FAQs
How Therapy Works
Q: What are your fees?/How much does therapy cost?
Individual therapy sessions cost $175 for 50 minutes.
Family sessions are $255 for 80 minutes (longer to allow all family members input).
I offer limited sliding scale slots based on need and availability
Q: Can I use my insurance?/Do you take insurance?
I am an out of network provider. If you have out of network benefits with a PPO insurance plan, you may be able to get reimbursed for a portion of your therapy fees. I will provide a superbill to submit to your insurance provider.
Q: How do virtual sessions work?
Virtual sessions are conducted like a Zoom meeting but on a HIPAA compliant platform.
It is recommended that you...
- find a quiet, private space so that you can speak freely
- use earbuds or a headset to increase your privacy
- test your internet connection and functionality of the app in advance.
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You can log into your session from anywhere - home, work or on vacation - as long as you are in the state of California.
Neurodivergent Therapy
Q: What does neurodivergent mean? Is it different than neurospicy?
A: Neurodivergent (ND) is an umbrella terms for conditions that indicate a different neurotype, or neurological differences in the brain, including ADHD, Autism, and giftedness. This means the brain is structured and functions in a way that is different from the mainstream expectation.
Neurospicy is a term that means the same thing but has been popularized in the ND community because it is fun, quirky and reflective of they playful nature of many ND people.
Q: What are accommodations for neurodivergence?
A: Accommodations are adjustments you can make or request that help lower the cost of doing certain tasks. Sometimes they are requested from school or work but often there are subtle things you can do for yourself. Some common ones often involve lessening the strain of sensory overstimulation, such as noise reducing earplugs or light filtering glasses.
When focus is a challenge, a less stimulating environment can be helpful. At school, that may mean taking tests in a testing center that has less noise and visual stimuli. At work, it may mean wearing noise cancelling headphones or having white noise. In your personal life, it might look like making sure TV and phones are silent and that you and your partner are uninterrupted during serious or detail oriented conversations.
We get a lot of messages about how things "should be done" but these are often arbitrary standards in a one-size-fits-all framework. Doing things differently can make a big difference for a ND brain.
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Q: Do I need a formal diagnosis? What if I am wondering if I'm neurodivergent?
A: This is completely up to you. Self-diagnosis is often many people's first step and there is a lot of data that shows it is largely accurate. If this is enough for you and you don't feel the need to get formal accommodations for school or work, that is valid.
If you do need or want ADA protection at work or accommodations like extended testing time for school, a formal diagnosis is needed. Kerry Martinelli, LMFT can provide referrals if needed.
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A diagnosis is helpful for some people. For others, it feels uncomfortable. If you are unsure about wanting to label it, it is valid to explore whether some of the strategies and accommodations that are helpful for ND brains are helpful for you. Even non-ND brains can benefit from common ND tools.
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Q: What is the role of medication for ND? I'm not sure if I want to take medication.
A: This is a deeply personal decision. Having an ND diagnosis does not mean medication is necessary. For ADHD, the right medication is often a valuable tool to give you more access to your inherent cognitive resources, but not everyone goes that route. Stimulant medication is often what people think of, but there are other options as well.
Kerry Martinelli, LMFT does not prescribe medication but she can explore your concerns and help you understand the ways medication can support you. The decision of what to take will be made between you and a psychiatrist.
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Q: Sometimes I have a hard time talking about my feelings. What if I feel stuck?
A: Therapy isn't one size fits all. There are times when feelings or memories are too hard to fully or accurately express. Kerry Martinelli, LMFT completely understands. This is when it is helpful to step outside the box. She often finds IFS parts work and brainspotting are really helpful when talking doesn't feel like it can get the job done. IFS helps access the deeper subconsious in a way that feels more like storytelling. Brainspotting allows patients effective processing of feelings without having to talk at all. She will get as creative as needed to find what works best for you.
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Q: How do I find a therapist who understands both autism and eating disorders?
