Private Pay Therapy

Dr. Silvia Leija provides private pay therapy for individuals, couples, and families seeking meaningful growth, healing, and emotional support, without the restrictions of insurance. As a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) and native Spanish speaker, she offers culturally informed care with a special focus on women, BIPOC, and Spanish speaking communities. Whether you're working through anxiety, relationship struggles, trauma, or life transitions, sessions are tailored to your values, pace, and personal story.

Who Is Private Pay Therapy For?

Private pay therapy offers a safe, supportive space for healing, clarity, and growth -- no matter your background.

Couples

Dr. Leija works with all couples - dating, married, LGBTQ+, or navigating separation - to improve communication, rebuild trust, or find clarity about the future.

Women

Dr. Leija helps women navigate life transitions, stress, perfectionism, motherhood, burnout, and emotional overload with warmth and understanding.

Spanish-Speaking Clients

With shared cultural insight and fluency in Spanish, Dr. Leija provides therapy that resonates with the lived experiences of Spanish-speaking individuals and families.

BIPOC, LGBTQ+, Immigrant, & Underserved Communities

Clients from diverse backgrounds find a space of safety and dignity, free from judgment or cultural misunderstanding.

Anyone Seeking Personalized Care

If you want therapy that puts you first-without insurance limits or rushed care-private pay therapy gives you space to explore what matters most.

Therapy & Coaching Rates

Specializations

Trauma Informed Therapy
Attachment Theory
Transgenerational Family Therapy
Systems Perspective
Inner Child Work / Parts Work (i.e., Internal Family Systems or "IFS")
Narrative Therapy
Emotionally Focused Therapy ("EFT")
Mindfulness + Breath Work
Post Modern Frameworks
Social Justice Focus
Feminism
Inclusive Therapy
LGBTQ+

Individual Sessions (Therapy & Coaching)

55 minutes | $180

Couple Sessions

60 minutes | $250

90 minutes | $300

Discernment Counseling

2-hour Intake | $350

90 minutes | $275

Standard Evaluations: Approximately $1,500 to $2,500

Includes 2–3 hours of clinical interviews, psychological assessments, and a detailed written report.

Finding the Right Fit

Before we get started, I want to make sure you feel confident that we’re a good fit. The clients I work best with are often those who are attending therapy for first time, feeling overwhelmed by depression, anxiety, or struggling with perfectionism and burnout. These are people who are ready to take the first step toward healing and are motivated to explore what’s been holding them back.

Therapy is a bit like dating, while you may find a wonderful person, the connection needs to feel right for it to be truly fulfilling. That’s why I recommend starting with at least 3 full sessions. This gives us the time to explore what’s working, what might need adjustment, and whether our connection feels like the right fit for your personal growth.

To make sure we’re the right match from the start, I also offer a free 15-minute consultation. It’s a great way for us to begin to get to know each other, share what you're looking for, and see if my approach feels like the right fit for you. This initial chat can help us both assess if we’re a good match before diving deeper into the work together.

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A More Personalized Approach to Care: The Benefits of Private Pay

Therapy is an investment in you, your growth, your healing, and your future. I understand that it takes time, energy, and money to get where you want to be in life. That’s why I’m committed to providing high-quality, personalized care that makes your investment truly worthwhile.

In my private practice, I have opted to offer therapy on a private pay basis. This allows me to provide a more flexible and tailored experience—one that isn’t dictated by the restrictions of insurance companies. Together, we can create a treatment plan based on what you actually need, not what a policy will approve.

Insurance often comes with limitations. It can require a mental health diagnosis to receive reimbursement, which becomes part of your permanent medical record. In some cases, they may even request access to session notes, which can compromise your privacy. Insurance providers also often influence important decisions like how often you can be seen or how long treatment can last.

By choosing private pay, I’m able to protect your privacy, honor your individual needs, and keep the focus where it belongs, on your healing and progress. I work for you, not your insurance company, so we can use our time together in the way that best supports your goals.

Dr. Silvia Leija

Dr. Silvia Leija is a therapist, coach, DEI consultant and immigration specialist. Passionate about mental health advocacy and emphasizing inclusive care, Dr. Silvia combines years of professional expertise with genuine empathy, offering a practical, compassionate approach to nurture your healing, growth, and success.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is private pay therapy?

Private pay therapy means you pay directly for sessions without using insurance. This allows for greater privacy, flexibility, and control over your treatment.

Do you only work with Spanish-speaking clients?

No. While Dr. Leija is fluent in Spanish and deeply connected to the Spanish-speaking community, she works with clients of all backgrounds. Her approach is inclusive, respectful, and customized for each individual.

How often do therapy sessions take place?

Most clients meet weekly, but the schedule can be adjusted based on your needs, goals, and availability.

Why Work with an LMFT?

You might be wondering, “Why see a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)? Isn’t that just for couples or families?” The truth is, an LMFT is trained to work with individuals, couples, and families alike, and we have a deep understanding of how relationships, of all kinds, shape our lives.

While I specialize in relationships, my work isn’t limited to just couples or families. I believe that we don’t get sick in isolation, and we don’t heal in isolation either. My practice is grounded in a systemic and holistic approach, which means I look at how all aspects of your life—your environment, your experiences, and your inner world—are interconnected and influence one another. This is not just about improving your relationships with others, but also enhancing the relationship you have with yourself.

Whether you're facing challenges like anxiety, depression, perfectionism, stress, or you simply feel disconnected from who you truly are, therapy with an LMFT can help you explore and understand how these issues connect with the broader context of your life. By looking at how your emotional, mental, and physical well-being intersect, we can work together to create lasting changes that support your overall health.

Working with an LMFT is an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of how your relationships, experiences, and sense of self shape your emotional health. It’s not just for couples or families—it’s for anyone looking to improve their well-being, explore their inner world, and create more meaningful, balanced connections in their life.

What is discernment counseling?

Discernment counseling and couples counseling serve very different purposes, even though both involve working with couples.

Discernment Counseling is for couples who are uncertain about whether they want to stay together or separate. One partner may be leaning toward leaving the relationship, while the other wants to stay. The goal isn’t to solve relationship problems, but to gain clarity about the direction of the relationship. It’s a short-term, structured process (usually 1–5 sessions) focused on decision-making, not on change or reconciliation.

Couples Counseling is for couples who have decided they want to stay together and work on improving the relationship. This type of therapy focuses on resolving conflicts, improving communication, rebuilding trust, and creating stronger emotional connection.

In short:

Discernment counseling helps you decide what path to take.

Couples counseling helps you walk that path together.

What does discernment counseling look like?

The process begins with a two-hour intake session priced at $350. During this session, I meet with both partners together and individually to assess the situation. Based on the outcome, we can decide whether to proceed with additional sessions (typically 2 to 5 more) each lasting 90 minutes at a rate of $275.

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