How do I schedule an appointment?
New clients can contact me by phone or email. I would be happy to provide a complimentary 15-minute phone consultation to address questions you may have and determine if we would be a good fit.
It can be helpful to think of a few things ahead of your phone consultation, such as:
While most therapists are trained in compassion and understanding, having a therapist who is part of your community, or who has experience working with people from your community , can make a difference.
Many folks find it easier to open up with people who empathize with their experiences, especially people from oppressed or marginalized groups.
Here are a few factors you might consider:
How long is each visit?
Appointments are typically 45-50-minutes. For some treatment approaches, such as EMDR, we will have longer treatment sessions of 80-minutes.
What should I expect during my initial visit?
Our first few sessions will involve an evaluation of your needs. During this time, we can both decide how I can best support you to help you meet your goals. By the end of the evaluation, we will offer some first impressions of what our work will include and a treatment plan to follow should you decide to continue.
What is my responsibility in therapy?
We view therapy as a partnership. You define the areas to be worked on. We use my specialized knowledge to help you build a meaningful life where you can do what matters to you. In order for the therapy to be most effective, you will need to work on things both during sessions and outside of our sessions. From time to time, we will evaluate progress and change course if necessary to meet your goals.
Download Before, During, After + Between Therapy Sessions Worksheets to help you maximize each therapy session.
What does it cost to see a therapist?
The cost of a 50-minute session is $180. The cost of an 80-minute session is $270. If using insurance, your cost will vary by your insurance policy (e.g., services may be completely covered, may pay a copay). We accept payment by check or credit card.
As of January 1st, 2022, all patients seeking medical services with an out-of-network provider have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost. Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services. You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees. Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service. If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill. For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call 1-800-985-3059.
Do you take insurance?
I am in-network with Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross, Cigna , Tricare and United.
Depending on your insurance plan, you might be able to see me as out-of-network providers. Many PPO insurances will reimburse a portion of the cost of an out-of-network provider. You would pay for your session in full at the time of service. Then I can provide you with a superbill (an itemized statement) that you submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement. If you are interested in using PPO insurance, I recommend that you contact your insurance company directly to ask about your out-of-network behavioral health care policies. Here are some questions you might ask: (1) Do I have a deductible? If so, what is the amount and has it been met, (2) What percentage of behavioral health services will be reimbursed? and (3) How many sessions per year does my insurance cover?
Insurance billing and accounting will be handled by Desiree Padrique. You are welcome to contact her directly regarding any insurance related questions. Please contact her at the beginning of treatment or any time your insurance changes in order to verify the extent and specifications of your coverage. You are also encouraged to monitor the paperwork you receive from your insurance closely and contact Desiree if anything appears amiss. Desiree can be reached at 858.247.2533 or [email protected].
What is telehealth?
Telehealth is a provision of therapy remotely through telecommunications (e.g., video, phone). Telehealth allows us to connect anywhere with secure and convenient appointments that can save you time. You can attend appointments directly from a laptop or mobile device. Telehealth sessions are private, confidential, and covered by most insurances. Furthermore, therapy provided by telehealth has been found to be as effective as in-person therapy.
I am licensed in California, which means I am able to see anyone in California. I am not able to see clients who reside out of the state of California.
How does telehealth work?
For secure, HIPAA-compliant video, we use Zoom. You will receive a link to the virtual waiting room. It will be the same link each week. You will be prompted to download Zoom when you select the link, if you do not already have the Zoom application installed. During the appointment, you will need to find a quiet, private space that is free of disruptions.
When will you go back to in-person appointments?
Based on public health recommendations, all services will be exclusively online until further notice. I am continually assessing what is in the best interests of the client and myself, and will notify current and prospective clients of their option to continue meeting via telehealth or meet in-person once that becomes an option. I will continue to offer telehealth services even when we return to in-person.
What if I can't attend my appointment?
Please cancel at least 24 hours in advance. Cancellations can be done via phone, text, or email. If you are unable to cancel within 24 hour notice, you will be charged the full fee for the appointment. Insurance will not cover this charge.
