Evidenced-Based Therapy for Lasting Change

Yes! Licensed requirements for a Marriage and Family Therapist include 3,000 hours of supervised clinical training, passing two California State board exams by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS), a background check by the State of California Department of Justice. Licensure includes being held legally and ethically responsible by the BBS for maintaining a strict code of ethics in the field of psychotherapy, abiding by the laws of the State of California, and obtaining continuing education credits for each license renewal to support professional development. As of 2026, I am licensed in Oregon through reciprocity.

I hold a Master's degree in Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy from California State University, East Bay, and a Bachelor's degree in Communication Studies from Westmont College. My professional journey includes working at Crisis Support Services of Alameda County, where I provided counseling for traumatic grief, suicidal ideation, and depression. I've had the privilege of working with clients of all ages and have served on the board of directors for the Bay Area Psychotherapy Institute.

Many people are using AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude AI between sessions, and that's completely fine. They can be useful for journaling prompts, processing thoughts, or getting through a hard moment at 2am. Think of them as a supplement, not a substitute. What AI cannot provide is the human connection, legal duty of care, and mandatory reporting obligations that come with working with a licensed therapist. Engaging in therapy with a qualified professional ensures you receive compassionate, tailored care that addresses your unique needs, something an AI chatbot cannot provide. Your conversations with an AI also have none of the legal confidentiality protections that therapy provides. If you're using AI tools alongside therapy and want to talk about how to get the most out of both, that's a conversation worth having.

I accept Medicare Part B insurance, but for others, I am an Out-of-Network provider (OON). I do not accept Medicare Part C Advantage plans offered through commercial companies unless they have OON benefits. In the past, I have done Single Case Agreements through Kaiser. These are pre-approved by Kaiser for a specified period of time. Please contact your Kaiser Psychiatrist or Doctor for pre-approval. Kaiser does not accept Superbills or OON unless pre-approved. Some insurance plans offer benefits for OON. In these cases, I can provide a monthly superbill upon request for you to submit to your insurance company. They can reimburse you directly according to your plan. I still require payment at the time of every session. I also use Mentaya, a platform that allows you to easily submit superbills for a small fee and check on the reimbursement details of your insurance plan. If you are interested in using Mentaya for your sessions, please ask about it during our intake call. FSA/HSA cards may also be used.

I currently have in-person availability on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoons. My latest appointment for the day starts at 4 PM.

Yes. Sessions are available via Simple Practice, a secure video platform similar to Zoom. If you are using Medicare, please contact me directly as insurance requirements may affect your telehealth options.

My fee is $210 for a 50-minute session. You can pay by check, credit card, or FSA/HSA. If you have any questions about payment, feel free to ask! If you are wondering whether the cost is worth it, this post walks through what to expect and what progress actually looks like.

I require 24 hours notice for canceled appointments. Please contact me directly by phone/text or email. If you cancel within 24 hours of your appointment, you will be required to pay the full fee for your session. I allow for one 'free pass' late cancellation during our time working together.

You can find my office at 3468 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Suite B200, Lafayette, CA 94549, in the Corporate Terrace business complex. It's a short walk from the Lafayette BART station, and there's plenty of free parking available. My building is towards the back of the complex on the freeway side, and my office is on the second level. Just follow the signs for bapti.org.

Yes, there is a free parking lot with ample space. You can park in any spot that isn't reserved.

We will typically meet weekly for sessions. In some cases, we might meet every other week or occasionally, especially if we've been working together for a while. My availability for bi-weekly sessions may differ from weekly sessions to accommodate more clients. I recommend weekly meetings for at least the first four weeks as we get to know each other. If you prefer less frequent sessions, we can discuss your needs and reasons together. For more on what to expect and how to know if the work is moving in the right direction, this post is a good place to start.

A standard therapy session is 50 minutes. For special situations, I sometimes offer 60-minute sessions if schedules allow. We can discuss if an extended session might be a good fit for you.

I use a variety of evidence-based approaches, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Strategic Therapy, and Humanistic Therapy. This allows me to tailor my services to your unique needs, providing a flexible and personalized therapeutic experience. Together, we'll find the best approach to support your journey.

You can book an appointment through my online portal at https://annelise-miller.clientsecure.me/ or by contacting me directly via email at Therapywithannelise@proton.me or by phone at (925) 255-5350. I will respond to your inquiry as soon as possible to schedule an initial consultation.