Frequently Asked Questions

I do not accept insurance.

Once upon a time, at the start of this practice, I did, and sadly found the experience to be difficult for the client and myself. Without insurance, we have more freedom and privacy and don’t have to justify our meetings to any random representative.

I offer help to make use of your out-of-network benefits. I can provide you with a ‘superbill’ of services that can be used to submit to your insurance for processing. I can offer guidance on how to do that anytime.

Life happens, and I get it – I get sick, too. I ask to receive notice within 24 hours of our appointment time when you are planning or need to cancel.

I offer everyone a one-time waiver policy: if something happens where you have to cancel late or you just miss an appointment, I offer everyone a one-time pass to completely waive their fee, which you can use anytime for any reason.

If you are sick or suddenly have to change plans, I also do not charge any fee if we can reschedule your appointment within the same week.

Additionally, if an emergency comes up for you or someone important, I am also flexible in waiving the fee.

The free phone call is an opportunity for you and me to get started on identifying what it is you are looking for in therapy. I’ll ask you what’s bringing you in and confirm whether I think I can help you with what you are looking for. You can also ask me whatever you’d like to know to determine if you think we’d be a good fit. We’ll schedule our first appointment if we are both on board with working together.

How frequently I meet with someone is determined on an individual basis. Most people tend to see me once a week or every other week. It’s typically easier and better to pick a consistent day and time, as this really helps build continuous momentum. I also make sure that at the end of every session, we are on the same page with when we are meeting next.

I work with teens and adults of all ages on an individual basis. I find kids adorable and would help you find a child therapist if you so desire.

Hell yeah! Why would an answer be anything but that? Being a member of the community myself, I am well-versed in the issues that queer individuals face in regard to sexuality and gender; to the degree that I can being a cis-female. 

There is no standard length of time. Everyone who comes into therapy has their own unique issues to address, goals to achieve, and skills to improve. I offer a plan of the proposed work, that way you can have a sense of where we are throughout the process.

If you have a desired timeline in mind, you can let me know, and we can figure out how to best make that work.

I have worked with many men over the course of my career. I know that being a cis-woman, I am never going to understand things completely. However, I am well-versed in the frequent struggles that are experienced and love to offer my allyship in therapy.

The biggest reasons men have come to see me are (1) following a referral from another guy, (2) wanting to have a consistent space where it feels safe to fully unload and unpack what’s going on, or (3) seeking counseling from a female perspective (having had male therapists in the past).

It’s my personal belief that everyone has something to benefit from therapy – it’s a designated time and place to prioritize yourself. Mental health is synonymous with general health, which is why I take the work we do seriously and work diligently.

I also strongly believe that the space is a “safe container” of trust and confidentiality. I review confidentiality with each new client, as I believe your privacy and safety should be maintained at the highest professional level.

In a literal sense: I like to start every therapy meeting by confirming the agenda and asking how you are doing lately. It’s your check-in time to share and reflect on what you’ve been noticing and what’s important to you; that can take us wherever it does. From there, I’ll either try to incorporate aspects of our plan and goals with what we’re talking about or bring in an exercise or discussion topic relevant to the last session or our plan.

Sometimes, I like to offer homework or “challenges” outside our meetings, which come with your final approval to try out.

Judgment has no place here. Say what needs to be said, and I’m going to listen and understand where you are coming from, even if you root for LA sports teams, for example. We can always shoot the breeze if you’d like to ask me about my favorite drag queens. 

Since I work from home from time to time I invite my old dog to join our meetings (only with your prior approval!). His name is Rico, and he sleeps in the background. He’s a Boston terrier who tends to sound like a pig and snores when he takes his cat naps. You are welcome to meet him.

I mean… if it’s a situation where we are seeing all three of these legends duke it out on some grand stage, don’t we all win?