Clinical Psychologist Healing the Mind-Body Connection
Initial Phone or Video Consultation: Free, up to 20 minutes
Individual Therapy: $250 for a 55-minute session; I do not currently accept insurance
What to Expect: I spend the first 1-3 sessions conducting a comprehensive assessment of your concerns and priorities for therapy. I will share my initial impressions and suggest a direction for treatment. Collaboratively, we will develop a concrete treatment plan guided by your goals. We will mutually set an expectation for a certain number of sessions, then we can re-evaluate when we reach that point.
Some people may have sought therapy before and wish to refresh or add to existing skills, which could only take a few sessions. Some might be new to therapy and want to receive an evidence-based treatment (i.e., a standardized and scientifically proven therapy), which is typically 12-16 sessions. Finally, some people might want a long-lasting and fluid relationship with a therapist, and I can be here to meet you where you’re at in your journey of learning to care for yourself.
I am only seeing clients virtually or for walking sessions, outdoors, at a location we mutually agree upon. Although I am physically based out of San Diego, I am licensed to see clients throughout the state of California.
The research has shown that teletherapy (i.e., remote, video-based therapy sessions) is just as beneficial as traditional in-office psychotherapy (Lamb et al., 2018; Norwood et al., 2018; Osenbach et al., 2013; Shigekawa et al., 2018). And with the large cultural shifts of during the pandemic, research indicates that it is even more easy to let the medium dissolve and a real human interaction to occur. I offer teletherapy sessions via a secure, HIPAA-compliant, platform.
I have abundant experience and expertise treating mood disorders (like depression and bipolar), PTSD, anxiety disorders and their co-occurring disorders like substance use disorders, insomnia, and physical health conditions like chronic pain and disordered eating. I am skilled in several evidence-based practices, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and compassion-based therapies.
All services offered are on a fee-for-service basis where payment is due at the start of session. You may submit payment by credit card through an easy online portal, or by cash or check if you prefer. Standard fee is $225 per hour.
Please note a new law that I enthusiastically support: You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical and mental health care will cost. Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the expected charges for medical services, including psychotherapy services. You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency healthcare services, including psychotherapy services. You can ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, 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.
Cancellations: Please cancel sessions at least 24 hours in advance. Sessions no-showed or cancelled with less than 24 hours-notice will be billed at the full session fee, due to the fact that, I cannot utilize that timeslot with another client.
Walking can be inherently soothing: a subtle movement that gently rocks and comforts your body. When discussing difficult emotions in therapy, walking can act as a method of self-soothing in tough moments. Also, many people feel like they sit inside too much of the day, and walking outdoors can be an act of self-care.
I am not an in-network provider for any insurance plans, but I can provide a monthly superbill for you to submit to your health insurance company. If your insurance plan provides out-of-network benefits, you may be reimbursed for 20-80% of your session fees. Before we meet, you should contact your insurance carrier to verify: (1) whether you have mental health benefits, (2) the number of sessions covered, (3) the rate of reimbursement, and (4) your deductible.
Throughout my career I have worked to educate myself on how various diversity factors influence mental health and treatment processes. These factors may include race/ethnicity, age, gender, LGBTQ+ status, disability, neurodiversity, veteran status, socioeconomic status, and religion. I know your cultural identity has a profound impact on how you experience the world. I am fortunate to have worked with an extremely diverse population over my career, with clients from all walks of life. I strive to create a welcoming space where individuals from all backgrounds and perspectives feel validated, seen, and understood.
Not currently. This practice is very small because I also currently serve in several other academic and clinical roles. If my fee is not within your budget and you don’t have good mental health insurance benefits: look at the websites of psychology graduate schools in your area. Most clinical psychology MFT, PsyD or PhD programs have a graduate student training clinic where you can receive therapy from a supervised student at very low cost, and the research shows that this is an effective option. These students have very few clients, so they can really focus on your needs, and they consult with an experienced supervisor. Also, there are sometimes research studies comparing therapies that are already known to be effective, so you can get excellent care there.