass of water. If you hold it for a minute, it’s no problem. If you hold it for an hour, you’ll have an ache in your arm. Hold it for a day and your arm will feel numb and paralyzed. The weight of the glass doesn’t change, but the longer you hold it, the heavier it becomes. The stress and worries in life are like the glass of water. Think about them for a while, nothing happens. Think about them all day long and you’ll feel paralyzed and incapable of doing anything. It is possible to put the glass down, it is possible to let the glass be, it is possible to empty the glass.”

In my opinion, it is best to seek professional help if you are in any way concerned about your daily functioning, life balance, and/or general well-being. Emotional and mental health are essential to healthy functioning and prioritizing this is important. Even if you don’t feel “that bad yet”, it is best to be preventive and address concerns sooner than later.

Therapy doesn’t have to last for months or years, it could take just a few sessions (or even just one!) for you to get what you need.

Yes! I love working with people who are starting therapy or counseling for the first time. Over the years, a majority of clients I’ve worked with had never had any therapy experience before meeting me.

Starting this process can be overwhelming, nerve-wracking, exciting, and confusing all at the same time. I appreciate being able to be part of your journey and will work with you, at your pace, to help you feel as comfortable as you can as we move forward.

I am experienced at balancing the pace, process, and approach with “first-timers” and look forward to working with you!

My style is compassionate, client-focused, and action-oriented. I will work with you to determine the best plan for you, which meets your goals and personality style! Therapy is not a “one size fits all” service and I look forward to learning about who you are and using techniques that will help you get where YOU want to be. For some this may mean more talk-focused work, for others it may be more about skills practice, psychoeducation, and/or action planning in session. Whatever it may be, we will take the time to figure out what you need and tailor our work to fit you.

I am a licensed clinical psychologist in California and Illinois. To be a licensed psychologist in CA and IL you must have completed the following: 1) A doctorate degree in psychology from an APA-accredited school, 2) 4,000 hours of professional experience supervised by a licensed psychologist, 3) Pass the National Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (all states) and the California Psychology Law and Ethics Examination (for CA licensing), 4) Pass a national background check, and 5) Maintain continuing professional education requirements every two years. Further training was completed by tailoring professional experience and supervision to my specialty areas.

*APA: American Psychological Association.

Although these terms are sometimes used interchangeably, there are significant differences in training and clinical experience for each.

 A psychologist has a doctoral degree (PsyD, PhD, or EdD) in psychology, which is the study of the mind and behaviors. In general, PsyD focuses more on clinical training, PhD focuses more on research, and EdD focuses on the educational field. Graduate training is a minimum of 5 years and includes at least 3 years of clinical experience, 2 years of dissertation research, and 1 year of full time residency (matched in a national process). Training is focused in treatment methods, psychological theory, and behavioral therapy. Licensed psychologists are qualified to do counseling and psychotherapy, perform psychological testing, and provide treatment for mental disorders. 

A counselor/therapist typically has a master’s degree (MA) in psychology, counseling, or a related field. Graduate training usually is about 2 years. To be licensed, usually 2 additional years’ experience working with a qualified mental health professional after graduate school is required. A mental health counselor is qualified to evaluate and treat mental problems by providing counseling or psychotherapy.

Regardless of what type of mental health professional you choose to see, it is important to find the right fit for you! This starts with the professional’s clinical training and experience, areas of specialization, range of treatment they can provide, and overall how comfortable you feel working with them. Usually, the best first step is to contact the individual you’re interested in working with via message, email, or a phone call!

Therapy is an investment in yourself, your relationships, and your overall life. This investment goes a long way and impacts almost all parts of your well-being when you take what we work on in sessions and apply it outside of our meetings as well. My rate for individual therapy is $200 per 50-minute session. I have limited sliding scale availability if finances are a concern for you. 

To learn more about my specific rates for different services please visit the Rates page.

This is a common question clinicians get asked. Due to multiple reasons, which you can learn more about on the Rates page, I do not take insurance. I work with a lot of individuals that do not meet a medical diagnosis for a mental health disorder and this is one of the reasons that has influenced my decision to not take insurance, as it would not cover this type of work. 

I am happy to provide a Superbill receipt if you have any out of network benefits. Please visit the Rates page to learn more.

It is difficult to predict an exact timeline for therapy. It will differ for each person, depending on personal goals, readiness for therapy, & current concerns. We will assess your custom plan as you progress, making any changes as needed. Sometimes we may start with a specific goal in mind; however, in the process other areas of interest may come up that you were previously unaware of. I am client-focused, with you being the priority, and will tailor our approach accordingly!

Over the years, I have realized that different people benefit from different approaches, and this is why I’ve included services that are more time-limited, solution-focused, and brief in addition to traditional therapy. Some people have more specific, short-term goals and others have broader areas of interest they want to focus on. We will work together to determine the best plan for you.

It is normal to feel uncertain about online services. I have years of experience with online/virtual therapy and research supports that online therapy works! Evidence shows that virtual sessions are just as effective as in-person sessions for most individuals. Health and safety is one reason that online therapy may be a better option than in-person services currently; however, there are other reasons that you may prefer to do online therapy as well. 

Online therapy removes some barriers such as traveling, time restrictions, and location. For instance, if you live anywhere in the states of California or Illinois, we can work together! Also, you don’t have to limit yourself to one or the other. Often, I have clients who prefer a hybrid of online and in-person sessions, which allows them more flexibility in scheduling and availability.

I have had many clients who were initially hesitant to do online therapy and then ended up loving it. Please contact me for more information on online services!

The best way to schedule an appointment is to call me at 949.216.0123. You can also email me at drjaglan@embracepsych.com or message me via the contact form. Usually, I will be in touch within 24hrs. Please visit the Contact page for more information!

I am mindful of concerns regarding Covid-19 and as a practitioner in a healthcare setting, I would like to reassure you that I am committed to the health and safety of you and others. I actively follow state and local guidelines both personally and professionally.

I am currently offering online/virtual appointments in place of in-person appointments. As regulations and guidelines are often changing, it is best to call me at 949.216.0123  or email me at drjaglan@embracepsych.com for more information on current availability of in-person sessions.

Please feel free to contact me directly with any questions you have. I look forward to hearing from you!

It takes courage to recognize that additional help is needed and to try something different than you’re used to. Take a moment and appreciate your bravery, this is you trying something new, something you may never have thought about before! I look forward to being a part of your process, helping you embrace life’s challenges, using your personal strengths and resources to move in the direction of desired growth.