Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, I do a free no-obligation 10-15 minute phone consultation to touch base about your reasons and expectations for therapy to determine if we can work together. I invite you to ask any questions you may have before starting therapy.

The first meeting is 50 minutes in length (unless pre-agreed otherwise) and includes a discussion about informed consent, assessment, and goal-setting. The focus of this appointment is to get to know something about each other, join forces in understanding your situation, and to arrive at a consensus about your goals and the steps needed to reach them.

That’s a great question! You can optimize you therapy before, during, and after sessions:

Before sessions: Set goals and intentions for the session:

-What is the internal emotional difficulty you need help with?

-What questions would you like to get more clarity on?

-What are some helpful topics you would like to cover in the session?

-Are there any skills you would like to learn or practice?

-What would you like to be different for you at the end of the session?

Prepare what you need, such as water, pen & paper, tissues

Show up on time

During the session: Show up with an open mind. Be willing to slow down. Take risks and experiment with new learnings. Share honest feedback about what is working and what isn’t.

After the session: Review your takeaways. Journal about your experience from the session. Actively work on your goals and practice skills.

The length of therapy varies from person to person depending on clinical needs, goals, motivation, integration of gains between sessions, and situational factors. Some people can complete therapy in just a few sessions, while others may need a year or longer. Some roads are shorter and some are longer with more mountainous terrain. Therapy is about healing the nervous system. If it took years for symptoms to build up, then it will take time for your nervous system to recalibrate. The more kind you can be with yourself, the more quickly your nervous system will cooperate.

Feeling safe to be yourself with the therapist, feeling seen and understood, feeling that the therapist has your best interests in mind, resonating with the methodology, and noticing positive shifts in yourself are all good signs. The first few sessions should give you enough information to know if it's a good fit. If you have doubts about goodness of fit, I encourage you to bring it up in the conversation, as this would provide an opportunity to overcome any barriers or refer you to another therapist if that’s in your best interest.

Meetings currently happen online on a confidential HIPAA-compliant platform. So you can wear sweatpants and skip the traffic. All you need is a private space and good internet connection.

Telehealth is as effective as in person therapy for most people and can be a great option for you if you don’t have the time or means travel to an office, want to avoid crowded waiting rooms, or simply prefer to have appointments in your own setting. Other than the logistical convenience of telehealth, some therapeutic benefits include:

-The therapist can see you and support you in your natural environment

-It’s easier to include family members in the sessions, if needed. (This is especially convenient for mothers who want to work on attachment skills with their young children.)

-Some people report feeling more relaxed and safe being in their own space

-Video therapy lends itself very well to some really valuable video-based interventions.

There are some situations where in-person support is preferential to telehealth. High risk crisis situations are better managed in the containment of an office. Also, people who lack a safe and private setting are better suited for an office, as are people who have technological barriers (such as poor internet quality, difficulty logging on).

I contract with LYRA and MHN-Cardinal Care (for the Stanford University panel only). If you have out-of-network benefits through your insurer, I’m happy to provide you with a superbill which you can submit to your insurance for reimbursement.

I ask to be informed 24-hours prior to your appointment if you need to cancel or reschedule. Short notice cancellations (within 24 hours) and no shows will require you to pay the fee, since that time was reserved specifically for you. I do allow one free cancellation pass in cases of emergencies.

A Good Faith Estimate is part of the No Surprises Act (H.R. 133) that took effect on January 1, 2022. This law applies to all health care providers and is intended to prevent consumers from receiving unanticipated medical bills. In a nutshell, you have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” for the total expected cost of any non-emergency healthcare services, including psychotherapy services. Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who are not using insurance an estimate of the expected charges for medical services, including psychotherapy services. You can ask your provider for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule a 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