Common Questions

Narrative therapy starts from the idea that we make sense of our lives through stories. A couple often carries a story about who they are together, and about whose fault it is. In narrative therapy we give the problem a name, look at it side by side, and notice the moments when the two of you already handle it differently.

Both of you come. We talk about what each of you wants and how the pattern shows up at home. There is no checklist, and nobody has to say everything at once. We move at your pace.

A session runs about 80 minutes. How often we meet, and for how long, is decided together, and we check in regularly about whether the work is useful.

This practice is out of network. It does not bill Medicare or Medicaid, and it cannot accept them as payment. Your plan may reimburse part of the fee for out-of-network care. How fees work explains the steps.

On request you get an itemized monthly receipt, called a superbill, that you can send to your insurer. It carries a diagnosis code that your insurer will see. Your plan may reimburse part of the fee; your plan decides, and reimbursement is not guaranteed.

If you pay without insurance, you have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate of your costs before care begins. I give you one in writing. If a bill is $400 or more above the estimate, you can dispute it. The estimate is not a contract. You can read about your rights at cms.gov/nosurprises.

Your fee for a session is given in writing before you start, and there is no price list on this site. The How fees work page explains insurance, receipts and the estimate.

Health savings and flexible spending cards are usually accepted for sessions. Check your own plan's rules if you are unsure.

I am licensed in California. Video sessions are for people who are in California at the time of the visit, in states where we are licensed. Office sessions are on Fillmore Street in San Francisco.

If you are in crisis, call or text 988, any time, or call 911 in an emergency. This practice is not an emergency service, and messages are answered in office hours. The Crisis and resources page has more.

What you tell me is private, with limits the law sets: a serious risk of harm to you or someone else, and suspected abuse of a child or an older adult. In couples work, what either of you says may come up in the room with both of you present; I explain how I handle one-to-one conversations at the start.

I ask for 24 hours' notice to cancel. Late cancellations or missed sessions are charged the full session fee. If you are dealing with an emergency, please reach out and we will work it out together.