Practical things, plainly
Fees & FAQs
What working together costs, how it works, and answers to the questions almost everyone asks.
Fees
For individual therapy I am in-network with Anthem Blue Cross, Cigna, Aetna, and Carelon, with Medicare pending. Couples work and intensives are private pay: insurance requires a diagnosis and dictates session structure, and relational and intensive work doesn’t fit that frame. Under the No Surprises Act, you have the right to a Good Faith Estimate of expected costs — just ask.
Questions, answered straight
FAQs
Do you take insurance?
For individual therapy, yes — I’m in-network with Anthem Blue Cross, Cigna, Aetna, and Carelon, with Medicare pending. Couples work and intensives are private pay: insurance requires a diagnosis and dictates session structure, and relational and intensive work doesn’t fit that frame. Happy to walk you through your benefits on the consultation call.
What happens in the free consultation?
Fifteen minutes by phone or video. You tell me what’s bringing you in, ask anything you like, and get a feel for how I work. I’ll tell you honestly whether I’m the right fit — and point you to someone else if I’m not. No preparation needed.
Do we meet in person or online?
Both. I see clients at my Huntington Beach office, at the shoreline for beach therapy, and by secure video anywhere in California. Coaching clients meet me by video from anywhere in the world.
How is coaching different from therapy?
Therapy is licensed clinical treatment — it can diagnose, treat, and work directly with trauma, and I can only provide it in California. Coaching is non-clinical growth work: present- and future-oriented, available worldwide, and never a substitute for therapy. I keep the line clear, and I’ll tell you if what you need belongs in the therapy room.
What are CRM and IFS?
The Comprehensive Resource Model (CRM) is a trauma model that builds layered internal resources first, so you can touch the roots of old wounds while staying anchored in the present — no flooding, no re-living. Internal Family Systems (IFS) works with the protective parts of you — the inner critic, the achiever, the one who goes numb — with respect for why each one exists.
How long does therapy take?
Honestly: it depends on what we’re healing and how deep it runs. Depth work is not endless work — we’ll set direction early, review progress openly, and you’ll never be in therapy just to be in therapy.
Is beach therapy really confidential?
We plan for privacy before we ever start: where we meet, how we handle passers-by, and what we do if you see someone you know. The shoreline is a public place, and you’ll consent to that trade-off knowingly — most clients find the openness is exactly what lets them speak freely.
Connect
Begin with a conversation
Book a free 15-minute consultation, or reach out however feels easiest. I answer everything myself.