Common Questions an Answers

How do free consultations work?

Free consultations are virtual zoom meetings with me and the prospective client (assumed to be you) that last no more than 30 minutes. I see these meetings as opportunities for you to answer the question "Are we a good therapeutic fit?". I will give you the floor to ask me questions, tell me a bit about themselves and see how it feels, or really anything you would like to do to help you answer that question. You may decided to pursue therapy with me at the end of the meeting; however, a timely decision in not required and you can take all the time you need to think about it after the appointment. If you would rather receive referrals or not pursue therapy with the therapist, that is totally ok.

As the content of these meetings are legally considered a part of therapy, prospective clients will complete my informed consent forms before meeting with me. These forms do a variety of things such as review the risks and benefits of therapy, describe a client's rights in therapy, the rules of therapy, etc. If a prospective client feels uncomfortable with any part of the paperwork they absolutely can contact me to discuss before signing (and/or change their mind about meeting with the therapist in general). Prospective clients will be asked for an emergency contact as well as need to provide their current location address at the beginning of the meeting, again for legal reasons.

What is your fee?

Sessions are $200.00 for 45-50 minutes and $400.00 for 85 minutes (2 therapeutic hours). I occasionally have temporary scholarships available to qualifying clients. Most scholarships are reserved for BIPOC, LGBTQIA, First Responders and Students including EATM students (Exotic Animal Training and Management).

What forms of payment do you accept?

I currently accept cash and IvyPay payments. No worries if you have never heard of this app before, it is extremely user friendly and I can show you how to set them up.

Do you take sliding scale?

I do not accept sliding scale; however, I do occasionally offer temporary financial scholarships for qualifying clients. This consists of time restricted discounted sessions.

Do you offer online/telehealth services? What about in-person?

Yes to both! I use a secure video conferencing platform for telehealth and have an office in Los Alamitos I meet with clients on Fridays.

What days are you available to see clients? What about consultants?

All scheduling depends on my availability.

Typically, I see clients virtually Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. I see clients in-person solely on Fridays.
Consultation may be offered Monday through Friday. Consultation groups are currently all held remotely. Individual consultations can be held remotely M-F or in-person on Fridays.

I live far away, can I still see you with telehealth?

My Marriage and Family Therapist license is limited to the state of California. If you live somewhere in California we are able to meet with telehealth.

I am having an emergency. What should I do?

If you are experiencing an emergency or require immediate assistance, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.

If you are not experiencing an emergency and you would like someone to talk to as soon as possible, please consider these resources:

Crisis Text Line
Orange County Warmline (non-emergency hotline): 877-910-9276
California Suicide Hotlines
Call Blackline (prioritizes BIPOC)
The Mobile Crisis Assessment Team (CAT) OC service: 855-625-4657
Psychiatric Mobile Response Teams (PMRT LA service: 800-854-7771
The Trevor Project: 866-488-7386
The Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860
Casa Youth Shelter: 800-914-CASA (For Adolescents near Orange County/Long Beach)
Not One More Vet (NOMV) has a listing of many resources out of area at: https://nomv.org/crisis-numbers/
Sexual Assault and Harassment in the Workplace
211LA: Phone line to connect with mental health services, case management, housing, food, healthcare expenses (Literally call the number 211).

How does confidentiality work?

What you say in therapy is confidential with limited exceptions:

My clinical judgement suggests my client is a threat to themselves or others.
My clinical judgement suggests there is a real possibility of child, dependent, and/or elder abuse occurring.
Some court proceedings as evidenced by a judge's subpoena addressed to me.
There is an issue of national security as proved by the government.

Minors are legally able to consent for their own therapy at the age of 12. In this case, minors information will be held confidential (with the above limits standing) from everyone including their parents, unless otherwise discussed.

All of these exceptions are discussed further in the consultation. If you have additional questions please feel free to contact me and I can help you find the answer.

I'm looking for a therapist for a family member or friend. What should I do?

I would be happy to meet with your friend or family member. If you think we would be a good fit, please feel free to pass my information along to them. If you are a parent looking for a therapist for your child, please contact me directly so we can discuss setting up a free consultation.

How long will I be in therapy? Do I have to go forever?

The amount of time spent seeing a therapist is completely dependent on the individual and situation. I have had some clients complete their therapeutic goals very quickly (over the course of a few months) and others that choose to continue sessions for years.

As my main therapeutic modality utilizes EMDR, success with therapy goals may be seen faster than other forms of talk therapy as shown by empirical research. This success is not guaranteed. If you want to learn more about EMDRs empirical research, check out the EMDRIA website.

What's the difference between a therapist, psychologist, and psychiatrist? Which are you?

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.

Therapists- Therapists have earned at least a masters in their field and may be licensed or unlicensed. They commonly see clients in different setting such as agencies, organizations, or private practice. Therapists use their modality to help clients complete their therapeutic goals through the use of therapy.
Psychiatrists- Psychiatrists are doctors that have completed medical school and are able to prescribe medications. Some psychiatrists also perform therapy.
Psychologists- According to Career Explorer, a "psychologist is someone who studies mental processes and human behaviour by observing, interpreting, and recording how people relate to one another and the environment. Some psychologists work independently, doing research or working only with patients or clients."

If you would like to learn more, please check out the Integrated Care Clinic's article "What's the difference between a psychologist, psychiatrist, and therapist."