Do you offer therapy in person? What about virtual? Which one is better?

I am primarily an in person therapist and I have a long history of giving and receiving in person therapy. I feel that the therapeutic experience is more impactful and rich in a face-to-face setting and it is easier to engage and connect. That being said, I also completely understand that in person is simply not possible for many people due to distance and timing. I do offer the option to meet virtually to any client. There are certain clinical situations where I could require in person meetings with an adolescent client. I will say I have had many fully virtual clients and have found our work to be rich and meaningful as well. 

If you live within driving distance of my office in Pasadena and have the ability, I encourage prospective clients to consider meeting in person. We could also have a hybrid relationship depending on your needs. I do feel that my clients who come in benefit from having their own calming and private space to do this work and then return to their lives afterwards. It is up to you- I am flexible do not judge either way!

What are your fees? 

My fees are $215 for a 50 minute session and $90 for a 60 minute group session. For phone calls and check ins, they are complimentary for the first 20 minutes. If we need to talk more in depth, I recommend scheduling a 30 minute ($140) or 50 minute session.

I offer sliding scale rates for those who are experiencing financial hardship. Please discuss this with me if you feel that you qualify. My clients who pay my full fee make it possible for me to offer a wide sliding scale to our community.

Do you take insurance?

I am considered an out-of-network provider and do not bill your insurance. However, if you have a PPO plan, you may be able to get partial reimbursement of your therapy costs which is a great way to make therapy more affordable to you. I can provide you with superbills each month which you can then submit online to your insurance company and they would issue you a reimbursement check directly. Check with your plan to determine the percentage reimbursement you qualify for.

What is your cancellation policy?

I require 24 hours notice in order to cancel an appointment without charge. If something comes up for you, I can offer you reschedule options within the same week. If we are unable to reschedule then I will still need to charge the cancellation fee which is the full fee for our time.

Can we start out therapy every-other-week?

It’s rare for me to offer new clients every-other-week time slots and encourage starting weekly. Starting therapy with someone new requires time to get to know each other and build our relationship. I also really need this time with you to understand the challenges you are having and have the opportunity to conceptualize what we will do together. Spacing this crucial process out to every other week really slows everything down and makes it harder to get going. Think of it this way- if weekly therapy is at the 100% level, every other week is at the 50% level. When we start out at 50% it will make both of us have a harder time seeing where this is going. Once you’ve been in treatment for a while and have been able to make progress and changes in your life and are meeting your goals, we can discuss every other week therapy as a "maintenance mode” to help you stay at the level you’ve achieved and to keep the momentum that we’ve already built going.

How likely are you to cooperate with police, ICE (immigration and customs enforcement) or other entities concerning my private therapy content?

That is an excellent question and I take your privacy and security very seriously. Along with all other therapists and human services professionals I am a mandated reporter which means there are a limited number of circumstances in which I would be required to report on something that is shared with me in therapy. They are:

1. Reports of child and elder abuse, including other minors in the community. This includes all forms of physical and sexual abuse. Teens exchanging nudes is considered child pornography and this is reportable as well.

2. If it is reported to me that you are planning on seriously harming another person I am required to notify the person in danger in accordance with the Tarasoff duty to warn law.

3. If I believe that you are planning to commit suicide and are legitimately a threat to your own life, I would need to call 988 which is a crisis mental health hotline to ensure in your safety.

These are the only three situations in which I am required to break confidentiality. Please feel free to talk to me about this during our consultation call or sessions if you have any questions or concerns.