Teletherapy and In-Person Therapy
I see clients in California via video call (Teletherapy) and in my Walnut Creek office. I use a HIPPA EHR system and will send you intake and consent forms to fill out once we schedule our first session. I will send you instructions on using the teletherapy service and a link to access the call on the morning of our appointment.
Because I do not send out paper or mailed copies of your invoice, you will receive the invoice, statement, or superbill weekly or monthly, depending on your preference. These statements are sent directly to you by email through my secure system.
Email and Electronic Communication
Using email is often a quick and convenient method of communicating with me, but it has some risks that you should consider before using email. My email, [email protected], is HIPPA-compliant and encrypted. Please be aware that email is never an appropriate vehicle for emergency communication.
I can respond more quickly to email, as I can check email between my sessions and on weekends. I cannot check my voicemail as frequently, so I recommend you try email first.
Phone calls and emails are returned within 24 hours on weekdays between 9 am -6 pm. If you call after 5 pm on Friday or during weekends, I will return your call on Monday.
Sessions
A standard session is one hour (55 minutes). By special arrangement, sessions can be scheduled for 1 1/2 hours (85 minutes) or 2 hours (110 minutes). If you want a session longer than the standard, let me know, and we can discuss it. In some situations, it is helpful to have longer sessions, especially for people coming from further away or couples doing an intake combined with the Gottman Relationship Assessment feedback.
How frequently will we meet for sessions?
The frequency of visits is individualized. In some cases, we might meet once per week for a while. More commonly, sessions are every other week. We will discuss scheduling and decide what fits your needs and the goals you are working toward. Because of my commitments, I do not always offer sessions that follow a regular schedule. For example, we might meet every other week most of the time, but I will not be available some weeks so that we will skip those sessions. I find that this intermittent schedule works well for most people. We engage in the work intensely and fully. When you don’t meet with me, you continue to work independently with home practices I tailor to your needs. We maintain continuity, even if there is variability in our meeting schedule. I will address any questions you have about scheduling so you know what to expect.
Fee
Individual Psychotherapy 90834: 55-minutes $275
Couples, Family psychotherapy with patient present 90847: 55-minutes $300
Gottman Relationship Assessment: 90875 $50
Intensive Couples Therapy: Longer sessions are often helpful for the first session to get traction, and these are scheduled for three to four hours, depending on your needs and scheduling challenges.
$450 90-minute session with couples.
$900 for 3 hours.
$1200 for 4 hours.
Relationship Coaching can be arranged when traveling, but insurance does not cover coaching.
Payment
Payment is due at the time of our session. I accept major credit and HSA/FSA (health savings account) cards. Clients will add a credit card to my secure client portal when filling out the intake and consent forms. The card is automatically charged after each session. I will send an invoice or superbill at the end of each month that reflects your sessions, payments, and required codes if you plan to submit my bill for insurance reimbursement.
Cancellation and Missed Appointments Policy
We require at least 24 hours notice for canceled appointments before your session. You are responsible for the missed appointment if you do not provide notice.
Insurance
It is important to know that if you use your mental health insurance for our treatment, it is necessary to include a psychiatric diagnosis on your claim form. Most clients elect not to submit to insurance to ensure our work is completely confidential. For this reason, I do not participate in managed care panels and do not accept insurance. As an out-of-network provider, some insurance plans will pay a portion of my fee. This will be sent to you directly after you submit my Superbill for payment. I send invoices at the end of every month with information your insurance will need to reimburse you.
If you would like to use your insurance to cover our services, please check your benefit for mental health treatment by calling the number listed for behavioral health on your medical card. We recommend that you ask them the following questions to determine how much of the charges will be reimbursed.
- Do I have mental health benefits?
- What is my deductible for out-of-network providers?
- How much of my deductible has been met for the year?
- How many sessions am I allowed during the calendar year?
- Is approval or referral required from my primary care physician?
- What is the coverage for parity diagnoses such as Panic Disorder or Major Depression?
- Where do I send claims for mental health? (Mental or Behavioral Health claims are often sent to an address other than the address on your medical card.)
Emergencies
I am not immediately available in an emergency. I will return your call as soon as possible, but if you are in a life-threatening situation, please dial 9-1-1 or go to your nearest emergency department. The Contra Costa Crisis line is available 24 hours a day at 800-833-2900.
