Individual or teen therapy is:
$160.00
for a 50 minute virtual or office session.

Family or Relationship therapy is:
$220.00
for a 60 minute virtual or office session.
$330.00/ 90 minute session.
Polycules of more than 4: $385.00/ session and always 90 minutes.

In-person ‘walk and talk’ therapy is:
Individuals only
$200.00
for a 75 minute session.

I do not take insurance at this time. Electronic Payment is collected via IvyPay, a HIPAA compliant platform using a credit or ATM card. Cash or Checks are also accepted for in-person appointments.
Superbills are provided for you to submit to your insurance carrier for reimbursement.

I do offer a number of sliding scale spots in my practice. Please note that preference is given to teachers, low-income, single parent households, emancipated minors and young people aged 16-26 and CZU Lightening Complex Survivors.

According to the “No Surprises Act,” enacted in December 2020, you have a right to a good faith estimate and will be provided one upon commencement of services.

There are myriad reasons to begin therapy or return to it.
If you have never been to therapy, welcome.
If you had a negative experience once before, or were forced to go to therapy against your will in the past it is reasonable that you might feel sour toward trying again.
Just like finding the right contractor, doctor or school, it takes time to find the right therapist with the right style that works for you now.

You might know it is time to seek help:

If you are anxious. Did you know that anxiety is the number one reason folks seek therapy?

If you have been referred by a professional like a psychiatrist after being prescribed medication for your mental illness, or referred by a school counselor, teacher or coach.

Maybe your sister, wife, friend or pastor has spoken to you and encouraged you to try therapy because they have real evidence of your need. Maybe the people who care about you are worried and maybe you are worried, too.

If you need support and are seeking a place to be heard while you process what is troubling you. Not everyone has family or friends, not everyone who does feels accepted and heard by them. A professional therapist is trained to listen and provide support and a fresh perspective.

If you need someone to share with who can hear the details without fear of betrayal. Professional therapists are bound by a strict code of law and ethics which places a high value on confidentiality. My client’s kink, addiction, shame, fears and desires are always treated with respect.

If you have frequent mood changes. If you notice your mood going from happy to irritable quickly. Or maybe you're tearful more than usual. Are these mood changes persistent? Does your sadness last for a long time? Do you rarely get angry and when you do you, tend to fly into a rage?

If you have new, returning or increasing symptoms that concern you. If you have changes in sleeping and eating patterns, or are noticing a loss of interest in hobbies, more self-isolation, or extended feelings of hopelessness. Are you experiencing chronic stress or burnout? Perhaps you are cutting, picking, pacing, or obsessing over people or things.

If you are going through a life transition and it is challenging. Are you getting married or divorced? Are you a new parent or have your children left home? Did you just move and the family is having a hard time adjusting? Feeling frustrated as a parent? Are you having a hard time adjusting to being a part of a blended family?

If you want to maintain a healthy mental outlook. Maybe things are starting to go well for you now and yet you have nagging fears that you will lose it all or that something terrible will happen which prevents you from enjoying what you worked so hard to create.

If you are growing and changing in your relationship status. Maybe this is the first time you have ever been single at 36 or 68 or 80. Maybe you have never been married or in a serious relationship but want to be.
Maybe you have noticed that you start strong with someone only to find yourself single again after weeks, months or a few years.
Perhaps you are trying to find your way after the death of a significant other, partner or family member.

If your self-care practices are not enough. If you run, eat right, and take care of yourself, yet you are still anxious or sad all the time and you do not know what else to do.

If you have poor habits and addictions or find yourself repeatedly engaging in reckless behavior. Do you smoke, or have a closet full of clothes with tags, watch hours of porn at a time or drink to the detriment of self and others?

Begin with a free 20 minute call to see if an appointment to explore your concerns and consider working together is a good next step.

Research indicates that the relationship you develop with your practitioner is the greatest contributor to successful therapy next to your own determination to be well.
If you feel safe, seen and supported in a way that allows you to relax enough to be honest and vulnerable, then that is a good indication that you have found the right therapist.
You should be treated with unconditional positive regard, empathy and genuineness throughout the process from intake to conclusion of therapy. Your therapist should be professional and ethical at all times and be ready to consult with other professionals or refer you out when necessary.
The goals and the pace of treatment, as well as any questions or concerns should be handled thoughtfully as you proceed. Some issues can be resolved in a few sessions while some individuals work with their therapist for months or years.

