Frequently Asked Questions

$250 for a 50-minute session.

I am out-of-network provider and do not directly bill insurance. I can provide you with a "superbill," a detailed invoice that also includes diagnostic information that you may submit to your insurance company for potential reimbursement.

I also offer a service called Thrizer who handles the administrative side of getting reimbursements from your health insurance, so you don't have to deal with submitting superbills and other paperwork. Check out my detailed blog all about this topic: How to Get Insurance to Cover Out-of-Network Therapy Hassle-Free

I accept most credit cards and cash payments. You may also use your FSA (Flexible Spending Account) or HSA (Health Spending Account) accounts, including their payment cards, to pay for your sessions.

Reimbursement for out-of-network therapy sessions varies significantly depending on your specific health insurance plan.

In my practice, based on limited client data from 2025, the average reimbursement amount has been approximately $135 per therapy session after the deductible has been met.

Insurance companies calculate reimbursement using several factors, including:

• The geographic area where therapy is provided (in this case, Sonoma County)

• What the insurance company considers a “Usual, Customary, and Reasonable” fee (also called the “allowable amount”)

• Your plan’s out-of-network co-insurance percentage

Please note that this figure is only an estimate and should not be assumed or guaranteed. The data comes from a limited sample of my clients who either:

• Used Thrizer for reimbursement services, or

• Shared written documentation of reimbursement checks from their insurance company

Because reimbursement rates and plan benefits vary widely, your actual reimbursement amount may be higher or lower.

You have a couple different options to do this. I outline them in detail here: How to Get Insurance to Cover Out-of-Network Therapy Hassle-Free

Therapy sessions with me are 50 minutes long.

Therapy is an investment of both time and money, and it’s natural to wonder how long it might take to reach your goals.

While every person’s journey is unique, my former clients who report they have fully met their therapy goals, on average, typically do so in about 25 sessions, or approximately a little under 6 months of weekly therapy.

My goal is to help you build the skills and confidence to navigate life without ongoing therapy. We will work together to create meaningful, lasting change so that when our work is complete, you feel ready to move forward on your own.

This is a question I hear often from new clients. In fact, it comes up so much that I created a blog/vlog on this topic, specifically about men’s mental health. You can check it out here: For men wondering, “Do I Really Need Therapy?”—Here’s Your Answer. Santa Rosa Therapist weighs in

It is also what our first consult call is used for, so I can give you my assessment if therapy can be of benefit to you, and if not, provide you resources or referrals of other options to help you.

I use a number of different approaches to help my clients with their problems. I begin by creating a unique treatment plan to your individual needs.

A lot of what I do is based off of a modality called, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

If you'd like to get a preview of my approach, check out my blog. Here is a couple to get you started:

Why Therapy Works: A Santa Rosa Therapist Explains the Process of Change for your Most Stuck Problems

Could a Dead Person Achieve Your Therapy Goals? Santa Rosa Counselor Explains Better Therapy Goals

It's normal to be a bit (or a lot) anxious in anticipation of what to expect coming in for the first time. That's why I have written a detailed blog post to answer your questions:

What to expect from your first therapy session in Santa Rosa

Currently, I am available Tuesday-Friday for new clients. This changes occasionally, so please call me to get my most up to date availability.

Once we decide I am a good fit as a therapist for you, I set aside a weekly appointment time that’s only yours - I won’t schedule anyone else during your reserved time. This allows us to keep consistent with our work together on a weekly basis to build momentum in making real, lasting change.

I know how important it is to get going with therapy when you’re ready. So, if my weekly time session slots do not work for you, I can refer you out to someone who may be able to better accommodate your scheduling needs. Once you’re an established client of mine, I’ll be sure to offer you new appointment times as they open up before opening these slots to new clients.

Yes!

My office location is 930 Mendocino Avenue, near Santa Rosa Junior College, for in-person therapy sessions.

I occasionally meet clients outside my office for walk and talk therapy, or exposure therapy work.

If you are in California, then yes! Telehealth (therapy over video or over phone) is offered to anyone residing in the state of California.

If we are meeting over video, you will be given a secure link that is HIPPA complaint for a confidential, secure connection for our session together.

While I do specialize in relationship issues, I do not directly provide couples counseling. I can provide you great referrals for couples counseling with my colleagues if we decide that is the best next step for you.

No, I do not prescribe medications, however if you are interested in psychotropic medication as part of your treatment plan, I can guide you to the right types of professionals who specialize in this.

Check out my detailed blog to learn more about the different type of mental health professionals in Sonoma County: Psychologist, Therapist, or Psychiatrist? Finding the right help in Santa Rosa

I think most people have this concern when starting therapy over video. If you don’t have the option to come to my office in-person due to distance, scheduling, or transportation- I usually suggest we give it a session or 2, without any long-term commitment, see how you feel and go from there.

Most my clients end up finding it convenient and comfortable over time. Research backs that therapy over video is just as effective as therapy in-person.

My latest session I offer is 4:00pm.

I recommend my clients that are considering their options with therapy to schedule a phone consultation with me to discuss whether individual or couples counseling is most clinically appropriate for your unique situation.

Individual psychotherapy can help if you have noticed patterns in your relationships over time that cause problems for you (such as anger management, highly reactive emotional responses to your partner, difficulty with communication, etc.)

Some of my clients work with me individually while in couples counseling at the same time. I typically have regular consultations with your couples counselor so that we are working on the same goals and are aligned in our treatment plans.

I do accept older teens (16+) into my practice on a case-by-case basis, so call me to discuss further. For my information on how I help teens, see my page: Therapy for Young Adults

Under the law, health care providers need to give clients 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, or at any time during treatment. 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, or how to dispute a bill, see your Estimate, or visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises