Getting Started

Book a Free 10 Minute Phone Consultation

This 10 minute phone consultation is designed to help determine if we would be a good fit to work together. Please review my practice details including fees and policies (see below) prior to scheduling the phone consultation.

Book a Session

for initial intake sessions or follow-up sessions

(in person or virtual)

Meeting Format

I normally conduct an initial evaluation that will last approximately one or two 50-minute sessions. If your case is complex, the initial evaluation may take longer. The initial evaluation will include a diagnostic assessment and goal setting. At the end of the evaluation, we will discuss my assessment, treatment recommendations, and how I expect to help you reach your goals. During this time, we can both decide if I am the best person to provide the services you need. If not, I will refer you to another provider.

Traditional weekly 50-minute appointments are available and recommended if in your best interest. With many people, however, I recommend a model of therapy that involves longer blocks of therapy (110 minutes) so that we can reach your goals as quickly as possible. We will discuss the frequency and timing of sessions that best suits your needs. Throughout therapy, we will continue to assess and revise your treatment goals and the focus of our work together so that you continue to make progress on the issues that are most important to you. I am available for appointments Tuesdays through Fridays, 10am-4pm. I may be available on outside of these hours by special arrangement.

Phone or Video Appointments

In some instances, it may be clinically indicated to provide services via telephone or via a video phone service (such as Google Meet). A potential benefit of this format is that sessions can be provided when patients are not able to attend in-person sessions due to various reasons including COVID-19, physical limitations, physical distance, or lack of transportation. You are encouraged to read my “Outpatient Services Agreement” document to understand the risks and benefits of this type of service. Note that license restrictions require that patients receiving phone or video services must be located within the state of California.

Professional Fees

My current rates are as follows:

Intakes:

• Standard Rate Intake: $1100 for 80 mins and $800 for 50 mins.

• Off-Hours Rate Intake: $1200 for 80 mins and $900 for 50 mins.

Follow-ups:

• Standard Rate Follow-up: $500 for 50 mins and $300 for 20 mins

• Off-Hours Rate Follow-up: $600 for 50 mins and $400 for 20 mins

In addition to appointments, I charge for more than 5 minutes of additional services such as extended session time, refills, prior authorizations, additional treatment planning, telephone conversations, multiple email exchanges, participation in meetings with other professionals you have authorized, review or preparation of documents (records, reports, treatment summaries, letters, emails, etc.), and the time spent performing any other service you may request of me or that I partake in to best manage your care. If you become involved in legal proceedings that require my participation, you will be expected to pay for my professional time even if I am called to testify by another party. Additional charges will be simplified so that anything taking 5 to 20 mins will be $300, and anything up to 50 mins will be $500. Time beyond that will be billed in those increments. I will do my best to list extra services under billing codes that may be reimbursable by insurance, but as an out-of-network provider, I cannot ensure that my services will be covered by insurance in any way.

Insurance Reimbursement

If you have a health insurance policy, it will usually provide some coverage for mental health treatment. I am considered an “out-of-network” provider, which means that your insurance company may reimburse you directly for some portion of the fees you have paid to me. You (not your insurance company) are responsible for full payment of fees. I typically provide a monthly statement. If you intend to use your insurance, I recommend that you contact your plan prior to our first session to ask about your "out-of-network" psychotherapy benefits. If you choose to contact your insurance company to inquire about reimbursement, you can provide them the codes listed below which are used most frequently in my practice. Please contact me personally if your insurance requires my specific provider information (NPI, EIN, etc).

CPT Billing Code for First Appointment, typically 1-2 hours:

• 90792 (Psychiatric Diagnostic Interview)

CPT Billing Codes for Each Subsequent Appointment:

If 20-25 minutes and medications are involved or being considered:

• 99214 (E&M moderate) AND 90833 (individual therapy – 16-37 minutes)

If 50-60 minutes:

• If medications are involved or being considered: 99214 (E&M moderate) AND 90836 (individual therapy – 38-52 minutes)

• If no medications are involved: 90834 (individual therapy – 38-52 minutes) OR 90837 (individual therapy 53+ minutes)

  • Note: Some insurance companies DO reimburse for 90834 but DO NOT reimburse for 90837

Note: Coding may vary based on services rendered.

Upon Arrival: 

Please arrive at least 5 minutes before the appointment. You do not need to “check-in.” Feel free to wait in the seats in the hallway where my office is located. 

Please complete the paper “Before Session Brief Mood Survey” located on a clipboard on the table at the end of the hallway.  We will use this form in the appointment.

If you are running late or if it is past the planned start time for our session, please come to my office and knock if the “in session” sign is not on the door.

After Each Session:

Please fill out the “After Session Brief Mood Survey” and “Evaluation of Therapy Session” form (on the back) and leave it in my file provided under the clipboard.