Frequently Asked Questions

YOUR FIRST APPOINTMENT IS ALWAYS AN ASSESSMENT of 45 MINUTES:

• $175: assessment/first appointment for individuals (45 min)
• $200: assessment/first appointment for couples or families (45 min)

INDIVIDUAL THERAPY COSTS 

• $150 per 45min
• $175 per 45min if being seen individually in the course of couples therapy

COUPLES THERAPY COSTS

• $175 per 45min

EXTENDED COUPLES THERAPY OPTIONS

•  $375: assessment plus first working session (90min)
•  $550: assessment plus 90min couples session (135min total)*
•  $725: assessment plus 135min couples sessions (180min total)*
•  $350: 90min session
•  $525: 135min session*
•  $700: 180min session*

For 135mins, please plan for 145mins; for 180mins, please plan for 195mins.

This is because we may take short breaks, which will not count as a part of your time.  

I accept cash*, check*, Paypal and credit cards.  NOTE: There is a 4% discount if paying by cash or check. The above costs reflect this discount, so paying by Paypal or credit card is at the fees of $210, $180, $385, $180 and $155, respectively. 

Yes. I offer virtual sessions.

This answer is that it depends.

• Therapy is covered by insurance as long as there is a mental health disorder diagnosis.  This is true of any therapy. (Coaching is not covered by insurance as there isn't a mental health disorder being treated.)
• I am not an in-network provider so you would pursue reimbursement through your out of network benefits. Please ask your insurance company about your out of network benefits for either 'individual therapy' or 'conjoint therapy.'
• Your HSA can be used to cover the costs of therapy.
• At your first appointment, please discuss with me your desire to use your insurance so that I know I need to provide you with a reimbursement statement with all the necessary codes. 

The assessment session has four parts.
1) We will review the paperwork that I sent to you via email.  I will answer any questions you have and then I will ask questions about you, your relationship, and your goals for counseling.  
2) I meet with one partner individually for a short period of time. 
3) I meet with the other partner individually for a short period of time.
4) I will provide you with initial impressions about what is happening in the relationship and we will collaborate on what we will focus on in future sessions.

Yes and yes!

Yes, even though my licensure has "marriage" in the title, I am a relationship therapist, couples coach and mediator. I help people with the important relationships in their lives regardless of legal definition. I also help people come to agreements on difficult subjects whether or not they were legally married.

Yes, I do see people individually. 

The first fundamental difference is that while other counselors are educated about and treat the psychology and behavior of individuals, an MFT learns about relational dynamics and intervenes at a relational and systemic level.  (Sometimes, well-meaning therapists attempt to do couples therapy, but because they are not well-versed in relational therapeutic models, they wind up alternating between the two partners, providing individual therapy to each instead of providing couples therapy to the couple.) 

Another significant difference is that during my training program, I received both live and video supervision for two years.  This means  that AAMFT Approved Supervisors either watched me work from behind a one-way mirror, or they would review the videotapes of my sessions that I recorded each time I saw an appointment. This ensured that I was becoming competent with basic practices of therapy, and becoming skilled at more complex therapeutic interventions.  This type of supervision was an extremely challenging and humbling experience, but I would not be the therapist I am today without this very beneficial requirement in my training program.