information

working together

sessions

I offer sessions weekly, at a regularly scheduled appointment time, which are conducted online via Zoom, or in-person at my San Francisco office, located in the Laurel Heights/Presidio Heights neighborhood

fees

Individuals: $150 for weekly, 50-minute sessions
Couples: $180 for weekly, 50-minute sessions

Many clients, particularly couples, find that longer sessions offer more support and can help the therapeutic process move forward more efficiently. Extended session rates are based on your standard rate, with a discount applied.

I believe therapy should be accessible and therefore reserve a limited number of reduced-fee spaces for people experiencing significant financial struggle. *Please note that my sliding scale slots are currently full.* If you’d like to be added to the waitlist, fill out the form on my contact page and I’ll be in touch when space opens up.

regularity

Therapy is a meaningful commitment to yourself, and attending regular weekly sessions is an essential part of creating sustainable change. For this reason, I don’t offer bi-weekly appointments. Consistent weekly sessions not only support progress toward your goals, but also allow me to hold a dedicated space for you in my practice.

payment

Payment is due each session by debit or major credit card, or Health Savings/Flexible Spending cards. While I don’t accept insurance directly, I can provide you with a detailed invoice (superbill) if you are able to receive reimbursement for out-of-network providers, or if you have a health savings account (HSA) or flexible spending account (FSA) through your employer. Many PPO plans will reimburse a portion of out-of-network costs, depending on your coverage, so call your insurance company to check your benefit amount.

cancellations

I have a 48-hour cancellation policy, so if you need to cancel your session, I kindly ask you to do so within this timeframe, otherwise you’ll be charged for the session.

let’s get started!

  • What can I expect when starting therapy?

    During our first session we’ll go over logistics and I’ll answer any questions you might have. I’ll also be interested to hear if you’ve had prior experiences with therapy, what they were like, and what you hope to gain from our work together. If you feel nervous it’s okay! We’ll be getting to know each other and it’s normal to feel this way with someone new.

    Our following few meetings will be about my learning more about your life, which will help me better understand your challenges so I can best help. After that, our sessions will focus on what you feel is important to talk about each week, with my supporting you in exploring those topics.

    How much time should I commit?

    The length of therapy is different for each person and is based on your reasons for seeking therapy, your goals, motivation to change, as well as consistency and commitment to the process. Ultimately, how long you decide to be in therapy is up to you. I work collaboratively and am committed to empowering my clients in making decisions aligned with their inner wisdom in all areas of their lives, including their treatment. 

    Is it confidential?

    There are laws that protect the communication between a client and therapist, therefore everything you share with me is confidential. There are a few exceptions to this wherein therapists are required to act in accordance with mandated reporting laws. This includes if there is reason to believe you intend to commit serious physical harm to yourself or others, or if children or elders are being abused and it’s likely to happen again.

    How are fees determined?

    Fees for therapy differ based on factors including geographical location, the experience of the therapist, whether you are seeing someone in private practice or a community clinic, and if you are using insurance or not. My rates are commensurate with those of other local psychotherapists in private practice with my training and experience. Fees cover our weekly sessions as well as research and preparation time, ongoing training, and clinical consultation to ensure I’m providing you with effective, high-quality care.

  • Communication & Availability

    • Working Hours: I’m available Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm. Therapy sessions are held Monday through Thursday. I’m unable to schedule therapy appointments on Fridays unless arranged in advance.

    • Response Time: On weekdays (Monday-Friday), I’ll make every effort to return your call, email, or text within 9 working hours, excluding holidays.

    • Weekend Messages: I don’t check messages over the weekend. If you contact me on a Saturday or Sunday, I’ll respond to your message on Sunday evenings.

    • Communication should be limited to scheduling or administrative matters.

    Late Arrivals

    • Please call or text if you’ll be late. If I don’t hear from you by 20 minutes past the start time, the appointment will be considered missed, and you’ll be charged for the session.

    • For couples sessions, if either of you is running late, we’ll start the session once you’re both present. However, if either of you is more than 20 minutes late, the session will be canceled and subject to the late cancellation fee.

    Cancellations

    • 48-Hour Policy: To cancel a session, please provide at least 48 hours’ notice to avoid being charged for the session.

    • Weekend Cancellations: If your session is on Monday, please contact by the preceding Friday as I don’t check messages received over the weekend until Sunday evening.

    • Late Cancellation Emergencies: In the event of a true emergency (e.g. a severe illness, a death in the family, or a car accident), you won’t be charged for your session. Note: Work conflicts, transportation or childcare issues, or minor illnesses (e.g. a cold), don’t qualify as emergencies under this policy.

    • In-Person Sessions: If a non-emergency issue prevents you from attending an in-person session (e.g.transportation problems, child-care issues, or minor illness), I’lll offer a Zoom or phone session option during your scheduled appointment time.

    • Frequent Cancellations: Regular attendance is essential for making progress in therapy. If you frequently cancel your sessions, we’ll talk about any challenges you’re facing and explore whether continuing therapy is the best fit for your current needs.

    Rescheduling

    • Occasional Changes: I understand that you may occasionally need to reschedule a session; however, I can accommodate requests within the same week only if my schedule allows.

    • Notice Required: To reschedule, notify me at least 48 hours prior to your appointment time.

    • Weekend Rescheduling Requests: For Monday sessions, please email me by the preceding Friday as I don’t check messages received over the weekend until Sunday evening.

    • Frequent Rescheduling: If you frequently request to reschedule, we can discuss adjusting your regular session time to a different slot in my practice, if available. Alternatively, I can refer you to another clinician who can better accommodate your scheduling needs.

    Emergency Contact Between Sessions

    • When to contact me: Requests for emergency contact between scheduled sessions are expected to occur during clinical emergencies only. If you find that you need to contact me between sessions on a more regular basis or that your circumstances require more than one weekly appointment, I’ll recommend a higher level of care to protect your safety and mental health.

    • If you are experiencing a true clinical emergency, such as acute thoughts of harming yourself or others, or experiencing a traumatic life event, DO NOT WAIT for me to call you back. Instead, do any of the following:

      • Call 911

      • Call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Hotline

      • Visit the nearest emergency room and ask for the on-call psychologist or psychiatrist

      • Call your county’s crisis support services

        Alameda County Crisis Support Services: 800-309-2131
        Marin County Crisis Support Services: 415-473-6666
        San Francisco Suicide Prevention: 415-781-0500
        SF General Psychological Emergency: 415-206-8111

  • Where we meet:

    • In-person sessions are held at my San Francisco office:
      3354 Sacramento Street, Suite F, San Francisco 94118
      Please allow enough time to park as the neighborhood can sometimes be busy.

    • Virtual sessions are held over Zoom.

    • Door code and Zoom links were provided in your ‘Getting Started’ email.
      Reach out if you need code or link sent again.

 

My sunny, garden view office.

good faith estimate/‘no surprises’ act

Under Section 2799B-6 of the Public Health Service Act You have a 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 total cost associated with any non-emergency medical services, including psychotherapy services. Each person or couple engages in the process of psychotherapy differently, based on their own needs and goals, therefore the duration can vary significantly. Although it is difficult to determine the true length of treatment for mental healthcare, each client has a right to decide how long they would like to participate in psychotherapy. Since I request payment at the time of service, you should not receive a bill unless you have not paid for a service when rendered. However, if you were to receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, the law states 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.