Together we're stronger · since 2023
Therapy that meets
you where you are.
A California telehealth practice led by LMFT Christina Mathieson — specializing in couples, sex therapy, trauma recovery, and the kind of care that actually moves the needle.
What we believe
Healing isn't a performance. It's a conversation — at your pace, in your language, with someone who's trained to listen for what you don't know how to say yet.
Our guiding values
Three principles that shape how we work.
Introspection
Self-reflection as a catalyst for growth. We meet your thoughts, emotions, and experiences with curiosity rather than judgment.
Transparency
Trust and authenticity are the foundation of our work. We name what we see, and we expect the same in return.
Respect
Every client's journey is unique, and we honor that. Your story, values, and perspectives matter here.
The team
Four therapists.
One standard of care.
Christina Mathieson
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) #115093
Sex Therapy · Couples Therapy · ADHD and Neurodiversity-Affirming
Michelle Cortez
Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) #146795
Supervised by Christina Mathieson, LMFT #115093
Couples Therapy · EFT (Emotionally Focused Therapy) · Attachment Work
Jalyse Stewart
Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) #153712
Supervised by Christina Mathieson, LMFT #115093
EMDR · Trauma Therapy · Women's Therapy
Tina Masoudi
Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) #155851
Registered Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC) #19568
Supervised by Christina Mathieson, LMFT #115093
Grief · Anxiety · Trauma Therapy
What we work on
Specialties
Couples Therapy
For partners stuck in the same argument, rebuilding trust after rupture, or relearning how to be close. Gottman-informed, EFT, and sex therapy woven together.
Learn moreSex Therapy
A shame-free space to work on desire, pleasure, pain, or disconnect — whether the question is 'what happened to us?' or 'what's happening to me?'
Learn moreTrauma Therapy & EMDR
Process what the nervous system has been holding. EMDR, somatic practices, IFS — the work of helping your body catch up to the present.
Learn moreADHD and Neurodiversity-Affirming
Therapy for ADHD and adjacent neurodivergent patterns — executive function, emotional regulation, late diagnosis, and relationships shaped by a brain that works differently.
Learn moreIndividual Therapy
Anxiety, depression, identity, life transitions — one-on-one work at the pace you need, with practical tools and deeper insight.
Learn moreLGBTQ+ Affirmative
Identity-aware, affirming support for LGBTQIA+ clients and couples — including non-monogamous and kink-affirming work. No teaching required.
Learn moreFree monthly workshops
Couples & individuals.
Online. Open to anyone.
Practical, research-grounded 60-minute Zoom sessions led by our clinicians — conflict, trauma responses, attachment, connection rituals. Free to attend.
Your first session
What actually happens, step by step.
- 01
Book a free 15-min call
We’ll talk briefly about what’s bringing you in and help you pick the right therapist. No intake forms yet.
- 02
Your first real session
Within a week. Your therapist will ask about context and goals — you don’t need to know what to say. Most people cry a little or not at all. Both are fine.
- 03
Then, the work
Weekly or biweekly, 50-minute sessions — secure video, or in-person in Walnut Creek with Tina. You’ll know within a few sessions if it’s working.
Cost & insurance
Private pay with sliding scale available. In-network with Lyra. For other insurance, we partner with Mentaya to handle out-of-network reimbursement paperwork on your behalf. Superbills on request. Current fees confirmed on your consult call.
Recent writing
Notes from the work.
ChatGPT Isn't Your Therapist — But Here's How to Actually Use It Alongside One
AI chatbots can help you prep questions, reflect between sessions, and learn about a diagnosis. They can't challenge you, hold relationship, or regulate your nervous system. A clinician's honest framework for using both.
ReadDiscernment Counseling: What to Do When One of You Wants Out and the Other Wants to Stay
When one partner is leaning out and the other wants to stay, regular couples therapy often fails. Discernment counseling — a short, structured approach designed exactly for this bind — helps both of you get clarity before committing to a direction.
ReadFawning Isn't Kindness: The Fourth Trauma Response
Fawning — the fourth trauma response after fight, flight, and freeze — looks like kindness but comes from threat. Understanding the mechanism is the first step out.
ReadRecommended reads
Books, podcasts, and videos we reference.
Curated by topic: relationships, sex therapy, trauma, anxiety, and more. The body of work our practice operates from.
Good questions
What most people
ask first.
Do you take insurance?+
Yes — we're in-network with Lyra, and for any other insurance plan we partner with Mentaya to help you get reimbursed using your out-of-network benefits. Mentaya handles the paperwork for a 5% fee per claim. We also accept self-pay (credit, debit, HSA/FSA) and provide superbills on request.
How much does a session cost?+
Sessions are private-pay with fees that vary by therapist and session type — we confirm current rates on your free 15-minute consult and offer sliding-scale options for clients who need financial support. We also provide a written Good Faith Estimate before your first paid session, as required by the federal No Surprises Act.
What if my partner won't come to therapy?+
You can absolutely work on your relationship in individual therapy. Many clients start there — learning to shift their own patterns, communicate more clearly, and set boundaries — and often their partner joins later when they see the change. Christina specializes in individual relationship work.
Is everything online?+
Most sessions are telehealth — secure video across California, seven days a week with flexible evening and weekend availability — with in-person sessions available by request or clinical recommendation at our Walnut Creek location with one clinician, Tina Masoudi.
What happens in a free 15-minute consultation?+
We'll ask what brings you to therapy, answer your questions, and help you figure out if we're the right fit. No pressure — if we're not the right match, we'll point you toward someone who is. Book online and we'll follow up to confirm.
What's the difference between your therapists?+
Each of our four therapists brings a different clinical focus: Christina (LMFT) specializes in sex therapy, couples work, and ADHD; Jalyse (AMFT) focuses on trauma and EMDR, particularly with women healing from childhood sexual abuse; Michelle (AMFT) works with anxiety, cultural identity, and relationships; Tina (AMFT/APCC) offers integrative trauma work with optional Christian counseling.
Start the conversation
A 15-minute call.
No pressure.
Free consultation. We'll talk about what you're working on, answer any questions, and help you figure out if we're the right fit — or point you somewhere better if we're not.
Book Your Free Consult