FAQs

What is mental health teletherapy?

Mental health teletherapy is therapy conducted real-time via the internet. Using an application similar to Skype or Zoom, you and I can see and speak with each other from the convenience of your smartphone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer, making therapy more accessible for you. This eliminates the need for travel, reduces the fear associated with seeking mental health services (as you don't need to go to any unfamiliar location or worry that someone you know will see you entering a therapist's office), reduces the need for childcare, and offers you the opportunity to work towards a better future from the convenience of your workplace, home, or any other location that helps you feel comfortable.

What therapy style (i.e., modality) do you use?

My primary approach is a mixture of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness therapy. With that said, I also use components of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), interpersonal therapy (IPT), social skills training (SST), problem solving therapy (PST), brainspotting, eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR), and psychedelic assisted psychotherapy.

What should I expect from the initial session?

During our initial visit (i.e., intake session), I will spend most of the session asking you questions related to what brings you into therapy, the type of work you do, your educational experiences, your family life (both current and childhood experiences), your substance use (if any), any past treatment, and other related topics. Based on the information you provide me, we will develop a preliminary treatment plan (i.e., objectives for therapy) to assist us in addressing your concerns.

What is a typical session like?

I usually start the session by asking for a brief check-in, where you inform me of any new or significant changes since the last time we spoke, along with anything else you wish to share with me. After that, I usually follow up by asking you what you want to focus on in session that day and tailor what I provide you based on your stated interests. Think of it as developing a specific goal/objective for each session. This way we ensure we are moving you towards your long term goals for treatment.

How much does therapy cost? Do you take insurance?

I charge $200 for a 45 minute session and $225 for a 60 minute session. If you have insurance, you may be able to get a significant portion of the fees reimbursed by them, as I can provide you a Superbill (a special bill that includes specific information and codes for insurance companies) to assist you in obtaining reimbursement. Please contact your insurance company directly to find out what might be covered by them. 

With that said, I do take Aetna, MHN (i.e., Health Net) and Medicare Part B (not Medicare Advantage, unless it is under Aetna or MHN). I am also a non-network provider for Tricare West.

How long is each therapy session?

Most sessions are between 45-60 minutes long, depending on your needs. Our initial session can sometimes be longer, as I tend to spend more time collecting information to better understand how to assist you.

How long will I need to be in therapy?

Quite honestly, this will depend on you and what you want to get out of treatment. Some clients come into therapy with specific objectives/goals for treatment and once they are obtained, they terminate therapy. Others will continue in therapy after meeting their initial objectives/goals, choosing to adjust their objectives/goals towards further self-improvement or self-discovery. On average, however, most individuals seeking relief from their anxiety or trauma based symptoms meet their goals within 6-12 months.

How do we get started?

You can either call me at 916-702-8750 or send me a message via the contact page. During our initial conversation, I'll briefly ask what is bringing you to therapy, what are you hoping to get out of treatment, and gauge if working together will be a good fit for both of us. If we both agree it's a good fit, I'll send you a link to the client portal of my SimplePractice site where you'll complete some initial intake documents before our first meeting and we'll schedule an intake appointment.

However, if you feel that after reading my website that we would work well together, you can always click on the Request Appointment tab below to directly schedule into my calendar, at which point I'll send you the link to the client portal of my Simplepractice site and have you complete the initial intake documents before our scheduled appointment.