Yes, I am! Contact me today to schedule a free consultation.

In California, I accept Lyra and Aetna.

In Texas, I accept Aetna, Lyra, Optum, Oscar Health, Oxford, Carelon, and Quest Behavioral Health.

I offer single case agreements, which allow me to provide services to clients not covered by my standard network.

Due to limited insurance spots, clients may be placed on a waitlist. Please reach out to inquire about availability.

For out-of-network benefits, please check with your insurance or use this benefits calculator: https://mentaya.com/checkbenefits/gD6JsFxqRzk65paAF9Sk

HMO plans operate with a closed network, meaning members must receive care from in-network providers. Out-of-network care is typically not covered unless it's an emergency. PPO plans offer more flexibility, allowing members to see any provider, including out-of-network ones, though out-of-network care often results in higher out-of-pocket costs.

This means that HMO insurance companies, like Kaiser or Sutter, only refer members to therapists employed directly by their network. These plans usually don’t contract with independent providers like myself.

I limit the number of PPO insurance providers I work with to ensure I can offer the highest quality of care to my clients. By focusing on a select few networks, I can better manage my caseload, reduce wait times, and maintain flexibility in how I practice.

Additionally, many insurance networks are not provider-friendly, often resulting in significant issues such as clawbacks, high administrative burdens, denied claims, lost payments, low reimbursement rates, and mandatory diagnoses. These challenges can ultimately impact the quality of care I provide.

If your insurance isn’t listed, I’m happy to discuss your out-of-network benefits or explore other payment options with you.

You can also read more about the systemic challenges therapists face with insurance here:
Why I Left the Network

Yes. I am able to accommodate $150 per session.

Therapy is an investment, and I understand that my rates may feel high at first glance. However, it's important to consider the full scope of what goes into providing quality care.

Unlike a traditional hourly wage, a therapist’s work extends far beyond the time spent in session. For every client hour, there are additional responsibilities. These include writing progress notes, treatment planning, consulting research, attending continuing education, crisis management, and handling administrative tasks like out-of-network insurance claims and scheduling. Most full-time private practice therapists can sustainably see only 20-25 clients per week, as the emotional and mental demands of this work require balance to provide ethical, effective care long-term.

Additionally, private practice therapists cover all business expenses out-of-pocket, including office rent in San Francisco, health insurance, malpractice insurance, electronic health records, supervision, continuing education, and self-employment taxes. These costs add up significantly, and since therapists only have a limited number of billable hours, our rates reflect the need to sustain a viable practice while maintaining high-quality care for our clients.

My goal is to provide meaningful, effective therapy while ensuring I can continue this work for the long haul. I deeply value the trust my clients place in me and strive to make our time together a worthwhile investment in their well-being.

I do! I have an office in the Oceanview neighborhood of San Francisco, which is near the Broad & Capitol MUNI stop. Keep in mind that it is an uphill walk for about 20 minutes from the MUNI stop. Free parking is available! Although there are no bathrooms in my office, there are free public restrooms a block away. Exact addresses will be provided when your appointment is scheduled.

You don’t have to do anything special!

Many people come in eager to start talking about what’s going on. It can be helpful to reflect on what you're looking for in a therapist and come with any questions you might have for me.

Common questions are:

• What does a typical session look like?

• Have you worked with clients who have had experiences similar to mine?

• How do you create safety and build trust with new clients?

• What should I expect in the first few sessions?

Goals in therapy are something we work toward under the assumption that reaching them will help your overall wellbeing. You decide what yours goals are and I help guide you and your path towards completion.

Example goals in therapy might include:

1) Develop a deeper understanding of yourself and your place in the world

2) Become more mentally resilient and increase ability to cope with your life’s challenges

3) Live a fulfilling life with purpose and meaning

4) Decrease interpersonal conflict in your life and improve your relationships with other people

5) Gain insight into the underlying psychological factors that may be contributing to your current difficulties

6) Develop new ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving that improve your mental health

Therapy can continue for as long as it is beneficial for you. However, it is unethical for therapists to continue treatment if therapy is no longer helping clients. I don’t have strict timelines when I work with clients because everyone is different. However, I may refer you to another therapist if we discuss that your issues would not be under my scope of competence.

I enjoy helping people. It is an honor to be a witness and guide for another person’s journey of recovery and self-discovery. I had a therapist myself during a dark period in my young adult life, which helped me feel like I could cope with the hard stuff and live a more meaningful life. I decided that being a therapist is probably one of the most important jobs someone could do, and so I became one myself!

I have over a decade of experience working with transgender and/or nonbinary people who need mental health support in a variety of settings such as hospitals, crisis centers, and community environments. I am passionate about working with trans people because I believe it’s harder for us to get quality services from professionals who are informed about the specific ways we navigate our gender.

I also attained additional training through WPATH (World Professional Association for Transgender Health), I am a clinical member of Mind the Gap, and I keep myself up-to-date with current best practices for trans people.

Yes, I provide assessments and letters for gender-affirming procedures, including:

• Mastectomy

• Phalloplasty

• Metoidioplasty

• Orchiectomy

• Hysterectomy

• Vaginoplasty

• Facial Feminization Surgery (FFS)

• Tracheal Shave (Adam’s Apple Reduction)

• Breast Augmentation

• Voice Surgery

• Genital Reconstructive Surgery

• Labiaplasty

We’ll work together to ensure the letter meets your surgical team’s and insurance provider’s requirements.

A WPATH SOC8 assessment is a comprehensive evaluation to determine your readiness for surgery. It includes a review of your gender identity, mental health history, emotional stability, informed consent, support system, and real-life experience in your gender identity. Gender dysphoria is often considered, but not required, to access care; it refers to the distress caused by a mismatch between your gender identity and assigned sex at birth.

The assessment also addresses any unmanaged substance use, as it may affect your ability to make informed decisions or manage post-surgical recovery. If addiction is present, it’s important to address it before proceeding with surgery.

While I provide thorough assessments, a letter may be denied or delayed if surgery is not appropriate based on WPATH guidelines, or if mental health, real-life experience, or understanding of the surgery needs further attention. The goal is to support you in making the best decision for yourself with full clarity of the process.