Axis Mundi Center for Mental Health
516 Oakland Ave, Suite 203, Oakland, CA 94611
Supervised by Elysha Martinez, LMFT #93493
execdirect@axismunditherapy.org
Welcome to Axis Mundi!
Beginning therapy is a big step, and it is important to know a little bit about what you are choosing, who you are working with, and what you can expect — both from the process of talk therapy itself, as well as from me and this organization. Below are some things to consider before we begin.
Your Right to Refuse Services
Psychotherapy values client autonomy and self-determination. You get to decide to enter therapy, and it is always your right to end therapy if you feel this is what is best for you.
The Course of Therapy
Therapy can be an exciting process of growth and healing — it can also be challenging. The process will not always feel good, and you may actually feel worse before experiencing improvement. This is normal and even expected. Remembering unpleasant events and becoming aware of feelings attached to those events can bring on strong feelings of anger, depression, anxiety, etc. If you are feeling resistant to coming to sessions, please bring this to my attention. There are a lot of things potentially happening in those moments and many ways to support you — this might even including finding you a better therapeutic match.
Alternative Treatments
Therapy is not the only treatment that might help. Medication, nutritional changes in diet or exercise, acupuncture, massage, good friends, other therapeutic modalities, spiritual practices, and pets are just a few things that also may help you. I encourage you to seek out complementary practices that stimulate wellness for you outside of therapy.
No Guarantees
It is always possible that the work we do will not be helpful to you. It is not the best treatment approach for everyone, and it is important to notice this together if therapy begins to feel stagnant or otherwise misaligned for you.
Confidentiality
Confidentiality is a valued and primary understanding between a therapist and a client. Axis Mundi Center for Mental Health and I observe and maintain professional standards in this regard. The confidentiality of the client and the client’s material will be protected and upheld, unless there is a legal or ethical standard that demands differently. Primarily (but not exclusively), these arise when:
- The client requests and consents to the release of information themselves.
- There is reasonable suspicion of child, elder, and/or dependent adult abuse (including the downloading or purchase of, and/or viewing of child pornography).
- There is a clear and immediate danger to the client or to someone else from the client (including the self).
- The client is involved in a legal dispute where the mental or emotional well-being of the client is under review.
The client or the therapist become involved in a legal dispute against each other.
- The therapist is court-ordered to do so.
- The Patriot Act or Homeland and/or National Security privileges are invoked.
Sometimes, when different members of the same family are seen by the therapists in the same agency, each therapist may have access to information regarding the other family members. This is sometimes useful when a coordinated treatment approach is requested or clinically indicated, but also something that can be avoided as necessary.
Electronic Security
It is important to acknowledge that despite our best efforts, the security and privacy of electronic/virtual communications can never be fully guaranteed. However, I also value my clients' web secuirty and do my best to protect electronic information to the fullest extent possible.
Beyond using HIPAA-compliant telehealth and record-generation software, which is standard practice for all healthcare providers, I endeavor to use webservice platforms which are designed with robust end-to-end and no-access encryption technology wherever possible, particularly ProtonMail (used for all email correspondence) and the Signal app (encouraged for clients who wish to communicate via text message). If you have any questions or concerns about measures taken to maximize your web security with regard to maintaining confidentiality, please let me know so that we can discuss the matter further.
Consultation and Supervision
As part of my commitment to offering you quality service, I receive many hours of professional consultation and supervision in both individual and group formats. This is required by ethical standards in the field and means that confidentiality extends to these other formats as well. The goal of consultation and supervision is to assess and ensure the quality and efficacy of your treatment. As much as possible, I endeavor to protect my clients' identifiable information even in supervisory settings.
Social Media
Due to the importance of your confidentiality and the importance of minimizing dual relationships, I do not accept friend or contact requests from current or former clients on any social networking site (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc). I believe that adding clients as friends or contacts on these sites can compromise your confidentiality and our respective privacy. It may also blur the boundaries of our therapeutic relationship.
About Me, My Qualifications, and Specialties
I am an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist at Axis Mundi Center for Mental Health, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. I am supervised by Elysha Martinez, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with the State of California (LMFT #93493). I received my Masters in Holistic Counseling Psychology with a specialization in Depth and Transpersonal Psychology from the John F. Kennedy School of Psychology at National University in 2022.
Previously, I earned a Master of Arts in Human Behavior from National University in La Jolla, California and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Religious Studies from Columbia University.
Though I am open to working with a broad spectrum of clients, I have special interest in building therapeutic relationships with people who are working with: racism and cross-cultural issues, Asian & Pacific Islander identity, LGBTQ identity, body positivity, earth-based spirituality and soul work, polyamorous relationships, abuse & trauma recovery, self-esteem and empowerment, poverty and low socio-economic status.
