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Getting Started

My practice is fully online at this time and limited to folks who live in California.  

 

Fees:

30-minute consultation call: Free

First introductory session: $95 per 60 minutes

Ongoing sessions: $185 per 60 minutes

Fees are payable at the start of each session by cash or check, or you can pay by credit card.  

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In acknowledgement of the unequal distribution of and access to resources in our society, I am committed to offering as many sliding scale slots as I can in my practice.  Currently, those slots are full.  I will update my website when this changes.  

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If my full fee is out of range for you, I recommend checking out Open Path Collective.  You may also want to explore working with a therapist associate or trainee at one of these sliding scale clinics: Heart in Balance Counseling Center, Grateful Heart Holistic Therapy Center, Earth Circles Counseling Center, The Wright Institute, CIIS Counseling Clinics, Blue Oak Therapy Center.

 

I am not able to take insurance at this time.  If you have health insurance through your job that includes mental health support, you can call your insurance company and ask them if they reimburse a percentage of the cost for out-of-network providers.  If they do, I can provide the necessary paperwork for you to submit to your insurance company. 


If you'd like to talk with me more about possibly working together, please reach out by filling out the contact form.  I will let you know if I have openings and suggest some times for us to talk by phone.  In this call I will ask you about what you are looking for, and answer any questions you have for me.  

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At the end of the call, if we agree that my experience and style is a good fit for what you are looking for, we can set up an introductory session!  

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BEFORE THE FIRST SESSION: 

I will send you an email prior to your session which will include your appointment time and consent forms that must be signed.  I will also include a brief questionnaire that you can fill out ahead of time, or we can do it together at your session. 

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THE FIRST SESSION:

The first session is an opportunity for us to get to know each other a bit.  You will  have  a chance to feel what it is like to be online together, and to ask any questions you might have.  We will go over your questionnaire and I will ask you a bit more about what you care about in life, your strengths, what obstacles you are facing, and how I might be of support to you. 

 

After the first session, you can decide whether you would like to set up ongoing sessions and we can discuss fees and schedule.

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PAYMENTS:

All payments are due at the time of service. Payments must be received in full prior to scheduling future appointments.  I accept checks and credit cards.  I am not currently on any insurance panels, but hope to be in the future.  If you have insurance that reimburses for out-of-network services, I can provide you documentation for reimbursement. 

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CANCELLATION POLICY:

Please notify me at least 48 hours before your scheduled appointment time if you need to cancel.  Cancellations or no-shows with less than 48 hours notice will generally result in an automatic charge of full session fee.  Future sessions will not be scheduled until payment is received in full.  By scheduling an appointment, regardless of signed documentation, you are verbally agreeing to this policy.

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Good Faith Estimate for Health Care Items & Services (Under the No Surprises Act)

Under the No Surprises Act (H.R. 133 - effective January 1, 2022), health care providers need to give clients or patients who do not have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.​​

  • This Good Faith Estimate shows the costs of items and services that are reasonably expected for your health care needs for an item or service. The estimate is based on information known at the time the estimate was created. 

  • You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes (under the law/when applicable) related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees.

  • The Good Faith Estimate does not include any unknown or unexpected costs that may arise during treatment. You could be charged more if complications or special circumstances occur. If this happens, federal law allows you to dispute (appeal) the bill. 

  • If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.

    • You may contact the health care provider or facility listed to let them know the billed charges are higher than the Good Faith Estimate. You can ask them to update the bill to match the Good Faith Estimate, ask to negotiate the bill, or ask if there is financial assistance available. 

    • You may also start a dispute resolution process with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). If you choose to use the dispute resolution process, you must start the dispute process within 120 calendar days (about 4 months) of the date on the original bill. 

    • There is a $25 fee to use the dispute process. If the agency reviewing your dispute agrees with you, you will have to pay the price on this Good Faith Estimate. If the agency disagrees with you and agrees with the health care provider or facility, you will have to pay the higher amount. 

  • Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate within the following timeframes:

    • If the service is scheduled at least three business days before the appointment date, no later than one business day after the date of scheduling;

    • If the service is scheduled at least 10 business days before the appointment date, no later than three business days after the date of scheduling; or

    • If the uninsured or self-pay patient requests a good faith estimate (without scheduling the service), no later than three business days after the date of the request. A new good faith estimate must be provided, within the specified timeframes if the patient reschedules the requested item or service.

 

Note: A Good Faith Estimate is for your awareness only. It does NOT involve you needing to make any type of commitment.

 

To learn more and get a form to start the process, go to www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call 800-985-3059. For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate or the dispute process, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call 800-985-3059. Keep a copy of this Good Faith Estimate in a safe place or take pictures of it. You may need it if you are billed a higher amount.

If you have questions or concerns, please reach out.

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