Regardless of their race, your practitioner should demonstrate cultural competence and an ability to work with clients that look like you. They should possess the ability to communicate, understand and interact with others regardless of their racial or cultural background. Competent therapists are aware of cultural, social, economic or gender barriers you may face as well.

Your beliefs are valued and the therapist meets you where you are. For example, if you find prayer helpful there should be no reason it cannot be a part of your therapy.

Your therapist is here to challenge your assumptions and this is part of healing and gaining new perspectives. Having a compassionate practitioner to work things out with in a nonjudgemental container is part of the safety provided by a therapist you trust.

Your therapist should have some sort of treatment plan for you. Your treatment should be based on your feedback and how fast or slow you wish to move. Don't be afraid to discuss your treatment plan. Progress may be a slow process. As long as you are on the right track, that's what matters. Your practitioner should check in with you regularly about your progress and willingly discuss your goals along the way.
A quality therapist encourages you to set goals and is open to working with you on the pace of therapy. It is okay to feel challenged, but you should never feel pressed into any agenda or move in directions that don’t resonate.

My approach to each client is specific to their needs and goals.
In general I practice holistic family systems therapy within a relational framework.
I offer virtual tele-health, in-person walk and talk therapy and office visits in Felton, California.

I may screen you for Adverse Childhood Experiences, which assesses the cumulative impact of trauma during your developmental years. Exploration of your formative attachment patterns often provide insight into current relational issues that may be arising.

I believe all people possess an inherent capacity to heal, grow and change regardless of their past, their upbringing or their current circumstances and that all people need love and appropriate support in order for this healing, growth and change to happen.

I deeply value and believe that it is the birthright of every person to fulfill their highest potential and I am grateful to witness your journey.

I believe that change happens when people are connected to themselves with unconditional compassion, self-respect and self-love.
When this powerful connection to self is reflected and matched with robust systems of support, then true health and wellbeing are achieved.

As a lifelong educator and learner I seek to empower my clients with information that supports their resilience and capacity to know, love and care for themselves while being a part of the world around them in meaningful, healthy ways.

Support might include acquiring knowledge, developing personal agency, creating mindful practices around self care, learning new skills in communication and problem solving, or practicing new boundaries with those we love.
It might look like connections to individuals, groups or organizations that support your goals and dreams.
This might be a club, AA, a support group, a new job or hobby, new friends or volunteering. It might look like working with a trauma specialist or an addiction counselor, a massage therapist, a sleep specialist or a nutritionist.

In addition to attending to systems of support,
I employ evidence-based interventions from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Somatic Theory and Mindfulness when it comes to reducing symptoms of anxiety, depression or grief.

I am a student of neurobiology and neurogenesis and often provide peer reviewed research and education around topics such as adolescent mental health, emotional resilience and strategies for managing the symptoms of mental illness or learning disabilities. I utilize Polyvagal theory as a way to understand and promote health, growth and restoration of the nervous system.

When addressing trauma, family of origin issues, life transitions and other topics of personal healing and development, I primarily utilize interventions from Narrative Theory and Internal Family Systems to help individuals and families heal, forgive and move forward.

I do.
I have more than three decades of experience as a credentialed teacher, teen mentor, parenting educator and school counselor.

I am qualified to work with a range of issues that come with the territory of being a teen today: academic, social and emotional issues, identity exploration, and navigating the demands of parents, peers and personal needs in an era of intense social and environmental change. In the past several years I have developed specialized skill in treating teens experiencing symptoms of anxiety and panic disorders through CBT and mindfulness.

I have extensive experience working with parents and I am very forthright and honest.
I actively seek change for the good of each individual client within a more fair and just world for everyone.
Right now in America, everything is in flux, nothing is a certainty and plans need to remain as flexible as possible. Given this reality, my only real goal in teen and family therapy is to foster the unconditional love necessary to weather these intense changes.

