Frequently Asked Questions

When you begin to notice your mood, anxiety, stress, unexplained aches and pains i.e. headaches, digestive issues and your thoughts and feelings are impacting your relationships at home and/or work. Big transitions such as a move, career changes, college, loss, traumatic event, becoming a parent and getting married or divorced are all changes that may increase your need for therapy.

I work with motivated BIPOC individuals and professionals who are dissatisfied with their careers, experiencing anxiety, self-doubt, burnout, strained relationships and cultural and family of origin issues. Often time these individuals show symptoms of anxiety and depression that interferes with their day to day living. I love helping professionals and individuals gain insight into their emotions and behaviors and take actionable steps to alleviate their stress and anxiety.

It goes without saying that everyone is different. Much of what you get out of therapy comes from what you put into it. Your therapy treatment is not limited to the 50 minutes that we’ll meet each week. I will spend additional time researching treatment options and considering your situation. At the same time, you will need to make efforts to exercise your treatment, and think about what we discuss during our time together. The most productive and beneficial results come from those individuals who enter into therapy with an open mind, a genuine desire to benefit themselves and ready to do the work.

During our phone consultation, we will discuss your reasons for seeking therapy, and what your expectations are. It’s your opportunity to ask me any number of questions about therapy and how it may apply to your needs. We’ll also discuss my fee and any insurance concerns you may have. Additionally, it’s a chance for us to get to know one another, for me to evaluate possible treatment options, and to help you decide the most effective approach to realize your goals.

During our first session, we’ll get to know each other, go over paperwork and any questions you may have. We’ll also discuss your goals and expectations regarding therapy. Most importantly, we’ll establish a comfortable, non-judgmental atmosphere where you can feel at ease.

This is usually one of the first questions people ask about therapy. My fees are $225 per session and I may be able to work with you depending on your individual situation. I reserve a few slots in my private practice for sliding scale based on need; however, at this time those slots are full. Please check back later for available slots.

GOOD FAITH ESTIMATE

Under Section 2799B-6 of the Public Health Service Act, health care providers and health care facilities are required to inform individuals who are not enrolled in a plan or coverage or a Federal health care program, or not seeking to file a claim with their plan or coverage both orally and in writing of their ability, upon request or at the time of scheduling health care items and services, to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” of expected charges.

You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical 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 bill for medical items and services.

You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees.

Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or 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

I do not accept insurance and am considered an out-of-network provider. However, please note that I do accept benefits through Modern Health and Corporate Counseling Associates (CCA). There are many different types of insurance with different behavioral health benefits. It can be difficult to get a correct answer. I will be as helpful as I can to answer your insurance questions; nonetheless I encourage you to contact your insurance company directly to ask about your specific benefits.

Many clients intentionally choose not to involve their insurance companies in their mental health care to eliminate treatment limitations and maximize their privacy. Private pay allows for sessions to not have restrictions on their treatment duration and type of mental health interventions. Being a private pay client offers you more flexibility and control over your mental health records and treatment.

In some cases you may be eligible to use out-of-network insurance benefits. PPO plans under your insurance may be used for mental health services, and reimbursement is based on your plan benefits. If you have out-of-network benefits, many insurance companies pay 60-80% reimbursement to an out-of-network provider. You will be responsible for paying each session in full at the time of your appointment. I am happy to provide you with an invoice called a Super Bill that you can submit to your insurance for reimbursement.

To inquire about your benefits, please call the number on the back of your insurance card and ask them the following questions:

Do I have out-of-network mental health coverage?

Am I able to use my out of network benefits for Telehealth?

What is my out of network deductible?

How much of the deductible has been met this year?

Do I need a referral from an in-network provider to see a therapist out-of-network?

What percentage of outpatient psychotherapy sessions are covered per session?

How much will I be reimbursed for a 45 or 60 minute session CPT codes 90834 and 90837?

How do I submit claims for reimbursement?

How long does it take for me to receive reimbursement?

I don't accept insurance, but I work with Mentaya, a HIPAA compliant platform that helps clients get money back on out-of-network therapy sessions. If you have out-of-network benefits, Mentaya will file claims and handle the insurance paperwork to make sure you get reimbursed. They charge a 5% fee per claim and have helped people get thousands of dollars back per year. You can sign up using the link below:

Mentaya Claims

Please Note: Mentaya's goal is to save you time and money. It's completely optional, and as your therapist I do not benefit in any way from your participation.

Payment is due at the time of service. Service fees can be paid through my HIPAA compliant credit card processing: Ivy Pay or Square. At the time of service, an invoice will be sent to you to complete payment.

Yes, you can pay for therapy and all mental health services using your Flexible Spending Account.

No matter where you live in California, Florida or New York, therapy can come to you. Telehealth, also known as Teletherapy and Online Therapy is the use of telecommunication and information technology to provide therapy from a distance. Telethealth is conducted over video conference using a laptop or smart phone. You receive high quality care; the same licensing and ethics standards apply to online therapists as those who practice in an office. Currently I offer all of my services via Telethealth. A good WiFi connection, a cozy, confidential space and a cup of tea are encouraged. Licensed and based out of California, I can provide Telethealth services to California, Florida and New York residents. Services are provided via a secure and HIPAA compliant platform.  All a client needs to start a session is a web link from me using a standard computer or via an app on your smart phone. No special hardware or software are necessary. 

Si, ofrezco todos mis servicios en español.

Typically, clients schedule one session per week at the same time each week. The number of sessions you may need depends on a variety of factors such as your overall goals, complexity of issues, family of origin patterns, history, and how motivated you are to work toward your goals. Focusing on a single issue could take a few weeks to a few months, while addressing complex issues could take longer.

Each session lasts approximately 50-60 minutes. Though depending on your needs, longer sessions may be available.

All sessions and information are kept private and confidential. Please be aware, however, that there are situations where I am legally bound to disclose confidential and private information:

• Suspected child abuse or elder abuse. Therapists are required by law to report this to the appropriate authorities immediately.

• If a client is threatening to seriously hurt another person(s). Therapists must notify the police and inform the intended victim(s).

• If a client intends to harm himself or herself. I will ask for the client’s cooperation in ensuring his or her safety. If they do not cooperate, further steps may be taken without their permission in order to ensure their safety.

It’s no problem to cancel or postpone a session as long as you do so 24 hours beforehand. You will be billed a full session fee for any cancellations less than 24 hours before your session start time (unless there are extenuating circumstances, such as illness or an emergency).

You can schedule a 20 minute phone consultation here (there is no charge for a phone consultation). Once your first therapy appointment is confirmed, I will email you the Client Information Form, Consent Form and Privacy Practices to complete before our first session. With those forms completed, it’ll give us more time to talk and get to know each other during our first meeting.