Frequently Asked Questions
Questions, Answered — No Shame, No Guessing
Everything about how I work, what I can and can't do, and what to expect — organized so you can jump straight to what you need.
01
Getting Started
-
It's totally normal to be nervous about starting therapy. It takes courage just to be reading this right now. Therapy is a space where you can come exactly as you are —nerves included. I'm committed to making sessions feel as comfortable as possible, and I'm happy to talk about your nervousness during a free phone consultation.
-
Read through the site, and if it feels like a fit, book a free consultation. Ask what a typical session looks like, how I work, or anything specific to you. I think of the first few sessions as a trial run — my approach won't work for everyone, and what matters most is that you find someone who feels right for you. We can figure that out together.
-
You never have to talk about anything you're not ready for. We'll collaborate on what feels okay to open up about, at your pace. You can even tell me you're nervous about a topic — that's a valid thing to bring into session too.
-
I won't. I'll think you're courageous and human. Many clients carry this exact fear. You're not "too much," and nothing you share will cause me to judge you — we all struggle, and normal reactions to abnormal circumstances are, in fact, normal.
-
A review of consent forms and a free-flowing conversation as we start getting to know each other — what brought you to therapy, what you're hoping for, and what I need to know to understand your current challenges. You're welcome to ask me questions too.
-
A review of consent forms and a free-flowing conversation as we start getting to know each other — what brought you to therapy, what you're hoping for, and what I need to know to understand your current challenges. You're welcome to ask me questions too.
02
Financial Therapy
-
Financial therapy is best if you're working through deep-seated emotional patterns, financial trauma, or shame — as a licensed therapist, I can help you heal from past financial experiences.
Financial coaching is more action-oriented: practical strategies and money management skills. We can figure out which fits during a free consultation, and some clients use both at different points.
-
A 6-session, Brainspotting-informed program: Getting Grounded → Where Your Money Story Started → Naming the Shame → The Freeze Point → Worth & Earning → Your Nervous-System-Informed Money Practice. Two optional catch-up sessions are available afterward for whenever you want to check in — no set topic required, and you can add one, both, or neither. This is therapy, not coaching or financial advice.
03
Brainspotting
-
Brainspotting is a body-based trauma therapy that locates and processes activation through the visual field, rather than relying only on talking things through. I'm Brainspotting Level 1 trained, and I use it throughout the Financial Therapy Intensive to work through the nervous-system root of financial shame, freeze, and avoidance — not just the behaviors sitting on top of them. It's a good fit if you already understand your money patterns intellectually and still can't shift them.
-
No. Brainspotting is its own approach — you stay fully awake and aware throughout, and unlike EMDR, it doesn't rely on bilateral eye movements. It uses a fixed eye position to access where activation is held in the body.
-
No. Brainspotting works without requiring a detailed narrative — your body can process activation without you having to verbally relive or explain everything first.
-
Not in my practice. I use it for financial trauma, chronic shame patterns, and freeze responses just as much as single-event trauma — it's a core part of how I approach the Financial Therapy Intensive specifically.
04
Assessments & Scope of Practice
-
No. I'm a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in California — a master's-level clinician, not a neuropsychologist, MD, or PhD — so I cannot prescribe or manage medication. My role is clinical assessment, diagnosis, therapy, and psychoeducation. Medication decisions need to go through a physician or other prescriber.
-
I can't guarantee any specific institution will accept it, but I provide a thorough written report that many clients have used successfully with doctors, schools, and employers in the past. Each institution sets its own requirements, so it's worth asking them directly what they need before booking.
-
A Focused Assessment covers ADHD or Autism individually. The Combined Bundle evaluates both, with integrated testing and a single comprehensive report rather than two separate processes.
-
Three to five (3-5) structured sessions rather than a single appointment, so there's room to understand your story in context — childhood, school, work, relationships, masking, burnout, and survival strategies. Most clients complete all of the sessions within a few weeks of each other.
-
No — assessments are conducted entirely online, from wherever in California feels safest and most accessible for you.
-
I provide psychotherapy, clinical assessment and diagnosis, and support for emotional, relational, and behavioral challenges.
I do not prescribe medication, perform medical evaluations, or provide neuropsychological/neurological testing (full batteries, IQ testing) — I'm a master's-level LMFT, not a PhD or neuropsychologist, and I'll refer you out when that's what you need. I practice within CAMFT and APA ethical guidelines on scope of competence.
-
No. My assessments are clinical mental health evaluations, not full neuropsychological batteries, and I can't complete evaluations required for housing, disability benefits, or legal determinations. If you need documentation for those, you'll likely need a full neuropsychological or specialized medical evaluation instead — I'm happy to help you think through referrals.
-
Informed consent and transparency about what an assessment can and can't do, cultural humility and anti-oppressive practice (including how race, immigration, language, gender, sexuality, class, and work — including sex work — shape how symptoms show up), and honesty about my limits as a non-medical provider.
-
For some assessments and ongoing therapy, I may use HIPAA-compliant tools like uMore and NovoPsych to record parts of sessions for note-taking and to score screeners — I only enter initials and email, not your full name, unless you choose otherwise. You have the right to refuse these tools entirely; declining won't affect your ability to work with me.
05
Policies & Logistics
-
Yes. Todos Therapy is based out of Merced, CA, and I see clients online across the entire state of California — there's no in-person option.
-
Yes — unless you're suicidal, harming yourself, or someone else, what you say in sessions stays between you and me. You can talk about anything without fear of it "getting out."
-
It depends — most new clients start seeing progress after 3-5 sessions, and total duration ranges from 6-12 weeks for immediate challenges to longer-term work for ongoing support. We'll figure out the right length together.
-
No, I do not accept insurance at this time.
-
A minimum of 24 hours' notice is required to cancel a session or assessment. Missed appointments and late cancellations result in a flat fee of $50.
-
As a health care provider, I'll give clients without insurance a written estimate of expected costs — a "Good Faith Estimate" — at least 3 business days before services begin, or on request. If your bill comes in $400+ over that estimate, you can dispute it. More info at cms.gov/nosurprises or 800-985-3059.