A: Look for therapists who specialize in neurodivergent-affirming care AND have specific eating disorder training. Kerry Martinelli, LMFT in Orange County combines autism-affirming therapy with specialized eating disorder treatment, understanding how sensory sensitivities, executive functioning challenges, and social trauma intersect with food relationships. She uses Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy and Brainspotting to address these complex issues.
Q: How do I find an autism-affirming therapist?
A: It can be hard to find an autism-affirming therapist in Orange County. Look for therapists who explicitly state they provide "autism-affirming" or "neurodivergent-affirming" care, have training in neurodiversity, understand masking and stimming, and don't try to make you appear "more normal." They should celebrate your neurodivergent identity while helping you navigate challenges. Ask about their experience with late-diagnosed adults and their approach to sensory needs. Kerry Martinelli, LMFT is an Adult Autism specialist.
Eating Disorder Therapy
Q: What is Health At Every Size (HAES)?
A: HAES is a movement started by medical Dr. Lindo Bacon is a framework that challenges weight stigma in healthcare. It is based on the principle that weight and health are not the same thing. Those of us practicing from a HAES framework are challenging the prevalent anti-fat bias in healthcare and wellness spaces. HAES advocates for wellbeing, dignity and improvement of health for every body, regardless of size or shape. You can work towards improved health at any size, not to impact the share or size of your body, but to support and care for your body as it is right now.
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Kerry Martinelli, LMFT approaches eating disorder treatment from this inclusive, empowering, counter-cultural approach, focusing on incremental and sustainable changes.
Q: What is Intuitive Eating (IE)?
A: According to the National Eating Disorders Association, intuitive eating is about trusting your body to make food choices that feel good for you, without judging yourself or the influence of diet culture. It is an anti-diet approach to how you fuel and nourish yourself. The principles of IE also apply to the approach to movement and exercise.
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Kerry Martinelli, LMFT will help you work toward the goal of being more intuitive as a way to achieve food and body freedom in eating disorder recovery.
Q: What is ARFID and how is it different from anorexia?
A: ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder) involves limited food intake due to sensory sensitivities, lack of interest in food, or fear of negative consequences from eating. Unlike anorexia, ARFID isn't driven by body image concerns. It's common in autistic individuals and requires specialized treatment that honors sensory needs while expanding food flexibility.
Q: How do I find a therapist who understands both autism and eating disorders?
A: Look for therapists who specialize in neurodivergent-affirming care AND have specific eating disorder training. Kerry Martinelli, LMFT is one of the few therapists in Orange County who combines autism-affirming therapy with specialized eating disorder treatment, understanding how sensory sensitivities, executive functioning challenges, and social trauma intersect with food relationships. She uses Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy and Brainspotting to address these complex issues.
Q: Can ADHD cause eating disorders?
A: Yes, ADHD can contribute to eating disorders through executive functioning challenges (forgetting to eat, difficulty with meal planning), emotional regulation difficulties (using food for comfort), and sensory processing differences. Adults with ADHD may also develop eating disorders as a way to feel control or manage overwhelm. Specialized treatment addresses both the ADHD symptoms and the eating disorder patterns.
Q: How do I know if I need trauma therapy or eating disorder treatment?
A: Many neurodivergent adults need both. Trauma often underlies eating disorders, especially trauma from being misunderstood or rejected for your neurodivergent traits. Signs you might need integrated treatment include: using food to cope with emotions, having rigid food rules, experiencing body disconnection, or feeling like you're "too much" or "not enough." A therapist trained in both areas, like Kerry Martinelli, LMFT, can help you understand these connections.
Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy
Q: Are multiple parts the same as multiple personalities?
A: Kerry Martinelli, LMFT explains that having multiple parts is not the same as having multiple personalities. Multiple parts, or multiplicity of mind, is common to everyone and a healthy, typical state. The goal of our work is to create cooperation and harmony between parts.
Dissociative identity disorder (formerly multiple personality disorder) is the result of extreme trauma where parts become so compartmentalized they are completely unaware of the others (alters). The treatment for DID works to integrate alters together. It can include IFS but requires an experienced specialist in DID, which is beyond Kerry's scope of practice.
