How long are therapy sessions?

Standard therapy sessions are 45 minutes long. If you are interested in a longer session, I also see clients for 90 minute sessions at a prorated cost.

Do you offer teletherapy?

Yes, and I have created a separate teletherapy page here.

Do you take insurance?

I do not take insurance but can provide you with a superbill that you can submit to your insurance provider. If you want to find out more from your insurance as to what your provider will reimburse, I am considered an “out-of-network” provider. Insurance can be confusing, and I’m happy to provide help navigating insurance terminology and information.

How much does therapy cost and what methods of payment do you take?

My fee is $350 per session. We can discuss fee setting more during our initial phone consultation. You can pay by Zelle or credit card.

What will our first meeting look like?

This depends on if we are meeting in-person or via teletherapy. For in-person meetings, I will greet you in the waiting area at the time of your appointment. For teletherapy meetings, I will provide the necessary phone and/or video information. Many people have a fear that they will need to “spill their guts” and disclose deep, dark secrets and prior painful memories in the first session. While this sometimes happens, you can think of our first meeting more as an opportunity for you to tell me about yourself, what is bringing you in for therapy, and other pertinent information that will help us begin to create a plan together. The initial meeting is also an opportunity for you to further decide if I am a good fit for your therapy needs, and I make sure to leave time to answer questions you may have about therapy.

What do I need to do to prepare for our first meeting?

First, I want to acknowledge that for many people, the first therapy meeting can create significant stress and anticipatory anxiety, even if you are really excited and hopeful about therapy. In terms of preparation, the good news is that your biggest task is simply to show up to the session and try to show up on time. Optionally, you can write down or otherwise make note of any areas in your life you want to make sure we discuss.

I also like to mention here that I believe part of my role as a therapist is to keep us on track. Some clients can have a fear that they are “not doing therapy right.” There is no “right” or “wrong” way to do therapy, but I am always committed to thinking about if what we are doing is contributing to healing.

How long will I be in therapy?

This really depends. Sometimes, people experience significant change/improvement almost immediately, and sometimes it takes much longer. It also depends on what you are looking for: some people want to tackle a very specific problem (for example, a difficult relationship situation), whereas others have more broad goals and may feel motivated to develop a more comprehensive narrative of their life. There is no right or wrong here, and once I learn more about you, we can create a plan for how we will approach therapy together.

How much of my income should I spend on therapy?

I have included this question because I have observed that clients often receive no or minimal guidance with how to categorize the expense of therapy. There is no one right answer to this question. However, I think there are two especially important considerations as you consider the cost of therapy. First, part of overall psychological well-being is having a healthy relationship with money. Being financially over-extended or, conversely, hoarding financial resources is not the goal. So, I would recommend not spending money that you don’t have on therapy, and also spending money openly that you do have on improving mental wellness. Which leads to the second consideration: therapy really can be life-changing. From that perspective, it’s almost impossible to put a dollar amount on it. Let’s just say, for example, that you make self-discoveries and experience growth in a way that you find your romantic partner; or land your dream job; or heal emotional wounds that have kept you up at night for years. It is worth thinking about how valuable experiencing deep change and growth may be, and letting this guide your answer to how much of your income you should spend on therapy factoring in the first consideration.

Is psychotherapy cost effective?

I have included this in my FAQ because I think it is an interesting and important question. Actually, there is extensive research that supports therapy being cost effective. For example, psychotherapy has been shown to reduce subsequent medical visits for those with certain diagnoses. For a more comprehensive review of psychotherapy cost effectiveness, I recommend the book Psychotherapy Is Worth It: A Comprehensive Review of its Cost Effectiveness edited by Susan G. Lazar, M.D.

What is the difference between a clinical psychologist and other types of therapists?

If someone has the title of clinical psychologist, it means that they have received their doctorate (either a Ph.D. or a Psy.D.) in clinical psychology. A doctorate is considered the highest degree awarded within clinical psychology.

Other common therapy degrees include a Masters in Social Work (practicing as a Licensed Clinical Social worker abbreviated LCSW), or a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT). Sometimes Medical Doctors (M.D.) will also practice therapy as part of a psychiatry practice.

Different states have different regulations, and sometimes there are areas of practice that only clinical psychologists can engage in (for example, in conducting certain types of assessments).

What is the difference between a clinical psychologist and a psychiatrist?

Although this depends on the state you reside in, in the state of California, clinical psychologists do not prescribe psychotropic medications or any other form of medication. As stated by the American Psychiatric Association, psychiatry is the branch of medicine focused on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental, emotional and behavioral disorders. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor (an M.D. or D.O.) who specializes in mental health.

If you are interested in seeing a psychiatrist, we can discuss this further during our initial meeting.