Please note, I do not treat severe mental health disorders such as PDD, ODD, Bipolar Disorder, Borderline tendencies or other indicators of personality disorders, high suicide risk teens or teens with eating disorders as these are specialties beyond my scope of qualifications and should be addressed by a psychiatric specialist. I will always be clear about my capacity and will assist you in finding proper care if we are not a fit.

I can.
I have more than three decades of experience working with children with ADD, ADHD, OCD and children with Autism. I also work with children with generalized, social and academic anxiety.

Please note that family sessions are recommended when working with minor children. My experience dictates and research supports a collaborative effort between the child, family, school and other professional support personnel to create consistency of care and best outcomes for the child.

I do not work with actively addicted, actively experiencing anorexia or bulimia, ODD, PDD, children who are at high risk of suicide or children with a history of violence as it is beyond the scope of care that a weekly therapy session can provide. In these cases, please consult a qualified Psychiatrist or consider higher levels of care more appropriate to the condition such as intensive outpatient or in patient treatment. See my resources pages for a detailed list of such providers.

Mountain Family TherapyKristen M. VanKlootwyk, M.A., PCCLicensed Marriage and Family Therapist #153166(831) 227-4779 | kristen@mountainfamilytherapy.com

NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.

Mountain Family Therapy and Kristen M. VanKlootwyk (hereafter MFT) is required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information (“PHI”) and to provide you with this Notice of Privacy Practices (“Notice”). MFT must abide by the terms of this Notice, and MFTmust notify you if a breach of your unsecured PHI occurs. MFT can change the terms of this Notice, and such changes will apply to all information I have about you. 

Except for the specific purposes set forth below, MFT will use and disclose your PHI only with your written authorization (“Authorization”). It is your right to revoke such Authorization at any time by giving MFT written notice of your revocation. Uses (Inside Practice) and Disclosures (Outside Practice) Relating to Treatment, Payment, or Health Care Operations Do Not Require Your Written Consent. MFT can use and disclose your PHI without your Authorization for the following reasons:

1. For your treatment. MFT can use and disclose your PHI to treat you, which may include disclosing your PHI to another health care professional. For example, if you are being treated by a physician or a psychiatrist, MFT can disclose your PHI to him or her to help coordinate your care. My preference is for you to provide a written Release of Information Authorization to do so.

2. To obtain payment for your treatment. MFT can use and disclose your PHI to bill and collect payment for the treatment and services provided by MFT to you. For example, MFT might send your PHI to your insurance company to get paid for the health care services that MFT has provided to you, although our preference is for you to give MFT an Authorization to do so.

3. For health care operations. MFT can use and disclose your PHI for purposes of conducting health care operations pertaining to our practice, including contacting you when necessary. For example, MFT may need to disclose your PHI to our attorneys to obtain advice about complying with applicable laws.

Certain Uses and Disclosures Require Your Authorization

1. Psychotherapy Notes. MFT does keep “psychotherapy notes” as that term is defined in 45 CFR § 164.501, and any use or disclosure of such notes requires your Authorization unless the use or disclosure is:

a. For our use in treating you.
b. For our use in training or supervising other mental health practitioners to help them improve their skills in group, joint, family, or individual counseling or therapy.
c. For our use in defending myself in legal proceedings instituted by you.
d. For use by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to investigate our compliance with HIPAA.
e. Required by law, and the use or disclosure is limited to the requirements of such law.
f. Required by law for certain health oversight activities pertaining to the originator of the psychotherapy notes.
g. Required by a coroner who is performing duties authorized by law.
h. Required to help avert a serious threat to the health and safety of others.

2.Marketing Purposes. MFT will not use or disclose your PHI for marketing purposes.

3. Sale of PHI. MFT will not sell your PHI in the regular course of my business. Certain Uses and Disclosures Do Not Require Your Authorization. Subject to certain limitations in the law, MFT can use and disclose your PHI without your Authorization for the following reasons:

1. When disclosure is required by state or federal law, and the use or disclosure complies with and is limited to the relevant requirements of such law.

2. For public health activities, including reporting suspected child, elder, or dependent adult abuse, or preventing or reducing a serious threat to anyone’s health or safety.