Q: What is my Self?
A: Self is distinct from parts. You are born with Self in place and parts emerge over the passage of time. Parts are working to protect Self from being damaged by scary, overwhelming or painful experiences when Self was too young and vulnerable to lead.
Sometimes, they do their jobs so routinely that they end up taking over for Self or "blending." But these jobs get bigger and harder to manage as you grow up and these parts are stuck in time. Ultimately, parts are Self's allies and everything runs smoother when Self drives the bus and parts are passengers who make observations and raise needs or concerns.
Self may be out of practice leading and some parts may be afraid to let go of the wheel so Kerry Martinelli, LMFT will help them find a new partnership. Self energy is evident when the 8 C's are present: clarity, compassion, curiosity, creativity, connectedness, calmnesss, confidence and courage.
Q: How do I get rid of difficult or problematic parts?
A: The goal is not to eliminate parts. While some parts go about their jobs in ways that are problematic or even hurtful, no part is bad. Kerry Martinelli, LMFT will guide you to help parts shift their strategies so they are more effective and less harmful. They are operating from maps that are outdated, which usually makes their jobs harder and more overwhelming. Parts don’t object to change once they realize change is safe and possible.
Parts are like young children trying to manage adult responsibilities. They haven’t realized they can shift from being in charge to being an assistant. Once they understand Self is older, wiser and has better resources than they do, it is easier for them to shift their roles. Parts can evolve or d their job in a way that feels much better for you and them.
Sometimes when parts are having a really hard time letting go of old stories and expectations, Kerry uses Brainpotting to help them make meaningful shifts. Learn more about Brainspotting here.
Q: What's the difference between IFS therapy and traditional therapy for neurodivergent adults?
A: Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy is particularly effective for neurodivergent adults because it honors the different "parts" of yourself, including parts that developed to help you mask or cope with being misunderstood. Unlike traditional therapy that might focus on changing behaviors, IFS helps you understand and integrate all parts of yourself, including your neurodivergent identity. This approach reduces shame and increases self-acceptance. Kerry Martinelli, LMFT is an IFS therapist who is also autism-affirming in Orange County.
Brainspotting Therapy
Q: Does Brainspotting work?
A: Yes! Kerry Martinelli, LMFT knows from personal experience Brainspotting is powerfully effective, being both a practioner and someone who has received brainspotting therapy herself. She has seen people achieve results that they never believed were possible through brainspotting.
It can be surprising how impactful and quick the results are. You will track the progress on your goals as part of the process.
Q: Can I do Brainspotting virtually?
A: Yes, Kerry Martinelli, LMFT works with lots of people to do virtual brainspotting. She will email you a preparation guide so you are able to set yourself up for a successful session at home.
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Q: What is the difference between EMDR and Brainspotting?
A: EMDR is clinician led and tends to be more structured so there are interruptions in processing. You stay more activated during processing so you may experience emotions more intensely throughout the process. The setup is more cognitive (upper brain) based so the process stays more cognitive comparatively.
Brainspotting is client led and very organic and flexible. You are encouraged to follow the flow of your mind as it gently unspools tangles of thought, emotion and memory. Because we are in the subcortical (lower) brain, you can process things you don’t have memory or language for, releasing trauma in the mind and body. It is a deeply relational experience, so you feel unconditional acceptance and support through the process.
Q: What if I am interested in IFS and Brainspotting?
A: Great news! Brainspotting is a great complimentary modality for IFS work. Kerry Martinelli, LMFT can actually use Brainspotting to help parts to shift out of over-activation that results from being triggered.
Q: What is Brainspotting and how does it help neurodivergent adults with trauma?
A: Brainspotting is a somatic therapy that uses eye positions to access and process trauma stored in the body. It's particularly effective for neurodivergent adults because it doesn't rely heavily on verbal processing and honors the body's natural healing wisdom. Many autistic and ADHD adults have trauma from being misunderstood, rejected, or forced to mask their authentic selves. Brainspotting helps heal this trauma gently and effectively.