frequently asked questions

What are the areas of specialization at Therapy for Highly Sensitive People?

Therapy for Highly Sensitive People provides in-person and virtual therapy services for people with tender hearts and sensitive souls, including fellow therapists, helpers, and healer, and writers, artists, and other creatives. We specialize in grief and loss (including pet loss), major life changes, relationship struggles, self-esteem and self-worth, anxiety, depression, and other challenging life experiences… all through the lens of being highly sensitive.

What are the benefits of therapy tailored for highly sensitive individuals?

Highly sensitive people can struggle to find a therapist who really understands them. I know this based on what our clients share with us and personally from my own experience. Therapy for Highly Sensitive People focus on HSPs to give highly sensitive people a safe therapeutic space where they won’t be judged or shamed for their sensitivity. We see high sensitivity as a gift, not a flaw, and are here to help you embrace your gifts while overcoming the shame, insecurities, and self-doubt that HSPs often struggle with.

Are the therapists at Therapy for Highly Sensitive People experienced in working with HSPs?

Yes, therapists at Therapy for Highly Sensitive People are all experienced in working with HSPs and other sensitive people. The Founder, Christine Tomasello, LMFT, has extensive experience personally and professionally with high sensitivity.

How can I find a therapist who specializes in counseling for highly sensitive people?

You’ve found us! As our name implies, the therapists at our practice focus on working with highly sensitive people. We know how hard it can be to find a therapist who truly understands the experience of an HSP and are here to honor and support you on your healing journey.

Does Therapy for Highly Sensitive People work with people who are not highly sensitive?

Absolutely! You can still receive therapy at Therapy for Highly Sensitive People if you don’t identify as highly sensitive, though it’s not uncommon for someone to realize they may be highly sensitive after being in therapy for a while.

What types of therapy services does Therapy for Highly Sensitive People offer?

Therapy for Highly Sensitive People offers individual therapy and couples therapy for people with tender hearts and sensitive souls, including HSPs, fellow therapists, helpers, and healers, writers, artists, and other creatives, and other people with high sensitivity.

Does Therapy for Highly Sensitive People provide in-person services?

Yes, Therapy for Highly Sensitive People has availability for in-person services in our Petaluma office with our therapist, Christine Tomasello, LMFT. We expect to open our Los Angeles office in the near future.

Are there online therapy options available for highly sensitive people in California?

Yes! All of the therapists at Therapy for Highly Sensitive People work with HSPs and provide virtual therapy services, which means we can see anybody who is physically located in any part of California.

What happens in therapy sessions?

That's a good question and one that people frequently have before they begin. As you can imagine, therapy is a lot of talking. You get to decide what we focus on each session and we will typically follow your lead. It’s our job to help you make connections in thoughts and behaviors and identify patterns in your life to explore in sessions. You always have control over what we discuss in sessions and can tell us if we are focusing on something that is too uncomfortable to explore.

How long will I need therapy?

Everyone’s therapy journey is different. Some people only want to address a single issue and can make progress toward their goal(or goals) in a short timeframe. Other people want to do longer, more in-depth work and like to incorporate therapy into their self-care or self-development.

How often do I need to come to therapy?

Again, everyone’s therapy journey is different. We usually start with weekly sessions to build momentum toward achieving your goals. Once you’ve made some progress, we can adjust the frequency of sessions based on your own individual needs.

How do I know which therapist is a good fit for me?

Great question! All of the therapists at Therapy for Highly Sensitive People are highly trained and have specializations in different therapeutic areas of focus. If you are interested in working with one of our therapists, please reach out. You can schedule a short complimentary consultation with any of our therapists if you’d like, or you can schedule a session and start immediately.

Can I work with a therapist at Therapy for Highly Sensitive People if I don’t live in your area?

Yes, absolutely! Thanks to the option of teletherapy, Therapy for Highly Sensitive People offers services to anybody in California. Because of state licensing restrictions, we are only able to see clients who are located in Califorina at the time of the session.

Does Therapy for Highly Sensitive People offer reduced fee sessions?

Yes, some of the therapists at Therapy for Highly Sensitive People offer reduced fee options for clients that allow you to pay whatever is comfortable for your budget within a specific range. We call this "pay what you can" and reserve it for clients in financial need.

What are the fees for therapy at Therapy for Highly Sensitive People?

The fees at Therapy for Highly Sensitive People for individual and couples therapy range from $145-$175 per session, depending on the experience and licensure level of the therapist. We also offer a "pay what you can" scale and reduced fee options for clients who are unable to pay our full fees. 

What if I’m on Medicare or Medi-Cal?

Therapy for Highly Sensitive People does not have any clinicians on staff who are credentialed Medicare or Medi-Cal providers. We are unable to bill Medicare for any of our services. If you are covered by Medicare insurance Part A or Part B, you will be asked to sign a form stating you understand that Medicare will not contribute or cover the cost of any of our services. Due to Medi-Cal policies, Therapy for Highly Sensitive People is not able to take people who are covered by Medi-Cal insurance as clients.

What is the cancellation policy at Therapy for Highly Sensitive People?

Therapy for Highly Sensitive People has a 24-hour cancellation policy. Should you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, please do so within 24 hours of your appointment time to avoid a late cancellation or no show charge. Cancellations made with less than 24 hours notice will be charged the full rate of the session. You can contact our office by email, text, or phone to cancel or reschedule a session. You can also cancel or reschedule your appointment by visiting our patient portal at https://beachsidecounseling.session.health.com.

Does Therapy for Highly Sensitive People accept insurance?

No, therapists at Therapy for Highly Sensitive People are not credentialed with insurance and therefore not accept insurance at this time. However, we can provide you with something called a superbill that you can submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement. Click here to read more about super bills and how they work.

What is Therapy for Highly Sensitive People’s policy on the use of AI in therapy?

Therapy for Highly Sensitive People is an AI-free therapy practice, which means we do not use any sort of AI technology for anything related to our work. This includes no use of AI for note-taking or treatment planning.