Fees
There's no charge for the initial consultation for psychotherapy services. The first consultation for coaching is half the normal fee. My fees are reasonably-priced, with a sliding scale that is income-based for objectivity:
My standard fee for a 50-minute therapy hour is $140 for individuals and $150 for couples. The standard fee applies to those with individual or combined income of $90,000 or more. It also applies to appointments that start after 5:00 p.m., which are in higher demand.**
Insurance and Third-Party Payment
Due to the paperwork, complexity and delay often encountered with insurance companies and other third-party payers, I do not participate in insurance panels, Medicare or Medi-Cal. However, some insurance companies reimburse psychotherapy with out-of-network providers. If you bring me the insurance forms, I will fill them out to help you get reimbursed, with the understanding that clients are responsible for paying me directly, and I am not responsible for transactions between you and a third-party payer.
The main reason I want to simplify the payment process is this — I want to spend my professional time thinking about how I can provide you with the highest-quality services.
* All initial appointments are arranged through a brief phone call so I can get a general sense of the issues you're addressing. I also ask questions to make sure that your needs are likely to fit within my scope of practice (areas of training and expertise). If those issues are outside my scope of practice, instead of meeting, I try to offer referrals to therapists or community resources with the appropriate specialization. 24-hour notice is required to reschedule the no-charge visit once only.
** I may occasionally waive the full fee for an evening session if fitting in a lower-fee client on an urgent basis.