Fees and Payments
Axis Mundi strives to offer fees that are equivalent to competency and experience. A 50-minute individual therapy session with me costs $150. A 50-minute couples therapy session with me costs $200.
This fee is subject to annual increases, which will be announced and negotiated at least three (3) months prior to any such increase. Sliding scale payment is sometimes available, so I encourage you to be proactive if you need accommodation, and I will do my best to be responsible to both of our needs.
I accept debit and credit card payments online through the thera-Link Client Portal. Payment is due at the beginning of the session, unless we make alternate arrangements. I do not accept cash or insurance.
Sessions
Standard sessions are 50 minutes in length and are scheduled on a weekly or biweekly basis. It is important, especially in the beginning, that we see each other often to get to know each other. Therapy success rates are directly linked to the strength of the alliance between the therapist and the client. Later, we may decide to adjust our session length or frequency, based upon your needs and goals.
Canceling or Missing a Session
Axis Mundi requires a 24-hour notice of cancellation to avoid being charged for the session. If you do not provide me with at least 24 hours advanced notice of canceling or missing your appointment, you are responsible for the full payment of the missed session, unless a make-up session can be scheduled for the same week. I will do my best to reschedule you sometime within the same week when this is possible.
In the course of our therapeutic relationship, if you cancel up to four (4) scheduled sessions in a row, I will consider this abandonment of treatment and cancel all subsequent sessions.
Availability Between Sessions
Occasionally, we may need to connect between sessions. For scheduling issues, we can use phone contact, email, or text. For phone calls, I ask that we limit conversations to 15 minutes or less. I try to return phone calls and messages within one business day. Please know that although we may use Telehealth services, I cannot guarantee the confidentiality of electronic, digital, or cellular communications.
Emergencies
I may not be able to assist you in an emergency situation. If you are in a psychological crisis and need to speak with a therapist immediately, please call Alameda County Crisis Support Services at (800) 309-2131. If the emergency is life-threatening, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Afterwards, please let me know (if you are able) by leaving a voicemail, so I can follow up with you ASAP.
Here are additional resources to help you in crisis:
- 24-hour Suicide Prevention Lifeline: (800) 273-8255 or text 838255
- 24-hour Domestic Violence Hotline: (800) 799-7233
- LGBT National Hotline: (800) 273-8255 [M-F, 1-9p; Saturdays, 9a-2p]
I have also formed relationships with a few trusted therapists (my Emergency Response Team) at Axis Mundi who have agreed to be contacted by my clients in the event that a psychotherapy session is needed when I am not available. I will inform you by email about how to reach members of my Emergency Response Team in the event that I am unavailable.
Vacations and Time Away from the Office
Occasionally, I may take leave for vacations, continuing education events, or unforeseen circumstances. I will do my best to give you as much notice as possible when these events occur, and when necessary, to provide you with alternate scheduling or with the support of a member of my Emergency Response Team while I am away.
Termination of Services
All therapeutic relationships eventually come to an end, and you may decide to end our therapeutic relationship at any time. Though it is recommended to have at least one closing session at termination, you are not in any way required to attend a closing session.
Ideally, we can discuss ending therapy a few weeks in advance so that we can come to a comfortable ending point together. Please keep in mind that after termination, you are welcome to reach out to me again at a later date if you wish to discuss the possibility of beginning therapy, either with me or with a referred therapist. In light of this possibility, it is important to note that even after therapy ends, I continue to maintain professional boundaries with former clients, regardless of the length of time since termination.
Please note that if we have no future scheduled appointments and I receive no communication from you for four (4) weeks, I will consider this abandonment of treatment and cannot guarantee that a place will be held for you in my caseload.
Court and Document Services
On the rare occasion that you may need legal documentation, representation, or testimony from me, either outside or during legal proceedings, my hourly fee is the same as my agreed upon session fee. For court appearances and depositions that are longer than a few hours, a $500 daily fee will be assessed. Additionally, although rare, if you are involved in a legal dispute, it is possible for my case notes and records to be subpoenaed by the court. This will likely affect your confidentiality. Copy fees are $0.25 per page.
How to File a Complaint
As an unlicensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, I am supervised by a licensed therapist (see licensing information above). You may contact my supervisor at Axis Mundi Center for Mental Health if an issue arises between us, such as an ethical or legal violation, and you do not feel comfortable speaking to me about it. The Board of Behavioral Sciences also receives and responds to complaints regarding services provided within the scope of practice of Marriage and Family Therapists. You may contact the board online at www.bbs.ca.gov, or by calling (916) 574-7830.