Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, is a skills-based treatment proven to help people tolerate distress and regulate big emotions. I worked in a DBT clinic for 2.5 years and use elements of it now, but am not a “purist.” If you are looking for “pure” DBT treatment, start here.

Exposure and Response Prevention, ERP, is considered is the “gold standard” for treating OCD. You can learn more about it here. While I am not generally hyperfocused on diagnoses, I think OCD is an important one to hone in on. Other therapy modalities can make OCD worse, and OCD works in specific ways that are best addressed head on.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, builds mental flexibility to embrace the full range of human experience and live a values-driven life. It can also be used to treat OCD alongside ERP. Read more about it here.

Psychedelic Integration and KAP are used after psychedelic experiences or therapeutic ketamine treatment. Having benefitted from both myself, I’m deeply passionate about this old-new frontier in mental health. If you’re interested in learning more, MAPS is a good place to start.

While I take my training seriously, the most important element in therapy is the fit with your therapist. Our relationship and your experience of the treatment overrides these acronyms and we explore it throughout!

Sessions are 50-55 minutes, and we will meet once or twice a week, typically on the same day/at the same time. I find that consistency helps us find our flow and gain traction.

My fee is $175. It’s important to me that therapy is accessible, so I keep my fee below market rate. I base sliding scale offerings on the Greene Clinic model. I reserve most sliding scale spots for immigrants and those who work with them.

I am in network with Aetna, United, and Optum/Oscar. I am out-of-network with all other providers.

I am able to provide a superbill to submit to your health insurance for reimbursement if you have out-of-network mental health benefits.

The short answer: ethics and finances.

The long answer: I like to keep your treatment between you and me. Insurance companies reduce confidentiality by requiring therapists and clients to provide information throughout therapy, and prove ongoing "medical necessity." Insurance companies also require formal diagnoses and often have the power to determine the type and duration of therapy.

The rates insurance companies pay therapists are often too low to maintain a private practice and healthy standard of living. Setting my own fee allows me to provide higher quality care by partaking in continuing education, while covering the many costs of private practice including sick time, vacation time, retirement, health insurance, and taxes.

You can check if your plan includes out of network benefits through Mentaya. You can also use Mentaya to submit claims on your behalf! https://mentaya.co/checkbenefits/sZbrjHqWBcnlRmqd9bXb

If you prefer to deal with your insurance provider directly, I recommend calling their customer service line and asking the following questions:

• Does my plan include out of network mental health benefits? 

• Do I have a deductible for out of network care, and how much, if any, has been met?

• How much coverage do I have for CPT codes 90834 and 90837? These codes are for individual therapy sessions of 45-60 min.

• How do I submit a claim?

• How long does reimbursement take after I submit a claim?