How do I obtain my therapy notes or documentation?
You can obtain your notes at any time, just request to review your record. I can provide you with a copy of your record (through the Client Portal or by mail). Then you will have to assume the risk of loss of confidentiality when you receive and store your copy of the record. If I believe it might be in some way harmful for you to review your records, I may suggest we review them together or provide you with a treatment summary in place of the entire record.
How will my health information be used or disclosed?
Please check out our Notice of Privacy Policies here.
How do I bring up a complaint?
Problems can arise in a therapy relationship, just as in any other relationship. If you are not satisfied, please raise your concerns with me as soon as possible. I will make every effort to hear any feedback you have and to seek resolution. If you feel that I have treated you unfairly or have broken a professional rule, please let me know You can also contact the state licensing board, which receives and responds to questions and complaints regarding the practice of psychology.
Board of Psychology
1625 North Market Blvd, Suite N-215,
Sacramento, CA 95834
1-866-503-3221
[email protected]
How do I get in touch?
New clients can contact me via phone or email. Existing clients can message us securely through the Client Portal. Once logged in to the Client Portal, please select the speech bubble at the top right toolbar to access messaging.
In an emergency, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency department. You can also call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or the San Diego Access and Crisis Line at 1-888-724-7240.
New clients can contact me by phone or email. I would be happy to provide a complimentary 15-minute phone consultation to address questions you may have and determine if we would be a good fit.
It can be helpful to think of a few things ahead of your phone consultation, such as:
- What are my goals in therapy?
- Have you ever worked with someone who [has your particular obstacle or issue area]?
- If you’ve been in therapy before, what worked with the last therapist? Consider what you enjoyed about whoever previously helped you. Did they validate your struggle? Did they teach you skills to combat your stress and anxiety? Were they relatable? Did they share their observations?
- What didn’t work the last time you saw a therapist? It’s critical to acknowledge what didn’t work during past therapy experiences if you have that info to work with.
While most therapists are trained in compassion and understanding, having a therapist who is part of your community, or who has experience working with people from your community , can make a difference.
Many folks find it easier to open up with people who empathize with their experiences, especially people from oppressed or marginalized groups.
Here are a few factors you might consider:
- gender identity
- racial or cultural background
- specialization in LGBQTIAP+ issues
- religious affiliations
How long is each visit?
Appointments are typically 45-50-minutes. For some treatment approaches, such as EMDR, we will have longer treatment sessions of 80-minutes.
What should I expect during my initial visit?
Our first few sessions will involve an evaluation of your needs. During this time, we can both decide how I can best support you to help you meet your goals. By the end of the evaluation, we will offer some first impressions of what our work will include and a treatment plan to follow should you decide to continue.
What is my responsibility in therapy?
We view therapy as a partnership. You define the areas to be worked on. We use my specialized knowledge to help you build a meaningful life where you can do what matters to you. In order for the therapy to be most effective, you will need to work on things both during sessions and outside of our sessions. From time to time, we will evaluate progress and change course if necessary to meet your goals.
Download Before, During, After + Between Therapy Sessions Worksheets to help you maximize each therapy session.
What does it cost to see a therapist?
The cost of a 50-minute session is $180. The cost of an 80-minute session is $270. If using insurance, your cost will vary by your insurance policy (e.g., services may be completely covered, may pay a copay). We accept payment by check or credit card.
As of January 1st, 2022, all patients seeking medical services with an out-of-network provider have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost. Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services. You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees. Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service. If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill. For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call 1-800-985-3059.
Do you take insurance?
I am in-network with Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross, Cigna , Tricare and United.
