Licensed to practice in California and accepts 72 insurances. Specializes in Anxiety, Depression, Trauma and PTSD and 7 more.
(she/her)
I am a Licensed Clinical Counselor in California with a doctorate in rehabilitation counselor education from Michigan State University. I have taught at three community colleges and four universities in the US. My book, Transgender Youth, was published in 2016 and I also co-authored a book, Trauma-Informed Care in 2021. I currently operate an online private practice providing therapy for anxiety, depression, and trauma to individuals in the BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities. *If you would like a therapy session on a day and time that is not listed, send me a message to make an exception for you.
In our first session, I want to walk through the intake assessment with you instead of having you complete it and I read it before we meet. I find that individuals seeking therapy share more when I ask them a question versus reading the question on a page. At the end of the first session, I will ask about counseling goals, ask you to decide which goal to start with and develop a plan of action/treatment plan to help you feel better.
While I am a gentle and nurturing therapist, I also adjust how we work together based on your personality. There are times when I will deliver direct feedback as softly as I can depending on the circumstances. Most people are able to get to where they need to go with a year of working with me.
The clients that I find are a good fit with me include women of color and individuals in the gay and trans community who experience anxiety and depression due to childhood trauma.
Other specialties
I identify as
Cash - $215 per session
Aetna
Aetna - Allied Benefits
Aetna - ASR Health Benefits
Aetna - Luminare
Aetna - Medicare
Aetna - Moda
Aetna - WebTPA
Aetna – HealthEZ
All Savers
Amerihealth Administrators
Amerihealth NJ Medicare Advantage
Anthem
Arlo
AvMed
Blue Cross
Blue Shield
Blue Shield of California - Medi-Cal
Blue Shield of California - Medicare
Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan (Medi-Cal)
CalViva Health (Medi-Cal)
Carelon Behavioral Health (Commercial)
Centivo
Central California Alliance for Health (Medi-Cal)
Cigna
Cigna - HealthEZ
Community Health Plan of Imperial Valley (Medi-Cal)
EAP:Cigna
EAP:Evernorth
EAP:UnitedHealthcare/Optum
Evernorth
Gold Coast Health Plan (Medi-Cal)
Gold Coast Health Plan Total Care Advantage (HMO D-SNP)
Golden Rule
GTEB
Harvard Pilgrim/UnitedHealthcare
Health Net (Commercial)
Health Net (Medi-Cal)
Health Plan of San Joaquin/Mountain Valley Health Plan – Medi-Cal
Humana - Medicare
Humana Dual (Medicare & Medicaid)
IHSS Healthy Workers
Independence Administrators
Independence Blue Cross
Independence Keystone 65 HMO
Independence Personal Choice 65 PPO
L.A. Care Covered
L.A. Care Covered Direct
L.A. Care Health Plan (Medi-Cal)
L.A. Care Medicare Plus (HMO D-SNP)
L.A. Care PASC-SEIU
Optum
OptumHealth Complex Medical Conditions
Oscar
Oxford
Partnership HealthPlan of California (Medi-Cal)
San Francisco Health Plan (Medi-Cal)
Santa Clara Family Health Plan - Medi-Cal
Scripps Health Plan
SFHP Care Plus (HMO D-SNP)
Sharp Health Plan
Surest (formerly Bind)
Sutter Health Plan
Tufts Health/Cigna
United Medical Resources
UnitedHealthcare Complete Care (C-SNP)
UnitedHealthcare Dual (Medicare & Medicaid)
UnitedHealthcare Life Insurance
UnitedHealthcare Shared Services
UnitedHealthcare StudentResources
UnitedHealthcare/Optum
UnitedHealthcare/Optum - Medicare
Narrative
Narrative counseling externalizes problems, viewing them as separate entities versus part of the person. For example, we can name mental health issues and talk about them as a part of your life, "Miss Anxiety feels much better when there is a plan of action."
Trauma Informed Care
I am careful with questions, comments, and feedback to ensure you are not re-traumatized in therapy sessions.
Solution Focused Brief Treatment
If you have specific issues to address, we can create goals and objectives with actions steps to help you get there.
8 ratings with written reviews
April 28, 2026
She is an amazing listener and is able to bring in fresh perspectives and understandings about whatever topic I bring up that can help me see it from a broader view, in an honest view that I hadn't considered. And so I appreciate big guidance when it comes to seeing the bigger picture in knowing what is mine to move and work through. And what is not mine to hold and work through.
March 13, 2026
I’m so thankful for Shemaya!
March 12, 2026
Always so understanding, supportive, and able to help me see the bigger picture and not just what is in front of me in the moment. Super inspirational and beautiful inside and out. Definitely a gem!