3. For health oversight activities, including audits and investigations.

4. For judicial and administrative proceedings, including responding to a court or

administrative order, although my preference is to obtain an Authorization from you before doing so.

5. For law enforcement purposes, including reporting crimes occurring on my premises.

6. To coroners or medical examiners, when such individuals are performing duties authorized by law.

7. For research purposes, including studying and comparing the mental health of patients who received one form of therapy versus those who received another form of therapy for the same condition.

8. Specialized government functions, including, ensuring the proper execution of military missions; protecting the President of the United States; conducting intelligence or counterintelligence operations; or, helping to ensure the safety of those working within or housed in correctional institutions.

9. For workers' compensation purposes. Although our preference is to obtain an Authorization from you, MFT may provide your PHI in order to comply with workers' compensation laws.

10. Appointment reminders and health related benefits or services. MFT may use and disclose your PHI to contact you to remind you that you have an appointment with us. MFT may also use and disclose your PHI to tell you about treatment alternatives, or other health care services or benefits that MFT offers.

Certain Uses and Disclosures Require You to Have the Opportunity to Object.

1. Disclosures to family, friends, or others. MFT may provide your PHI to a family member, friend, or other person that you indicate is involved in your care or the payment for your health care, unless you object in whole or in part. The opportunity to consent may be obtained retroactively in emergency situations.

YOUR RIGHTS YOUR REGARDING YOUR PHI
You have the following rights with respect to your PHI:

1. The Right to Request Limits on Uses and Disclosures of Your PHI. You have the right to ask MFT not to use or disclose certain PHI for treatment, payment, or health care operations purposes. MFT is not required to agree to your request, and MFT may say “no” if MFT believes it would affect your health care.

2. The Right to Request Restrictions for Out-of-Pocket Expenses Paid for In Full. You have the right to request restrictions on disclosures of your PHI to health plans for payment or health care operations purposes if the PHI pertains solely to a health care item or a health care service that you have paid for out-of-pocket in full.

3. The Right to Choose How I Send PHI to You. You have the right to ask MFT to contact you in a specific way (for example, home or office phone) or to send mail to a different address, and MFT will agree to all reasonable requests.

4. The Right to See and Get Copies of Your PHI. Other than “psychotherapy notes,” you have the right to get an electronic or paper copy of your medical record and other information that MFT has about you. MFT will provide you with a copy of your record, or a summary of it, if you agree to receive a summary, within 30 days of receiving your written request, and MFT may charge a reasonable, cost based fee for doing so.

5. The Right to Get a List of the Disclosures I Have Made. You have the right to request a list of instances in which MFT has disclosed Your PHI for purposes other than treatment, payment, or health care operations, or for which you provided me with an Authorization. MFT will respond to your request for an accounting of disclosures within 60 days of receiving your request. The list MFT will give you will include disclosures made in the last six years unless you request a shorter time. MFT will provide the list to you at no charge, but if you make more than one request in the same year, MFT will charge you a reasonable cost based fee for each additional request.

6. The Right to Correct or Update Your PHI. If you believe that there is a mistake in your PHI, or that a piece of important information is missing from your PHI, you have the right to request that MFT correct the existing information or add the missing information. MFT may say “no” to your request, but MFT will tell you why in writing within 60 days of receiving your request.

7. The Right to Get a Paper or Electronic Copy of this Notice. You have the right to get a paper copy of this Notice, and you have the right to get a copy of this notice by email. And, even if you have agreed to receive this Notice via email, you also have the right to request a paper copy of it.

HOW TO COMPLAIN ABOUT MFT PRIVACY PRACTICES

If you think MFT may have violated your privacy rights, you may file a complaint with:

The California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) regulates my license. If you have concerns or complaints, you may contact: Board of Behavioral Sciences 1625 N. Market Blvd., Suite S200, Sacramento, CA 95834Phone: (916) 574-7830 Website:www.bbs.ca.gov

You can also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights by:

1. Sending a letter to 200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20201; 2. Calling 1-877-696-6775; or, 3. Visiting www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints. I will not retaliate against you if you file a complaint about my privacy practices.

EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS NOTICE
This notice went into effect March 1, 2025.