I do not accept insurance for many reasons some of which are due to lack of privacy/confidentiality as well as insurance companies having restrictions on who can receive care as well as what kind of care they can receive.

For those who have a PPO insurance, it is possible that your insurance provider may reimburse a portion of the fee however this means that confidentiality and privacy cannot be obtained as the insurance company will have the right to review your file if you request reimbursement.

I am able to provide superbills so that you can submit requests for potential reimbursement to your insurance provider. I am unable to guarantee any reimbursement through insurance. I would recommend you contact them in advance to see what portion, if any, they will be able to reimburse.

Payment is due in full at the time of the session and I am considered an Out-of-Network (OON) provider and can provide a “Superbill” once per month if you wish to submit these receipts to your insurance for reimbursement according to your OON benefits. Please bear in mind that I cannot guarantee reimbursement. If your insurance denies the claim for any reason, no refunds will be issued and you will need to reach out to your insurance if you wish to appeal their decision.

Do you offer in-person sessions?

Absolutely! With me you have the flexibility of either seeing me in-person or doing video sessions. Some clients may prefer in person but sometimes they have a busy work week or are getting over a cold and they like the option of switching to video when needed.

EMDR can also be done through video sessions though I tend to proceed more cautiously with ensuring a person has good access to supports and coping skills when beginning the trauma portion of this type of therapy. I may recommend that the first few sessions be in person when beginning desensitization of the trauma though I have also done this on video when in-person is not an option.

How does online therapy work?

I use a HIPAA compliant video program. Reminders are typically emailed and texted 24 hours and 15 minutes in advance. The reminders have a link in order to join the session at the time of the appointment. It’s super easy so long as there is a good internet connection where you are located.

It is recommended that you be in a private location so as to increase potential for confidentiality. I also would recommend using an ethernet cable rather than wifi when possible to improve internet connection. I would further recommend using headphones to limit background noises.

NOTE: EMDR can also be done online. Learn more about EMDR below.

About EMDR

What states are you licensed to practice in?

CA and FL, the Disney states

Do you prescribe medication?

No, I do not. Psychiatrists, Doctors and Nurse Practitioners are able to prescribe medications. I will discuss with you if I believe you could benefit from a medication evaluation with one of the aforementioned providers. I tend to encourage a “wait and see” approach meaning that I recommend seeing how sessions with therapy goes to see if that can provide relief however if symptoms are high and have been around for awhile, I may recommend seeing a prescribing provider at the onset of therapy. Remember though, I can make recommendations, but ultimately you are in charge of your treatment.

What can I expect during my first appointment?

The first appointment is an Intake appointment in which I would be asking you a number of questions to identify symptoms and behaviors. We would also be looking at when these symptoms and behaviors began and what may have caused them. I will look for what strengths you have as well as any current risk factors. In this appointment, we would explore what you want to accomplish in therapy and identify what type(s) of therapy we may proceed with to help you get the outcome you desire. This intake generally takes the entire session.

What can I expect for subsequent sessions?

In subsequent sessions, I may ask further questions, or you may guide the session by sharing about what might be bothering you in that moment, reflecting on coping skills you tried, or sharing about wins that made you feel good. Depending upon the treatment, I may be more or less directive in how treatment is provided.

Remember though, you are the star of this show and ought to be in the driver seat. Consider me more like a guide when you feel a bit lost. It is always okay to say that you would like to pivot or change course or that you are needing something specific that particular day.

Do I really need therapy?

Need is a funny word. Yes, some need therapy but I think the better question is “Could I benefit from therapy?” I believe most could benefit from therapy if they are dealing with a problem that is distressing and interfering. For some this could be a work issue or a relationship problem. For others rather than it being a stressor (though this is often most common), it could be that depression or anxiety exist without a notable stressor. Oftentimes, people are seeking therapy to feel better, have a different perspective, or make positive changes in their lives.

How many sessions until I see a breakthrough?

This one totally varies as each person is unique with their own unique backgrounds, strengths and resources. I would recommend that if you are intending to have a certain number of sessions, I would advise to let the me know that way the two of us can create clear, reachable goals. For example, if you want to be in therapy weekly for two months, you might have a goal of “I want to develop and use five coping skills to manage anxiety” or “I want to process feelings I have about a work situation that happened and find some resolution”. However, if you had a goal of “heal all my trauma” and had significant and painful traumas, this might not be as achievable in short-term therapy.

How long do I need to be in therapy?

This is a really good question but the answer is unclear. I will say that when a person comes in for trauma work, especially if the trauma was repetitive and occurred in childhood, those individuals tends to stay longer in therapy. If a person is dealing with one traumatic incident it can take less time.

Other factors that could make the treatment longer would be intensity of symptoms, lack of support system, lack of attachment figures, and high amounts of stressors in life.

Regardless, you are always free to end therapy when you choose or to reduce frequency of sessions. I will of course offer you my opinion on these matters and we can have a discussion about concerns and options however at the end of the day, you are free to decide what works best for your needs.

If I come to therapy, does that mean I am crazy?

Absolutely not! And what is the definition of crazy anymore? If someone has a depressive disorder, does that make them crazy? It is my belief that coming into therapy is such a courageous act. You coming in could benefit your life and the lives of those you love. The positive impacts are endless.

Think about it…if you are a mom and were born in a home in which you didn’t feel totally loved and cared for and you decide to come to therapy and work on that, doesn’t that positively impact your children as you embark on creating a safe and loving home of your own? And as your kids grow and have friends and partners and children of their own, aren’t those people also positively impacted? I believe the strongest and most courageous person in the family is the one that comes in for therapy, though unfortunately sometimes those in our family may discourage us from seeking support.

What does the office look like?

I am so glad you asked! Like you, I like to know what the place looks like and what I can expect in terms of parking. Please see the section My Office under the About tab to see pictures of the outside of the building and the inside of my office or simply click the link below.

My Office

What is a Good Faith Estimate?

A Good Faith Estimate shows the costs of items and services that are reasonably expected for your health care needs for an item or service. The estimate is based on information known at the time the estimate was created.

The Good Faith Estimate does not include any unknown or unexpected costs that may arise during treatment. You could be charged more if complications or special circumstances occur. If this happens, federal law allows you to dispute (appeal) the bill. The Good Faith Estimate is not a binding contract.