FAQS

I offer telehealth therapy across California, Idaho, and Florida.

Crow Canyon Ct. San Ramon, CA. 94583.

174 E. Neider Ave.# 24
Coeur D’ Alene, ID. 83815

I am also registered as a telehealth therapist in Florida. https://flhealthsource.gov/telehealth

I use the bank encrypted platform called Simple Practice. From your computer or smart phone, you will click on a link that is sent to you before the session. No password is required. When it is the session time you will click on the link and we will start the session. Please make sure you are in a private area where no one is around that can hear our session. Some of my clients prefer to wear earbuds to help with privacy.

Working in psychotherapy takes commitment to yourself in order to grow and reach your goals. Sessions are 45 minutes in length. My rates are $220 per session depending on financial need.

I am not contracted with insurance companies due to the possible adverse effects it has on confidentiality with my clients.  When insurance is billed, I must give my clients a mental health diagnosis. These diagnoses go into medical databases that are kept on record indefinitely. Once your private information is submitted to an insurance company, they have control over who has access to that information. The diagnosis can be used against you if you want to get life insurance, health insurance, or disability insurance in the future. I have seen situations where a client's mental health record was used against them in court proceedings, potential future employment, and even gaining entrance into the military.

Insurance companies also direct the kind of treatment they will allow the therapist to give to the client, the amount of sessions, and the frequency of sessions. I feel these decisions should be made between myself and my client and not handed over to the large insurance companies who are looking after their own best interests to save money.

Due to these issues, I suggest to my clients to pay out-of-pocket for their psychotherapy. However, if you wish to seek reimbursement for “out-of-network” benefits knowing the possible confidentiality issues that may arise, I will be happy to provide you with an invoice statement that you may submit to your insurance company to possibly get reimbursed the percentage off your plan. Please keep in my mind that they may audit my notes and have full access to your confidential information in order for you to get their reimbursement rate.

Take the next step toward the life & relationships you want by reaching out.

We will talk about the issue that is bringing you into therapy. We will get to know each other and I will answer any questions you have. We will make a plan for future sessions to help resolve the issue that you are struggling with, and I will give you some ideas on what to work on in between our sessions.

The length of therapy depends on the issue that is brought into the sessions. Some clients feel better and can move on after only a few sessions, and others remain in therapy for more than a year. Each client is different, so there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. We can talk about this in session though and reevaluate overtime.

A good faith estimate details how much your medical care will cost. Under the law, healthcare providers, including therapists, need to give clients who don't have insurance, or who are not using insurance, an estimate of the bill for medical services. The good faith estimate will provide information on your expected out-of-pocket costs. As a client, you will receive your good faith estimate when you receive your initial new client documents.

Video chat/ Telemedicine is a convenient way to have therapy sessions from the comfort of your own home or office. It helps take the burden off and saves you time sitting in traffic or bad weather. If you get caught up in another appointment or can't get out of work on time we can do the session from wherever you are. If you can't get your teenager to a session or it is more comfortable for the child to stay at home we can have the session from a place they know and feel secure. 

Telemedicine is approved by most insurance companies at the same reimbursement rate as an in office visit. 

There is no software to download or passwords to remember. All you need is a smart phone or computer with a camera and audio source. 

I utilize SimplePractice for our video chat appointments since it is highly secure. Our conversations are protected with bank level encryption and security. I will send you a link to use for our sessions. 

For more information, see American Telemedicine Association Practice Guidelines for Telemental Health with Children and Adolescents.