FAQ

Getting Started with Therapy

  • Great Question.

    Your window into the future steps to begin therapy with Amie:

    1) Initial Free Phone or Telehealth Consultation

    2) Mutual Assessment of Fit

    3) Agree Upon First Session and Schedule Plan

    5) Receive an invitation to my Portal to complete Intake & Consent paperwork

    6) Invitation to proceed with therapy

  • Available by phone or telehealth. You’ll receive a secure link from my portal to ask questions, get to know me, and explore how therapy might work for you.

  • You might feel stuck, stressed, or overwhelmed. Therapy can help you understand what’s happening, build practical skills, broaden your perspective, and create space for new patterns that support meaningful change.

  • Verification can happen immediately or takes a few days. Coverage will be confirmed by Headway before your first session. Once we decide to move forward, I will send you an invitation LINK to upload your insurance and complete digital intakes through Headway. Headway supports my practice by handling the insurance claims and payments for therapy sessions.

Fees & Insurance

  • My private-pay therapy practice prioritizes flexibility, privacy, and depth of care. Working outside of insurance requirements allows therapy to be guided by your goals—not diagnostic or billing constraints.

    My practice is primarily private pay, which means clients typically pay directly for sessions via credit card or electronic payment (Zelle or Venmo). This model supports personalized, trauma-informed, and relationship-focused work, including couples therapy, which is not always covered by insurance.

    For individual therapy, I may be in-network with select insurance plans through Headway; however, private pay remains an option for those who prefer greater flexibility or do not wish to use insurance.

    I work with adults and couples from diverse personal and professional backgrounds, including individuals in high-stress or high-visibility roles. I understand the demands of these environments and maintain strict confidentiality for every client.

  • My practice is primarily private pay, which allows for greater flexibility in treatment, session focus, and the therapeutic approaches I offer.

    For individual therapy, I am in-network with select insurance plans through Headway, a secure third-party platform that manages insurance billing. Select insurance plans include Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross California, Oxford, (Optum) and United Healthcare.

    Couples therapy is offered as private pay only.

    If you’re unsure which option is the best fit, we can explore this together during a consultation.

  • 50-minute Individual Adult Therapy session @ $180

    50-minute Couples Therapy session @$180

    Many couples choose 75-minute sessions, which are offered at a rate of $200. For EMDR or Brainspotting work, 15-minute extensions are available and billed at a prorated rate if additional time is helpful.

  • I accept Zelle, Venmo, credit, and debit cards.

    Payments can be made at time of session.

    Credit and Debit card payments are processed through my Simple Practice portal at the end of each session

  • Individual therapy: You may request a Superbill for potential out-of-network reimbursement.

    Couples therapy: Reimbursement is unlikely. Insurance rarely reimburses for relationship therapy since it is often not considered a medical necessity.

    If you have out-of-network benefits for individual therapy, you may be eligible for partial reimbursement. I recommend contacting your insurance provider to confirm your specific coverage.

  • If you are self-pay, you are entitled to request a Good Faith Estimate of the total cost of therapy services. Please contact me to receive a written estimate before your first session.

Still have a question? Send a message →
and I’ll be happy to help.

Therapy Basics

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    I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), also referred to as a psychotherapist or counselor, with specialized training in relationship dynamics and emotional health.

  • You may feel stuck, stressed, or caught in overwhelming emotions. Therapy can help you gain insight, develop practical skills, expand thinking, and heighten awareness to make space for new patterns that lead to meaningful change.

  • Therapy sessions are typically 50 minutes.

  • The length of therapy depends on your personal goals. I offer weekly, every-other-week, and monthly sessions. The goal of therapy is to provide relief, teach practical skills, and support you in moving forward to live fully and “graduate” from therapy with confidence.

  • Yes. Online sessions can be done from a phone, tablet, or computer as long as you have a reliable internet connection.

    In advance of your session, you’ll receive a LINK via my secure client portal, which is simple to use — just click the session link at the time of your appointment and join. You’ll just need a private space where you feel comfortable speaking freely and to be physically located in California during the session.

  • Therapy is co-created. We explore together what hasn't worked, identify what has, and create a personalized plan to support the changes and growth you want to achieve.

  • Therapy is a collaborative process, and its conclusion is guided by your progress and goals.
    At the start of therapy, we explore your goals and establish a tentative time horizon. Regular check-ins help us fine-tune your therapy to ensure your therapy experience is effective and meaningful.
    If either of us notices that your goals are not being met or that a different approach may be more helpful, I practice full transparency and provide supportive referrals to ensure you receive the care you need.
    Therapy typically ends when your goals are met and you have the tools to manage challenges and sustain positive change.
    Ending (graduating) therapy and processing healthy closure supports lasting growth, confidence, and independence.

  • Yes-you're welcome to text, email, or call. Please note that I don't provide therapy through messages or over the phone, and I typically only respond between sessions if something is urgent.


    Any concerns that need a thoughtful, therapeutic response will be addressed during our next scheduled session, where we can ensure privacy and give the issue the attention it deserves.

  • If you are in crisis or feel unsafe between sessions, please contact emergency services by calling 911, reach out to your local crisis hotline or the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, or follow your safety plan.

    Your safety matters-please don't wait. Seek immediate, life-saving support when you need it most.

    Of course, if I am your therapist, I want to be informed and promise to work with you to build your toolbox and strengthen your safety plan to support ongoing mental wellness.