FAQs

Couple or family therapy: 

55-minute sessions are $225

80-minute sessions are $345

Individual therapy: 

50-minute sessions are $200

75-minute sessions are $315

Payment may be made by credit or debit card payment, which is due at or before the time of our session. Typically, credit or debit card payment is set up via IVY PAY, a credit/debit card payment service specifically designed for licensed mental health therapists which is HIPAA compliant. IVY PAY is a convenient payment option which securely records a debit/credit card and allows for automatic payment prior to our sessions. Aka, payment is super easy.

I can only work with clients that physically reside either in California, Florida, or Vermont. I am licensed in California (License No. LMFT87205) and am a registered telehealth provider in Florida (Registration No. TPMC722).  I am also a Vermont interim telehealth provider (Registration
License No.
100.0134119TELE)

I am considered an out-of-network provider, which means that I am not contracted with any insurance company. If you have a PPO that includes behavioral or mental health insurance benefits, you are likely eligible to submit a claim for reimbursement for out-of-network services. However, I cannot guarantee any rate of reimbursement. If requested, I will provide you with a “superbill” at the end of the month for all services rendered during that month, which you may submit to your insurance for reimbursement. Please note that almost all insurance companies or other third party reimbursement plans require you to authorize me to provide a formal diagnosis of a mental health disorder (which is one of the many reasons I don’t insurance directly).

If you want to know more about what questions to ask, see the answer to the question “what should I ask my insurance company” below. Please note, that if you do request a superbill for potential reimbursement, it must contain a mental health diagnosis code.

I do not take insurance for a variety of reasons. One reason is that insurance companies require that I assign you a “Diagnosis Code” which becomes a part of your permanent medical record. Some people feel uncomfortable with this, as it may impact them in the future. I also don’t believe that you should have to have a diagnosable condition in order to engage in therapy.  

Insurance companies can get too involved for my comfort with a client’s treatment. They will often require that I send them some information about what happens during our sessions in order to justify payment. They may also put stipulations on how many sessions you may receive, whether or not it is in your best interest. I want to have the freedom to work with my clients in the way that is best for them, not the insurance company. 

Lastly, receiving payments from insurance companies can be burdensome and time-consuming, which means less time for me to do the work I love helping my clients. Not have to manage insurance paperwork or claims means that I have more time for continuing education classes, reading up on the latest in relationship literature, and self-care, so I can be the best version of myself for my clients.

Ultimately, I prefer to work with clients outside of insurance which allows us to maintain your full privacy and puts us in control of your services.

Some questions you should consider asking your insurance provider to learn more about your out-of-network benefits include: 

Do I have out-of-network mental or behavioral health coverage? 
Do I need to meet an out-of-network deductible? If so, what is it? 
At what rate will I be reimbursed? 
Is there an annual limit on the number of sessions of the total amount reimbursable? If so, what is the limit? 
What is the process for getting reimbursed?

I accept a very limited number of sliding scale clients (also referred to as “reduced fee”) on my caseload at any given time. I offer sliding scale payments for clients with a demonstrable financial need to make therapy more affordable by offering a reduced rate. If you would like to begin therapy with me, but the cost of my regular fees is a barrier, please contact me to see if I have an opening for sliding scale. If no spaces are available, I am happy to place you on a waitlist for when the spot does become available or I can provide you referrals to other therapists that may offer a reduced rate.

Payment may be made by credit or debit card payment, which is due at or before the time of our session. Typically, credit or debit card payment is set up via IvyPay, a credit/debit card payment service specifically designed for licensed mental health therapists which is HIPAA compliant. IvyPay is a convenient payment option which securely records a debit/credit card and allows for automatic payment prior to our sessions. Aka, payment is super easy.

Sessions are exclusively held virtually via a HIPAA compliant video platform, which means sessions can take place anywhere that you have a strong internet connection. I have had clients meet with me while they were at work, in their (parked) car, and in the PJs on their couch. Virtual sessions also offer us a wide range of flexibility with scheduling and allows me to offer evening and weekend availability.

Couples sessions run for 60-minutes and individual sessions run for 50-minutes. Longer or shorter sessions may be arranged based on individual needs.

I generally recommend initially meeting once a week. This allows us to gain momentum so you can experience progress more quickly. Weekly sessions also provides enough time for you to process what we talk about during our session and sufficient time to implement any skills we discuss. As you make progress, bi-weekly or even monthly sessions may be more appropriate. Since there is no “one size fits all” in therapy, we will discuss what treatment options are best for your specific needs.

Once you book a session time, I reserve that time specifically for you. I require at least 24-hours notice to reschedule or cancel a session. If you cancel or reschedule with less than 24-hours notice, you will still be responsible and charged for the full session fee.

Your session time is dedicated and reserved for you. If you are late for a session you may join it at any time within your designated time period, but our session will still end at the scheduled time and you will still be responsible for the entirety of the regular session fee.

I do not offer in-person sessions. All sessions are conducted via a secure encrypted HIPAA compliant video platform. My clients love the convenience of being able to have sessions wherever they feel most comfortable and not having to fight traffic to make it to an office on time for our session. It also means there is less time wasted commuting and juggling with your schedule. Plus, online therapy has been thoroughly researched and is shown to be just as effective as in-person therapy.

Yes! Online therapy (referred to as “teletherapy”) has been heavily researched and studies show that it is just as effective as in-person therapy. We still get to see each other and personally connect; just over video. There are also unique benefits to online therapy, many of which my clients have told me they appreciate, such as not having to deal with traffic or parking, not having additional commute time, more flexibility with scheduling, and being able to have sessions wherever is most convenient for them.

If you are wondering whether online therapy is a good fit for you, let’s schedule a free 15-minute consultation and you can decide for yourself. Many people are pleasantly surprised at how much they prefer it to in-person therapy.

Great question! I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT87205) in California. I received my Master’s of Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Southern California in 2012. Before that, I received by Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Social Behavior from the University of California, Irvine.

After receiving my master’s degree, I completed over 3000 hours of supervised work with clients pre-licensure and passed both the clinical exam and the law and ethics exam required in California. I have years of experience working with individuals, couples, and families.

I am also a licensed, non-practicing attorney and graduated from law school in the top 10% of my class. While this experience isn’t direct therapeutic experience, there is a lot of psychology and conflict resolution skills that go into working as a lawyer.

Confidentiality is the bedrock of the relationship between a client and therapist. Successful therapy requires a safe environment for you to feel comfortable opening up in order to address the underlying issues you are facing. Anything discussed during our session is not shared with anyone outside what is outlined in my Informed Consent, which all clients are required to agree to and sign before starting therapy. There may be times when you want me to share information with someone else, such as your physician. I can only share information with others with your consent, which requires you to sign a release of information.

State law and professional ethics require me to maintain confidentiality about what we discuss, except in a few specific instances:
If there is any suspected abuse or neglect of children, elders, or dependent adults, which may require a report to the appropriate protective services agency and/or law enforcement.
If you are in immediate danger of seriously harming yourself or someone else.

You can verify my license in California at https://search.dca.ca.gov/. 

You can verify my Florida registration at https://www.flhealthsource.gov/telehealth/

.You can verify my Vermont license registration at https://secure.professionals.vermont.gov

You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost.

Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.

• You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees.
• Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 business day before your medical service or item.
• You can also ask your healthcare provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service.
• If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.
• Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate.

For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call (800) 368-1019.

There is a potential opportunity to receive free therapy sessions via participating in my podcast project. If you are interested in receiving therapy at no cost please click here to learn more. Currently there is a wait list to participate; submitting an inquiry does not guarantee participation.