Depending on your insurance plan, you might be able to see me as out-of-network providers. Many PPO insurances will reimburse a portion of the cost of an out-of-network provider. You would pay for your session in full at the time of service. Then I can provide you with a superbill (an itemized statement) that you submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement. If you are interested in using PPO insurance, I recommend that you contact your insurance company directly to ask about your out-of-network behavioral health care policies. Here are some questions you might ask: (1) Do I have a deductible? If so, what is the amount and has it been met, (2) What percentage of behavioral health services will be reimbursed? and (3) How many sessions per year does my insurance cover?
- To determine whether you qualify for services through Aetna, call the member services number on your ID card for personalized service. Or log in to your member website and choose "Help" to get phone number, email and chat options.
- To determine whether you qualify for services through Anthem Blue Cross, please call the number on your member ID card, or log in to find information specific to your plan or start a Live Chat.
- To determine whether you qualify for services through Cigna, please visit your portal at my.cigna.com/web/public/guest
- To determine whether you qualify for services through TRICARE, please call their hotline at 1-844-866-9378. You can receive more information about services through TRICARE here: http://www.tricare.mil/CoveredServices/Mental
- To determine whether you qualify for services through United, call the phone number on your member ID card (health plan ID card). The number may be located on the front or back of the card.
Insurance billing and accounting will be handled by Desiree Padrique. You are welcome to contact her directly regarding any insurance related questions. Please contact her at the beginning of treatment or any time your insurance changes in order to verify the extent and specifications of your coverage. You are also encouraged to monitor the paperwork you receive from your insurance closely and contact Desiree if anything appears amiss. Desiree can be reached at 858.247.2533 or [email protected].
What is telehealth?
Telehealth is a provision of therapy remotely through telecommunications (e.g., video, phone). Telehealth allows us to connect anywhere with secure and convenient appointments that can save you time. You can attend appointments directly from a laptop or mobile device. Telehealth sessions are private, confidential, and covered by most insurances. Furthermore, therapy provided by telehealth has been found to be as effective as in-person therapy.
I am licensed in California, which means I am able to see anyone in California. I am not able to see clients who reside out of the state of California.
How does telehealth work?
For secure, HIPAA-compliant video, we use Zoom. You will receive a link to the virtual waiting room. It will be the same link each week. You will be prompted to download Zoom when you select the link, if you do not already have the Zoom application installed. During the appointment, you will need to find a quiet, private space that is free of disruptions.
When will you go back to in-person appointments?
Based on public health recommendations, all services will be exclusively online until further notice. I am continually assessing what is in the best interests of the client and myself, and will notify current and prospective clients of their option to continue meeting via telehealth or meet in-person once that becomes an option. I will continue to offer telehealth services even when we return to in-person.
What if I can't attend my appointment?
Please cancel at least 24 hours in advance. Cancellations can be done via phone, text, or email. If you are unable to cancel within 24 hour notice, you will be charged the full fee for the appointment. Insurance will not cover this charge.
How do I obtain my therapy notes or documentation?
You can obtain your notes at any time, just request to review your record. I can provide you with a copy of your record (through the Client Portal or by mail). Then you will have to assume the risk of loss of confidentiality when you receive and store your copy of the record. If I believe it might be in some way harmful for you to review your records, I may suggest we review them together or provide you with a treatment summary in place of the entire record.
How will my health information be used or disclosed?
Please check out our Notice of Privacy Policies here.
How do I bring up a complaint?
Problems can arise in a therapy relationship, just as in any other relationship. If you are not satisfied, please raise your concerns with me as soon as possible. I will make every effort to hear any feedback you have and to seek resolution. If you feel that I have treated you unfairly or have broken a professional rule, please let me know You can also contact the state licensing board, which receives and responds to questions and complaints regarding the practice of psychology.
Board of Psychology
1625 North Market Blvd, Suite N-215,
Sacramento, CA 95834
1-866-503-3221
[email protected]
How do I get in touch?
New clients can contact me via phone or email. Existing clients can message us securely through the Client Portal. Once logged in to the Client Portal, please select the speech bubble at the top right toolbar to access messaging.
In an emergency, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency department. You can also call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or the San Diego Access and Crisis Line at 1-888-724-7240.
