FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Logistics

Can you speak to me before committing to therapy?

Absolutely, and I highly recommend this. When you book a free 15-minute phone consultation with me, you have an opportunity to ask me questions that can help you determine whether I am the right fit for you. The consultation also provides me an opportunity to ensure that you’re the right fit for me in terms of presenting issue and level of care.

Do I offer in-office or online appointments?

My practice is hybrid. Three days a week, I offer in-person therapy to adults at my Walnut Creek office, which is a 20-minute walk from BART. My office offers free parking. I provide telehealth appointments to adults who are physically located in California.

Can I meet with you virtually if you’re not physically located in California?

No, I can’t because I am only licensed in California. If you’re physically located in a different state or country, you will need to locate a therapist who is licensed in that locale.

Can you meet with me once monthly or biweekly?

Many therapy practices require clients to commit to weekly sessions. In the past, I have met with clients who asked to meet biweekly, and I have consistently found that their progress is considerably slower than those who meet with me weekly. Meeting weekly allows therapeutic skills and momentum to build. Once the presenting issue has been resolved, clients can then move to biweekly sessions and begin to transition out of therapy.

How do I schedule clients?

To create a sense of containment and consistency for both clients and myself, I ask new clients to choose a consistent weekly time slot. I find that moving people to different time slots regularly is unpractical as there aren’t always alternative time slots that work for both me and the client, creating large gaps between sessions. If a rare work or personal event pops up, I can often switch people to another time slot for that week, but it requires flexibility around the time of day and a willingness to meet virtually. I don’t hold time slots that are not being regularly used due to repeated cancellations.

Do I work with kids?

I work with adults only. If you’re seeking therapy for your minor child, I recommend that you search for a child therapist. If you’re located in California, Little Dove Counseling offers child therapy, teen therapy, adoption therapy and more virtually and at their Walnut Creek office.

Do I offer couples therapy?

No, I don’t. If you’re searching for a couples therapist, I highly recommend finding a therapist who specializes in it. Generalist therapists tend to work with a handful of presenting issues, opposed to having 2-3 specialties. While some presenting issues can be adequately addressed by a generalist, others, such as trauma or couples therapy, really require advanced training in those areas and a generous amount of hands-on clinical experience. You can start your search at The Gottman Institute’s California therapist directory and Terry Real’s California Relational Life Directory.

About Therapy

How long will therapy take?

Since everyone’s severity of symptoms, presenting issues, personal histories, current life stressors, and internal resources vary, there is no one answer to this question. Therapy must be customized to the individual, based on their unique needs and circumstances. People who have a minor presenting issue or little symptomology often require far less time than those who have complex presenting issues such as chronic depression or complex trauma. I have found that at a minimum, people meet with me for 6 months. For people who have chronic or complex cases, it requires a longer-term commitment.

What is the therapy process like?

In a sense, the therapeutic process can be thought of as meeting with a personal trainer. Like fitness training, therapy is a collaborative effort and it’s an active process. It requires the client to consistently engage in interventions, and the therapist to properly guide and support the client through the process. If you work out twice a month, you’re unlikely to see much ‘definition’. Therapy works similarly.

My Scope of Practice

Which presenting issues have I worked with?

I work with people who have experience trauma, depression, and anxiety symptoms. I have sufficient knowledge and experience working with narcissistic abuse, challenging family dynamics, limerence, romantic affairs, difficult bosses or workplaces, men’s issues, parental alienation, exercising healthier relational boundaries, high-achiever chronic stress, preparing for divorce, adjusting to life after divorce, social avoidance and isolation, lack of self-esteem or sense of self, and more.

Do I prescribe medication?

I do not. You should contact a nurse practitioner, medical doctor, or psychiatrist to discuss whether you can benefit from psychiatric medications. If you need a referral, I am happy to discuss options with you.

About Trauma Therapy

How are trauma therapists different from generalist therapists?

Both generalist and trauma therapists are licensed clinicians who completed a masters-level degree. Trauma therapists, however, go on to complete advanced trauma-training in evidence-based modalities, such as EMDR, and how trauma impacts the brain and behavior. Working with trauma requires thorough knowledge and training that takes some time to acquire.

Sometimes, generalist therapists accept clients who are not within the scope of their practice, such as clients who meet the criteria for a trauma or dissociative disorder. This can be problematic for clients as they can be retraumatized or feel demoralized when therapy does not seem to produce the improvements they were expecting.

Why choose a trauma therapist over a life coach?

In recent years, PTSD and C-PTSD have become popular buzzwords on social media, presenting new economic opportunities for non-clinicians such as influencers and life coaches. In California, life coaches are prohibited from practicing within the scope of practice of therapists. Despite this, some life coaching blurs the line between coaching and clinical intervention.

While some life coaches have a wellness or somatic certification, the barrier of entry to coaching is far lower than those for licensed therapists. For instance, as a licensed clinical social worker in California, I was required to complete a bachelors (psychology), a masters degree (social work), two mandatory behavioral health internships while in gradate school, an additional 3000+ hours of supervised clinical experience post-graduate, and two exams that were required for licensure. (This was before completing advanced trainings.) Coaches don’t have to meet any of these requirements.

In the state of California, life coaches are not regulated by a board, and therefore don’t have governing ethical standards and other professional ‘guardrails’. Licensed clinicians, in contrast, are governed by their respective boards, and the boards offer consumers professional organizations in which to report harmful clinical treatment.

Insurance

Do I accept insurance?

If you would like to bill your insurance, I can provide a super bill (a receipt) that you can submit to your insurance company for partial reimbursement. I provide these once monthly.

Will my insurance company reimburse me?

Every insurance company’s reimbursement eligibility requirements vary. You will need to call the customer service number on the back of your insurance card to ask a representative what your particular policy covers. Most insurance companies require “medical necessity” to use benefits. Medical necessity means you meet the criteria of a clinical diagnosis, thus requiring clinical intervention. Most insurance companies do not reimburse people for self-growth therapy or couples therapy.

If you don’t meet the criteria of a clinical diagnosis, can I give you a diagnosis anyway so you can be reimbursed?

No, I can’t. That is committing insurance fraud. If you don’t meet the criteria of a diagnosis, you can use your HSA or FSA to cover sessions.

How much will my insurance company reimburse me?

Every insurance company’s reimbursement rates vary. Your insurance company can provide you with further details based on your specific policy. I have commonly seen reimbursement rates between 40-60%, and have less commonly heard of 100%. Often, insurance companies require members to reach their out-of-network deductible before providing reimbursement.

I highly recommend contacting your insurance provider to determine their policies before starting therapy, so you have accurate expectations. People who don’t seek this information in advance may be tempted to end therapy prematurely after realizing what their policy covers and how soon it will cover it.

Are there any benefits to not using insurance?

Paying out-of-pocket for therapy presents several benefits: a diagnosis isn’t required to justify therapy; the duration of your care isn’t established by an insurance company that may not be able to appreciate your specific needs; confidential information related to your care isn’t shared with an insurance company.

Fees & Policies

What are my fees per session?

For individuals, my rate is $200 for a 50-minute psychotherapy session. When available, my sliding scale rate for those who need it is $185 for a 50-minute session.

What is my cancellation policy?

I have a 24-hour advanced notice policy. Cancellations that provide less notice are billed at the full rate.

Do I charge you if I cancel an appointment?

Definitely not.