No — and that is intentional. Insurance-based medicine operates on 15-minute appointments, limited lab panels, and reimbursement structures that reward volume over depth. Working outside of that system means I can spend real time with you, order the testing that is actually relevant, and build a care plan around your whole picture — not what your plan will cover. Many clients use their HSA or FSA accounts for sessions.

Most conventional appointments are 15 to 20 minutes, focused on a single complaint, and oriented toward pharmaceutical management. When you work with me, your initial session is 60 to 90 minutes. I review your full history before we meet. I look at patterns across your entire system — not isolated values. And I stay in the work with you between sessions through texting and email. Most clients tell me it’s the first time they have felt genuinely heard in a medical context.

That is completely fine. Single sessions are available and are a legitimate way to begin. Many clients start with a 60-minute integrative consult to get a sense of how I work, what I see, and what I would recommend. From there, you decide. There is no pressure toward any particular path.

Within the Start With Yourself Program, I am available by text and email between sessions for questions, lab review, and adjustments to your plan. I do not operate a 24/7 on-call line as I am a one-physician practice by design, but I am responsive and I stay in the work with you. This is one of the meaningful differences between a program with me and a standard appointment model.

Before we meet, you complete a detailed intake form, symptom survey and toxicity questionnaire. If you are coming to me for some mental health support, I may also give you a Neurotransmitter questionnaire. I review everything before you arrive. Our first session is a full conversation: your history, your patterns, your goals, and what has and has not worked. I will share my initial impressions and we will begin to map out what a care plan looks like for you. A detailed plan will be emailed to you and you will have clarity, not just next steps.

I hear this often, and I take it seriously. ‘Everything’ usually means everything the conventional system offered — which tends to be a narrow slice of what is actually available. What we do together starts by going back to the root: functional labs that most doctors don’t order, a Chinese medicine assessment that looks at your system through a completely different lens, and a nervous system evaluation that often reveals patterns nothing else has caught. I am not promising a cure. I am promising a more complete investigation.

Yes, with some important distinctions.

I’m licensed to practice acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine in California. When I’m working with clients physically located in California — in-person in Santa Cruz or via telehealth — that’s my full scope of practice.

In Colorado, I’m a Natural Medicine Facilitator under the Colorado Natural Medicine Health Act, authorized to facilitate psilocybin experiences in licensed settings. I also see Colorado clients for wellness consultation and integrative health coaching.

For clients in other states, my work shifts into a different container: integrative wellness consultation, health coaching, and education rooted in Chinese medicine principles and 20+ years of clinical experience. In these consultations, I share educational information and support you in your wellness journey — I do not diagnose, prescribe, or provide medical care outside the states where I’m licensed. I’ll always recommend you maintain a relationship with a local healthcare provider for anything requiring medical diagnosis or treatment.

If you’re not sure whether what you need falls within what I can offer in your state, let’s talk it through on a free Discovery Call.

That nervousness is appropriate and actually a good sign, it means you are approaching this with the seriousness it deserves. The discovery call exists precisely for this reason. We will talk through your history, your intentions, your mental health baseline, and any contraindications before anything is scheduled. I turn people away when it is not the right fit. Your safety matters more to me than filling a session. You can also take the readiness quiz here.

Think of it as depth, focus, or continuity.

Start With Yourself is depth. It’s my signature 8-week program for people ready to go all the way in — comprehensive intake, functional labs, Chinese medicine assessment, herbal prescription, nervous system work, and ongoing text/email access. If you’ve been cobbling together partial answers from different practitioners and you want one person to finally see the whole picture, this is the container for that. It’s the most thorough experience I offer.

Single Sessions are focus. One appointment, one clear question. Someone wants a supplement review, a second opinion on their herbal regimen, preparation or integration for a psychedelic experience, or a targeted wellness consultation. You leave with clarity and a follow-up email with specific next steps. No ongoing commitment.

VIP Access is continuity. This is for people who want me in their corner over time — usually clients who’ve already worked with me through Start With Yourself, or longtime patients from my Santa Cruz practice. Packages of 1, 5, or 10 one-hour sessions you can use however you need: reviewing labs together, supplement check-ins, microdose integration support, or simply having someone who already knows your full picture when life shifts.

Not sure which one fits? Book a free Discovery Call — we’ll figure it out together.