A Marriage & Family Therapist (MFT) is a Masters-level therapist who works with individuals, couples, and families. To be clear, you do not need to be married to work with an MFT! MFT’s have completed graduate-level coursework in clinical counseling and are either in the process of completing 3,000 hours of supervised work (if they are an Associate MFT or AMFT) or have completed their hours and passed a licensing exam (if they are a Licensed MFT or LMFT). MFT’s may have different theoretical approaches, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Family Systems, or Somatic-Based Therapy, but all MFT’s must adhere to strict legal and ethical guidelines and are under the jurisdiction of the Board of Behavioral Sciences.

Yes, one of the most important aspects of therapy is its confidential nature. What you say to your therapist is held in strict confidence except in certain, specific situations wherein the therapist is seriously concerned about your safety or the safety of others or abuse of a minor is suspected. You are always welcome to discuss the confidentiality policy with your therapist.

My fee for individual and couples therapy is $190 per 50 minute session. My Tending To Your Twosome program is $250 per 75 minute session. I have sliding scale options available so please inquire if that would make therapy more financially feasible for you.

I do not currently accept insurance, however, I can provide fee statements or superbills that you can submit to your insurance for out of network coverage. Please discuss with your insurance what they may cover as well as whether you can use your FSA or HSA benefits to pay for therapy.

I have a 48-hour cancellation policy. If for any reason you are unable to make your appointment and you cancel 48-hours or more in advance, you will not be charged. If you cancel with less than 48-hours notice, you will be charged the full fee for your therapy session.

I always require beginning with weekly therapy for at least the first 4-8 sessions to allow us to build a solid relationship. If it is clinically appropriate after that, we can discuss a different cadence of meetings. The length of therapy is specific to each individual or couple. With the exception of Tending To Your Twosome, which is an 8 week program (although you can add sessions or continue working with me past the 8 sessions), therapy has an open-ended timeframe and requires patience and consistency to address the often deep roots of whatever you may be experiencing.

I offer both in-person sessions in either Oakland or Walnut Creek or virtual sessions as long as you are located within California. Although I love the convenience of virtual therapy, I really feel that nothing compares to the experience of sitting in the same room together, so I will always offer in-person sessions when possible even if we generally meet online.

Absolutely not! Please know that finding a therapist is a process and can take time. If I do not feel like the right fit for you, I will be happy to offer you referrals to aid in your search. I am a part of a wonderful group practice, called Revive Health Therapy, so I have many excellent colleagues that I can connect you with if you are looking for something that I do not offer.