Getting started.
How do I get started?
Pick a time in the scheduler for a free 15-minute consultation, or call me at (650) 391-0459 or email connect@evestoller.com. If you've checked anything as you read through the site, it comes with you when you schedule.
What happens in the consultation?
Fifteen minutes, by phone. You say a little about what's bringing you in, I say a little about how I work, and we both get a sense of whether it fits. There's no cost and no obligation to continue.
Who do you work with?
Adults and older teens, in individual therapy.
What do people usually come in for?
Most often it's life transitions — new parenthood, career pivots, launching into adulthood — along with anxiety, self-doubt, and questions about identity. A lot of the work is building a steadier, kinder relationship with yourself while the ground is still shifting.
Not everything fits a category. If what's on your mind isn't named here, it still belongs here.
What if I'm not sure therapy is what I need?
That's a reasonable place to start from, and the consultation is built for it. We can talk it through without committing to anything.
How we meet.
What are my options for meeting?
Two. Walk-and-talk sessions in person, outdoors on the Bay Area Peninsula, and secure video sessions from anywhere in California.
What is walk-and-talk therapy?
Therapy that happens outdoors, side by side, while we walk. For many people, moving makes it easier to think clearly and speak honestly — there's no chair across from you, and no one is waiting for eye contact.
Can I do both?
Yes. Video and walk-and-talk can be used interchangeably, session to session, as scheduling and preference allow.
How long is a session?
Fifty minutes for individual therapy.
What if I don't know which one I want?
Completely fine. We'll figure out what fits during your free consultation.
Where I work.
Where are you based?
Palo Alto, California.
Which areas do you serve for in-person walk-and-talk sessions?
The Bay Area Peninsula — Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, and Redwood City, along with the towns right around them: Los Altos, Atherton, East Palo Alto, Stanford, Portola Valley, and Woodside.
If you're just outside that range and the walk appeals to you, ask. We can usually find something that works.
Do you work with people elsewhere in California?
Yes. Video sessions are open to anyone anywhere in California — home, office, or in between. That includes the wider Bay Area, Sacramento, the Central Coast, Los Angeles, San Diego, and everywhere between.
What if I live outside California, or I'm traveling?
I'm licensed in California and can work with clients who are physically located in California at the time of our sessions. If you're away from the state for a stretch, let me know and we'll plan around it.
How I work.
What's your approach?
Sessions blend reflection with goal-oriented focus, adapting to the style that fits for you. Some weeks that means sitting with something slowly; other weeks it means leaving with something concrete to try.
What methods do you draw on?
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, for making room for hard thoughts and feelings rather than fighting them. Internal Family Systems, for getting to know the parts of you that surface under stress, and why. Skills-based work from DBT and CBT, for concrete tools for intense emotions and unhelpful thought patterns. And person-centered practice that's compassion-focused and culturally sensitive, starting from what's already working.
Do I need to pick one?
No. There's no need to choose just one, and most of the time we don't.
What's your background?
I earned my MSSW from Columbia University in 2011 and spent fifteen years in nonprofit behavioral health before opening this practice, much of it in high-acuity settings. For much of the last decade I led clinical services and training at a Bay Area nonprofit — supervising graduate students and pre-licensed clinicians, and teaching on risk assessment and safety planning, self-compassion, and working with people in distress.
You can read more in the longer version.
Fees and payment.
What does a session cost?
$300 for 50 minutes of individual therapy.
The initial 15-minute consultation is free.
Do you take insurance?
Private pay, out-of-network. I don't bill insurance directly; sessions are paid out of pocket.
Can I get reimbursed?
Possibly. If you have out-of-network benefits, I provide monthly superbills you can submit for partial reimbursement, and I'm glad to help you figure out what to ask your insurer.
How do I pay?
Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover, and HSA/FSA cards are all accepted.
Is there a reduced fee?
If cost is a barrier, I keep a small number of reduced-fee openings. Feel free to reach out to see if one is currently available.
Will I know the cost up front?
Yes. Every self-pay client receives a written, personalized Good Faith Estimate before services begin, and you can ask for one before you schedule. The full explanation of that right lives on the Good Faith Estimate section of the legal page.
Practical details.
When are you available?
Generally weekdays. The scheduler shows real openings, so what you see there is what's actually free.
How often would we meet?
That's something we'd decide together, based on what you're working on and what's sustainable for you.
How do I reach you?
Call (650) 391-0459, email connect@evestoller.com, or pick a time directly.
Does reaching out mean we've started?
Not yet. Visiting this site or sending a message doesn't create a therapist–client relationship; our work together begins only after we meet and complete intake.
What if it's an emergency?
How can I verify your license?
Jessica Eve Stoller, LCSW · License #80899 · California Board of Behavioral Sciences
The practice's full policies and required notices are on the Legal & Disclosures page.
Still wondering about something that isn't here? Ask me directly — it's a short conversation, and there's no wrong question.