FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Questions about working with me
Everything you might want to know before reaching out — about my practice, what I specialize in, who I work with, how sessions work, and what therapy with me actually looks like. If something isn't answered here, the free consultation is the right place to ask.
ABOUT MY PRACTICE
Are you a sex-positive therapist offering telehealth in California?
Yes. I am a sex-positive, trauma-informed psychotherapist offering telehealth sex and relationship therapy to clients throughout California. All sessions are conducted via secure video — I do not offer in-person sessions. I am based in the Bay Area and am registered to practice across the entire state of California.
Are you an LGBTQ+ affirming therapist?
Yes. I am a GSRD-affirming therapist — meaning I work affirmingly with clients across the full spectrum of Gender, Sexuality, and Relationship Diversity. I identify as pansexual and gender non-binary myself, and I bring both lived experience and clinical training to this work. Queer, trans, non-binary, bisexual, asexual, and questioning clients are not just welcome in my practice — this work was designed with you in mind.
Do you work with non-monogamous and polyamorous clients?
Yes. I specialize in non-monogamy, polyamory, and relationship structure exploration. I work with individuals and relationships at every stage — newly curious about opening up, actively practicing ethical non-monogamy, navigating polycule dynamics, or restructuring an existing arrangement. I also work with people practicing conscious monogamy who want to examine their relationship structure as a genuine choice.
What areas of California do you serve?
I offer telehealth therapy to clients throughout the entire state of California — including the Bay Area, Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento, and all other California cities and communities. Because all sessions are conducted via secure video, your location within California does not affect your access to my practice.
SPECIALTIES & WHAT WE CAN WORK ON
Are you a kink-aware and BDSM-affirming therapist?
Yes. I am a kink-aware, BDSM-affirming therapist. I do not pathologize kink interests or treat them as symptoms requiring explanation. I work with individuals and couples navigating kink dynamics, power exchange relationships, consent negotiation, and BDSM-related concerns — with genuine clinical competence and no judgment.
Do you offer a free initial consultation?
Yes. I offer a free 25-minute video consultation for all prospective clients. There is no obligation to continue after the consultation, and no fee is charged. The consultation is an opportunity for you to get a feel for our dynamic and ask any questions you have — and for me to understand what's bringing you in. If it turns out we're not the right fit, I will do my best to refer you to someone who might be.
What is discernment counseling and do you offer it?
Yes, I offer discernment counseling. Discernment counseling is a short-term structured process — typically three to five sessions — for couples where one or both partners are uncertain whether to continue the relationship. It is distinct from couples therapy: rather than working on the relationship, it focuses on helping each person gain clarity about which direction they want to pursue. I offer discernment counseling for couples and multi-partner relationships of all configurations throughout California via telehealth.
What do you specialize in?
I specialize in sex therapy and relationship therapy for individuals and relationships of all configurations. My primary areas of focus include: desire discrepancy and reigniting intimacy in long-term relationships, responsive desire and the Dual Control Model, gender dysphoria and gender exploration, sexual orientation exploration, kink and BDSM dynamics, non-monogamy and polyamory, relationship structure exploration, non-nuclear household navigation, discernment counseling, facilitated conscious uncoupling, and Gottman Method couples therapy using the Sound Relationship House model.
Do you offer conscious uncoupling?
Yes. I offer facilitated conscious uncoupling based on Katherine Woodward Thomas's framework. This is a structured process for separating partners who want to end their relationship with care, dignity, and intention — particularly valuable for non-traditional relationships, polyamorous partnerships, chosen family arrangements, and co-parenting situations that don't fit the standard separation script.
Do you work with individuals, or only couples?
I work with both individuals and relationships of all configurations — couples, triads, polycules, and multi-partner households. Individual sex therapy can be valuable for exploring identity, understanding your own desire patterns, processing past experiences that have affected your relationship with sex, or simply developing a more compassionate relationship with your own sexuality. You do not need a partner to benefit from sex therapy.
FEES, INSURANCE & LOGISTICS
Do you accept insurance?
No, I do not accept insurance directly. This is a private-pay practice through the Center for Mindful Psychotherapy. However, I can provide a Superbill — an itemized receipt — after each session, which you can submit to your insurance company for potential out-of-network reimbursement. If your plan includes out-of-network mental health benefits, you may be eligible for partial reimbursement. I recommend calling your insurer before your first session and asking about out-of-network coverage for CPT code 90837 (individual) or 90847 (couples).
What are your session fees?
Individual sessions are $190 for 50 minutes. Relationship sessions (two or more people) are $220 for 50 minutes. I offer a limited number of sliding scale spots for clients who genuinely need it, ranging from $130–$190 for individuals and $160–$220 for relationship sessions, with a commitment to weekly sessions. Fees and sliding scale availability are discussed openly during the free consultation.
Do you offer sliding scale fees?
Yes. I offer a limited number of sliding scale spots for clients committing to weekly sessions who genuinely need financial accommodation. Sliding scale is based on self-reported financial need — I operate on trust. If my fees are not workable even with the sliding scale, I will do my best to connect you with other affirming therapists or resources that may be a better fit financially.
How do telehealth sessions work?
All sessions are conducted via secure, HIPAA-compliant video. You will receive a link dedicated to your private weekly session. You can join from anywhere in California — at home, at work, or wherever you have a private space and a stable internet connection. No special software is required beyond a browser or a mobile device.
MY APPROACH & TRAINING
What therapeutic approaches do you use?
My approach is integrative and tailored to each client. I draw on the Gottman Method for couples building communication skills and repairing their relational foundation, Internal Family Systems (IFS) for exploring inner patterns that shape how we show up in intimacy, Gestalt therapy for present-moment awareness in sessions, and CBT and DBT tools for practical skill-building. I also offer Harm Reduction Integrative Therapy (HRIT) for clients incorporating psychedelics into their healing journey.
What are your credentials and training?
I hold an MA in Counseling Psychology from Golden Gate University. I am a Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT #144916), supervised by Sam Pow, LCSW #88131, through the Center for Mindful Psychotherapy. I hold a Sex Therapist Certification and a Sexuality Coach and Consultant Certification from the Sexual Health Alliance, and I am a Gottman Method Couples Therapist (Level 1). I also completed a year-long traineeship at the Pacific Center for Human Growth and have served as a crisis volunteer with The Trevor Project and a psychedelic peer support sitter with the Zendo Project.
Is sex therapy talk therapy, or does it involve physical contact?
Sex therapy as practiced by licensed mental health professionals is entirely talk-based — there is no physical contact, no demonstrations, and no observation of sexual activity. Sessions are conversations: skilled, informed, and non-judgmental. Everything we discuss stays within the session. I practice via telehealth, so all sessions take place over secure video.
What can I expect in a first session?
In a first session, I am primarily listening. I want to understand what brought you in, what you've already tried, and what feels most stuck or alive for you right now. There is no pressure to share anything before you're ready, and nothing you say will change the quality of care I offer you. We move at your pace. Most people find the first session less frightening than they expected — and many describe feeling lighter after saying something out loud for the first time that they had been carrying alone.
Do you offer couples therapy?
Yes. I work with couples, dyads, triads, and multi-partner relationships. I am trained in the Gottman Method (Level 1) and use the Sound Relationship House framework to assess relationship strengths and growth areas, build communication skills, and support couples through conflict, transitions, and reconnection. I also offer discernment counseling for couples who are uncertain whether they want to continue their relationship, and facilitated conscious uncoupling for those navigating separation.
Still have questions? The free consultation is the right place to ask anything that isn't answered here. No obligation, no pressure — just a conversation to see if we're a good fit.