Faq

Absolutely! I am licensed to practice in the state of California and registered to practice via Telehealth in Florida. You may verify my California license (#43239) by visiting the Board of Behavioral Sciences website.

For more information on my Florida Telehealth registration (#TPMF546) please visit https://flhealthsource.gov/telehealth

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 or call me to discuss at 818-971-7155.

I ask that payment be made 24 hours in advance of each session to hold your slot.

Since I now work exclusively through telehealth, all payments are made via a variety of payment apps. 

Regarding fees, I charge $275 per session. I always offer a few sliding scale slots but they are often filled, so if you need a reduced fee, please inquire so I can let you know if I have any available at the time of booking.

Very. Always. I’m sad that this even has to be a question, but I get it.

Please see my answer above. 🙂

Great question. I have no clue! That’s because I’ve had clients that get results in as little as three sessions… and I also have clients that I’ve seen for years.

What I can tell you is that your “length of stay,” so to speak, will be determined by the severity of the issues you’re struggling with + how many new issues arise through the course of our work + how motivated you are to do the work. Either way, you’re always more successful in a shorter period of time when you’re committed to taking what we talk about during our sessions and applying them the other 6 days of the week.

Yes and no. On request, I am happy to provide you with an invoice called a “superbill.” When you submit this invoice to your insurance company, they will send you reimbursement for some of the cost, IF your plan allows for out-of-network mental health services reimbursement.

Please be aware that if you request a superbill, I am required to assign a diagnosis. Unfortunately, carriers will not reimburse without a diagnostic code on the invoice. Some clients have no concern about their insurance company having this kind of information and some do.

Full payment is made to me 24 hours in advance of each session to hold your slot. The last day of the month, I will email the superbill to you. Once received, you can submit to your carrier for direct reimbursement.

If fees are a concern, I would encourage you to contact your carrier before we have our first session to learn more about your coverage, so you’ll know what your out-of-pocket cost will be per session.

Yes and yes. While many therapists have a 48-hour business day cancellation policy, I feel that this is a little unfair as life sometimes happens! As a result, I only have a 24-hour cancellation policy.

However, I am extremely strict about it and do charge my full session fee when there is cancellation with less than 24 hours notice. I an unable to offer exceptions, because I am so lenient about the shorter amount of time that I require to cancel.

Monday through Thursday 1:00PM-9:30PM.

The benefits are innumerable: greater confidence, communication skills, life and relationship satisfaction, etc.

That all comes, however, after some discomfort. When we start talking about your struggles you may experience more sadness or anxiety in the short term.

This is a common occurrence and will pass… but it is important to know that sometimes things get worse before they get better.

Standard sessions are 50 minutes in length. Extended sessions can be scheduled by request.

Take a look around the site. Do you feel understood? Intrigued? If so, give me a call or email me to set up a phone chat, so we can see if we would be a good fit to work together.

To help you think about this, I welcome you to take this “quiz”.

I’m inspired by working with smart, motivated, open-minded individuals and couples that are ready for real change in their lives.

I work with clients ages 18 and up.

I want to hear about what made you decide that this was the time to change your life. I’ll listen. I’ll ask questions and offer support.

At the end of the session, I’ll give you an idea of what will be up ahead in our work together. You may have something to think about or practice at home (that’s my nice way of saying, “If you want to see that real change, there will be some homework along the way”). 🙂

Everyone’s experience will be a little different, because I don’t perform cookie-cutter therapy. I’ll take you where you are and address the particular issues you’re struggling with.

All clients are offered my expertise, empathy, insights, humor, and skills training… but every client is also unique. For example, if clients are interested in analyzing how they got here, we do deeper family-of-origin work to connect the dots. If they just want answers, we dive in with how to get results.

Yes, and that is more than okay. It’s also more than okay if you don’t.

Our sessions are a safe, secure place for you to be who you are and feel your feelings in whatever way is truest for you. No judgment or scrutiny either way.

Yes and no. I can only work with what you share. So if there are big pieces of information that explain why you’re struggling and I don’t have them, therapy likely won’t be as successful for you. That said, you have to share when you’re comfortable… and not a moment before.

Anyone that is looking to reduce their personal pain that’s also willing to put in the time and effort to get there.

After a career as long as mine, I’ve heard it all and nothing has ever phased me. I don’t get shocked, offended or judgmental.

That said, the only issue that I couldn’t offer that same level of support to would be perpetrators of physical, emotional, or animal abuse.

Absolutely. If you feel more comfortable speaking over the phone (as opposed to a video session) we can absolutely do that.

Call me. My personality comes through clearly on the call, so you’ll be able to determine if you are feeling a “click” with me. I’ll answer any questions and address any concerns.

Our work is 100% confidential except in the cases of child abuse, elder abuse, harm to self, or harm to others.

Yes. Again, our sessions are a place to freely express yourself, and I do allow the fighting at the beginning of our work together to see the dynamics at play.

That said, once I’m clear on the patterns, we move to learning how to communicate effectively because no one likes to be yelled at, right?

No, and that’s because I’m equally rooting for each of you. My only investment is in helping BOTH of you walk away happier and grateful to be together.

Also, I don’t give my opinion and that’s because I don’t have one! What works for you as a couple may differ from what works for me in my relationship and that is A-OK!

I saw my first client on June 20, 2002… a very special day that will always live with gratitude and excitement in my heart.

Absolutely. Being in therapy takes vulnerability, and I could never expect someone to open up in that way unless I had done it myself.

I have my bachelor’s degree from UC Santa Barbara, my Master’s from Pepperdine University, my license from the Board of Behavioral Sciences and a certification in Intuitive Eating from the originators of Intuitive Eating, Elyse Resch, MS, RDN, CEDRD-S, Fiaedp, FADA, FAND, and Evelyn Tribole, MS, RDN, CEDRD-S.

Yes, but only after the end of each session. I want my full attention focused on you and I can’t do that if I’m busy looking at a note pad.

Since the pandemic began, I’ve been working exclusively via telehealth, therefore I see clients living anywhere in California and Florida! In my pre-pandemic life, I was seeing clients in both my Tarzana, CA and Beverly Hills, CA offices.

Only if that’s your kind of thing. Otherwise, sitting works, too.

Well, I used to provide the finest available – “Ultra Soft” by Kleenex. Now that I’m conducting sessions via telehealth only, your tissue choice will be on you! :-p

You may ask any question that you’d like. Getting an answer will, of course, be contingent upon the question. 🙂

I love and respect all animals, but if you’re putting my feet to the fire… can you say, “DOGS?!”

No. But don’t get me wrong… this work is very serious. Your life’s happiness is on the line, and I treat that with deep respect and sensitivity.

That said, humor is a powerful tool that can provide enough relief to help push you through to the next level. I only use it when necessary and when it will be most effective.