F A Q s

Frequently Asked Questions

Logistical Questions

  • My office is located in Old Pasadena, CA—the address will be shared in a welcome email following our consultation call. You can get to know my space here.

  • I see clients in person on Mondays and Tuesdays only.

    Virtual appointments are available Monday through Thursday, including evenings.

    Walk and Talk therapy may be available on weekends and requires advanced scheduling.

    During your free consultation, we can discuss your availability and set up a regular appointment time that works for you.

  • Yes! Virtual therapy sessions are available for all clients residing in California Monday through Thursday, including evenings.

    Research shows that online therapy can be as effective as in-person sessions. If you opt for virtual therapy, ensure you have a private space with a reliable internet connection. Sessions are conducted on a HIPAA-compliant version of Zoom, and you’ll receive a link automatically when you book your appointment.

    While virtual therapy offers convenience and flexibility, its effectiveness varies depending on individual needs and the nature of the issues being addressed. Because I incorporate somatic work and intuitive touch, I generally don’t recommend virtual therapy for trauma-related concerns. We can discuss the best approach for your situation during or after your free consultation.

  • Individuals:
    $175 per 50-minute session
    $250 per 80-minute session
    $265 for Cacao add-on (90 min)

    Couples:
    $200 per 50-minute session
    $275 per 80-minute session
    $285 for Cacao add-on (90 min)

    I offer a limited number of sliding scale spots ($150) for individuals experiencing financial hardship or extenuating circumstances. If you require a sliding scale arrangement, please discuss this with me during your free consultation.

    Additional Fees:
    If you become involved in legal proceedings that require my participation, I will charge for my professional time and services, even if I am called to testify by another party. My fee for preparation and attendance at any legal proceeding is $450 per hour. Bills and receipts will be provided at the end of each session, and payment is expected upon receipt unless otherwise agreed upon.

    Wondering why therapy is so expensive? Check out this blog post.

  • I do not accept insurance of any kind. To understand why, please read this blog.

    Typically PPO insurance plans reimburse for a portion of “out-of-network” services. If you have out-of-network coverage, payment for services is collected upfront and I will provide you with a monthly Superbill to submit to your insurance for reimbursement. Please verify your insurance benefits directly with your provider.

  • In order to avoid being charged the full session fee, I require written notice via text or email at least 24 hours ahead of your scheduled appointment. I understand that emergencies and unforeseen circumstances can arise and I'm flexible in such situations.

    The full session fee will be charged for late arrivals, early departures, missed appointments, or cancellations made with less than 24 hours' notice in non-emergency situations or if attendance is inconsistent.

    Your scheduled appointment time is reserved specifically for you, and consistent attendance is crucial to the effectiveness of treatment.

  • Under the federal No Surprises Act, healthcare providers are required to provide clients who are not utilizing insurance with an estimate of the anticipated costs for medical services, including psychotherapy services. You are entitled to request a Good Faith Estimate for the complete expected expenses of any non-emergency healthcare services, including psychotherapy, either before scheduling a service or at any point during your treatment. If you receive a bill that exceeds your Good Faith Estimate by at least $400, you have the option to contest the bill. It's important to retain a copy or a photo of your Good Faith Estimate. For inquiries or more details regarding your right to a Good Faith Estimate and how to challenge a bill, please visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises.

  • An AMFT, or Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, is a therapist who has completed a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy or a related field and is working towards full licensure as an LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist). As an AMFT, I have completed the necessary education and am actively working under the supervision of a licensed professional to hone my skills and meet the requirements for full licensure.

    Choosing to see an AMFT offers several unique benefits. While I may still be working toward full licensure, I bring fresh, up-to-date knowledge from my recent studies and training. Supervision is a significant benefit to you as it allows me to conceptualize your case from multiple lenses. Regularly consulting with experienced supervisors ensures that I consider various perspectives and therapeutic approaches, which can enhance the quality and depth of care you receive.

    I bring a wealth of experience and specialized training in areas like somatic therapy, trauma therapy, and psychedelic integration. My diverse background, combined with a strong commitment to ongoing learning and personal healing, allows me to offer a unique and deeply empathetic approach to therapy.

    Ultimately, whether you choose to work with an AMFT or an LMFT should be based on who you feel most comfortable with and who best meets your specific needs. I encourage you to explore your options and choose the therapist who resonates with you, whether that’s me or another professional.

Therapy-Related Questions

  • I offer a 20-minute free consultation call to help us determine if we’re a good fit. Just like any long-term, intimate relationship, it’s important that we both feel comfortable and at ease from the start.

    During this call, you’ll have the opportunity to share some background about yourself, your current concerns, and what brought you to seek therapy. I’ll briefly introduce myself and provide an overview of my approach and the therapy process.

    We’ll also discuss fees, scheduling, and then check in at the end to see if we’d like to move forward with scheduling your first appointment.

  • During your first appointment, we’ll focus on creating a safe and supportive environment for you to feel comfortable sharing your story. It’s a time to get to know each other, explore your goals for therapy, and begin to gently tune into your body and nervous system. For more details on what to expect and how to prepare, check out my blog post: How to Prepare for Your First Somatic Therapy Session.

  • Each person, relationship, and situation is unique, and every nervous system has its own pace—so there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question.

    Many clients start to feel some relief within the first few sessions simply because they aren’t navigating life and complex issues by themselves anymore. That said, trauma therapy is often a longer process that requires commitment. Because somatic therapy works at the root rather than just managing symptoms, there’s usually more to unpack and process.

    My promise to every client is to work as efficiently as possible while still honoring the pace of your nervous system—because pushing too fast can actually make things worse. My ultimate goal is to help you become resourced, stabilized, and regulated enough that you no longer feel dependent on therapy (or me).

  • It depends. The length of your therapy process varies based on what you’re working through, your goals, and how your system responds to the work. Therapy is collaborative, and we can only move as fast as your nervous system allows—there are no shortcuts to healing (not even with psychedelics).

    Healing is a long-term commitment. Some people benefit from short-term therapy (a year or less), but many of my clients have histories of trauma that take longer to untangle. If you're looking for deep, lasting change, therapy isn’t just about showing up to sessions—it’s about what you do outside of them, too.

  • For clients who are 18 years or older, confidentiality is legally protected, regardless of who is paying for the therapy. This means that I cannot disclose details about the content of our sessions to parents or guardians without the client’s explicit written consent. While I understand that parents or guardians may have concerns or questions, my primary obligation is to maintain the privacy and trust of my client. Any information shared with parents or guardians will be strictly limited to what the client has agreed to disclose.

    We can discuss and clarify any questions about privacy and confidentiality during the initial consultation or at any point during the therapy process.

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