FAQ’S

 

+ What is a Marriage and Family Therapist?

Marriage and family therapists (MFTs) are psychotherapists and healing arts practitioners licensed by the state of California. MFTs assist with a wide variety of challenges ranging from depression, relationship issues, child behaviors, and elder concerns. They also believe that an individual must be treated within the context of his/her/their current or prior relationships if the gains are to be meaningful and productive.

+ What are the qualifications for a California licensed marriage and family therapist?

Marriage and family therapists licensed by the State of California have completed extensive education, training, clinical fieldwork, and successful completion of two rigorous exams to demonstrate professional competency. Requirements for licensure include a related two-year master's or doctoral degree, passage of comprehensive examinations, and completion of at least 3,000 hours of supervised counseling experience.

+ What should I ask myself before committing to services?

Inquire about the therapist's training, licensure status, and commitment to their professional development. Ask what type of therapy is utilized and what should you expect? Does the therapist have a treatment agreement that covers fees, appointments, cancellations, limits of confidentiality, etc.? How confidential are the sessions? Information disclosed by patients is generally held as confidential except for disclosure required or permitted by law.

+ How long does therapy last?

Length and frequency of therapy sessions depend upon many factors: level of distress, an individual’s preference, time limitations, and financial concerns. An initial plan will be collaboratively developed, and adjustments can be made, if needed.

+ What Are the Potential Risks and Benefits of psychotherapy?

Psychotherapy has both benefits and risks. The risks may include experiencing uncomfortable feelings such as sadness, anxiety, confusion, or frustration. These feelings typically occur as a result of discussing difficult aspects of your life and they are a normal response to the process of therapy. However, therapy can bring significant reduction of distressing emotions, a stronger self image, enhancement to relationships, closure of un-mourned experiences, and resolution of conflicts.

+ I tried therapy before and it didn’t work, why should I try it again?

Therapy is not one size fits all. It is important to know that previous attempts at therapy may have been “ill fitting” because of the chemistry between therapist and client or the therapeutic modality used. Allowing yourself to be open, honest, and willing to “try on” another professional or style can make all the difference.

 

 Insurance & Fees

In-Network

Currently, I bill Cigna and Aetna insurance directly.  However, if you have a different PPO insurance plan, you can likely see me as an out-of-network provider.  Moreover, I am happy to provide you with an insurance-ready receipt (Superbill) so that you can request reimbursement for services.  If this is of interest to you, please contact your insurance provider to determine the specifics of your coverage.

Out-of-Pocket

$150 | 70-min | Intake Therapy Session

$125 | 50-min | Therapy Session

Feel free to use Health Savings Accounts or Flexible Spending Accounts to fund your therapy services. I am also willing to discuss sliding fee rates for those who are uninsured or underinsured.

Payment Methods: Venmo, Paypal, and all major credit cards accepted and processed through Square. 

Good Faith Estimate: 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.