Hi, I'm Bayla.
I support you to use your strengths to make the changes needed to access the life you are determined to live.
Hi, I'm Bayla.
I support you to use your strengths to make the changes needed to access the life you are determined to live.
My Approach
Most of us love stories of adversity. The entire entertainment business is built on a formula of terrible things happening. We think “how in the world could anyone survive THAT?!” and then we are glued to the screen to find out.
Time and time again, I have seen my clients grow in their confidence to take on the slings and arrows of life using methods that work for them. If you are ready to put in the work, I am excited to see what we can do together.
Doing something for your mental health through therapy is just as good as going to the gym for your physical health. I've always been open-minded, so opening my mind up to therapy never really was a problem. It was getting my foot through the door.
—Kirk Hammett, Metallica
Maybe you’ve had a great experience with therapy in the past, maybe not so great, so how will you know if I’m the right person to help you make the changes you are ready to make now?
I will encourage and support you to work on building new skills in between our meetings. The risks that you take to develop new ways of seeing the world and yourself can have a huge impact on creating a life that has meaning and joy. Also, with your consent, I may challenge you to take these risks. Our “go to” ways of being in the world are often as comfortable as they are painful. It is my intention to co-create a safe environment where we can look at the hard things together and figure out a way forward that respects your vulnerability and believes in your strengths.
Does this sound like you? Then you will likely benefit from working with me.
- You have achieved quite a lot of what you wanted in life, but old ways are no longer bearing fruit, you want more out of life and are ready to go outside your comfort zone to get it.
- You have done trauma therapy, but old symptoms are coming back and you are ready to tackle what is left unresolved.
- You have a very difficult time being as kind to yourself as they are towards others and are ready to stop beating yourself up in order to be successful.
Looking for my Credentials?
Residency: Alameda Medical Center – Department of Psychiatry Post-doctoral Fellowship Pain Management and Functional Restoration Clinic at Highland Hospital; Acute Rehabilitation Psychology Clinic at Fairmont Hospital
Internship: Bay Area Addiction and Research Treatment (BAART) Community Mental Health Program
Masters in Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing-Playwriting Concentration: San Francisco State University
BA in Psychology: Barnard College, Columbia University
I also have a background in the arts. My plays have been produced in cities across the country and internationally. I have worked in production at The Cosby Show, in casting at the Tribeca Film Center and wrote for the queer PBS show “In the Life.”
Through the lens of IFS, the mind is a community of “parts of self.” Understanding and having some control about how these parts function together can be a source of healing.
Somatic Experiencing for Pain (Peter Levine)
Peter Levine’s Somatic Experiencing work focuses on resolving trauma by helping individuals process and release pent-up physical and emotional energy stored in the body, promoting healing through bodily awareness and regulation.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on the way thoughts impact feelings and behavior. Our ability to change those thoughts, allows better control over feelings and behaviors.
Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET)
Narrative Exposure Therapy provides a structure through which clients can process traumatic memories and establish a clear, coherent narrative of their lives.
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP)
Certificate in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies & Research from the California Institute of Integral Studies and specialized training in ketamine-assisted psychotherapy at the Healing Realms Center and the Polaris Insight Center.
Frequently Asked Questions
My fee is $300 per 50-minute session.
I am in-network with Medicare only. I have a limited number of Medicare slots and they are often full, but I welcome you to check to see if I have an opening.
If your insurance plan offers out-of-network coverage for mental health benefits, you may be able to submit an invoice and receive partial reimbursement for the cost of our sessions. When looking into this with your insurance company, be sure to ask if there is a deductible you must meet, and if there is a copay or percentage of the cost that you will be responsible for.
I will meet with you weekly (unless you have an unexpected conflict come up and need to reschedule.)
I offer online sessions to anyone in the state of California. In-person sessions are available in my Oakland, California office for Ketamine-Assisted Therapy and individual sessions, if desired.
We can usually tell within two to four sessions if the therapy looks promising. Some people meet their therapy goals in a few months. I also have clients who have been working with me for extended lengths of time who continue to see benefits from ongoing therapy. It is not unusual for people to leave and then return as new issues arise. During the course of therapy I check in to see if we are on track. If we are not, we will discuss what makes sense at that time.
Often in our work together I will invite you to try new skills in between our sessions. This will be a co-created experience that is both gentle and brave. If you are resistant, this provides important information that we will process to find out what is getting in the way.
