Finn V. Gratton, LMFT

Who do you work with?

I work with children, teens, and adults who find themselves “out-of-the-box” in one way or another, and with people who are looking for somatic and touch psychotherapy.

 

What do you mean by “out-of-the-box”?

It depends on the person. I see a lot of transgender and non-binary youth and adults and a lot of autistic or otherwise neurodivergent people, many of whom were never formally diagnosed. I often work with people who are open and creative in their sexuality and relationships.

 

What is somatic psychotherapy?

Somatic therapy attends to the connection between thoughts, feelings, and physical acts and sensations, and integrates this with verbal strategies. Somatic work involves the development of new physical practices to support changes you want in your life.  Touch psychotherapy involves attentive and therapeutic touch that is integrated with psychological process and is done while client is fully clothed. My clients are often surprised by how much their bodies can tell them, and how much they can renegotiate old patterns when they listen to their bodies. This listening may develop through my verbal and touch guidance toward deepening awareness and through mindful dialogue with the body.

 

Who do you provide consultation for?

Groups: I provide monthly group consultation in neurodiversity-affirming mental health care. To get on the waiting list for the next group, please send an email, and I will notify you 1-2 months before the next opening. Groups are 1.5 hours long, include 8-10 members, and run for 6 months. Most of participants come from U.S. and Canada, but times are scheduled to allow for folks as far east as India. There are low fee spots for BIPOC and disabled folks who need a reduced fee.

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Individuals: provide consultation to psychotherapists, educators and health providers in the areas of:

• autism spectrum and neurodiversity

• transgender and gender non-binary issues

• somatic strategies for working with trauma, anxiety, depression, grief, and chronic conditions

 

Send an email if interested in group or individual consultation.

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How do you work with clients?

First, I work to help clients feel welcome and safe. We explore together what makes you feel more comfortable in the room and with me, and then make these adjustments.

 

Second, I work collaboratively with clients to develop physical and psychological investigations to elicit from the body and mind guidance, knowledge, healing and growth. I was trained as a scientist and I consider life a journey full of experimental opportunities. Some of the experiments are internal (e.g., “What is the body part trying to say?), and some are external, (e.g., What would happen if you tried a particular change in activity in the next week?) With children, this exploration is a normal part of play, and involves making a change in play or in caregiving.

 

Third, I collaborate with you and your team in times of high stress. Sometimes things get really hard. I find out who’s on your team, and who might be added. I watch for signs of danger, support self-care, and talk with team members with the permission of clients and in emergencies, so that the people I serve get the best possible support through rough times.

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About privilege, oppression & disclosure

I am white, economically and educationally-privileged, genderqueer and autistic. Even if I share some of my identities with a client, I cannot know another’s experience, and it is my my job and my desire to listen deeply to your individual and cultural experience. I am engaged in internal and external work to unlearn internalized white supremacy and oppression that has limited myself, what I have to offer. and what I can receive. I welcome all conversations regarding my privilege and how it affects our work.

 

What is your training?

• M.A. in Counseling Psychology,  JFK University. While at JFKU, most of my papers were about somatic approaches to therapy or neurodiversity. My final project was published here.

• M.S. in Energy & Resources, U.C. Berkeley 

• B.S. in Geology, Trinity University (for those who wonder about all the rocks in my office)

 

Where did you do your internship?

• Family Services Agency, Santa Cruz: youth and adults, Intern of the Year

• Hospice of Santa Cruz County, grief counseling mostly with children

• JFKU Sunnyvale Counseling Center, middle school and community clinic

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What is Your Somatic Training?

• Extensive hands-on training (over 500 hours) in somatic therapies, developing skills in therapeutic awareness touch, body tracking & movement work.

• 3 + years with Bill Bowen in Psycho-physical Therapy and Somatic Resourcing.

• 4 + years with Kathy Kain and Stephen Terrell in Somatic Experiencing-based Touch Psychotherapy for Acute and Developmental Trauma.

• Ongoing Master Classes and seminars and participation in the U.S. Association of Body Psychotherapists.

 

What is Your Neurodiversity Training?

• Neurodiversity Training developed by Nick Walker for the Zur Institute.

• Sensory processing and trauma training with Ana do Valle.

• Consultation with autistic and neurodiversity advocates and professionals regarding respectful best practices.

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Note: I do not use Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA). I may work with clients on behavioral goals when these are initiated by the client and when the strategies for changing patterns or improving abilities are respectful, affirming, and collaboratively developed.

 

What is your Transgender/Gender Non-Binary Training?

• Regular participation in local and regional gender specialist consulting groups.

• TPATH Member (Transgender Professionals Association for Transgender Health)

• WPATH Member and Faculty for Gender Health Initiative Advance Mental Health Training

• Annual Conference Participation: both adult and youth-focused

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What are your fees?

My fees are $210/55 minutes.

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Good Faith Estimate Notice

You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical and mental health care will cost.

Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the expected charges for medical services, including psychotherapy services. 

You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency healthcare services, including psychotherapy services.

You can ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule a service.

If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill. Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate.

 For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call (800) 985-3059.

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What are your Consultation fees?

• Consultation for mental health professionals is  $200/55 minutes, sliding scale. (Sliding scale may be available.)

• Group consultation for 6 sessions is $400 total. If repeating, fee is $200 total. There are up to 3 low-fee spots per group.

• One-time Consultation for individuals and families to provide guidance on developing a plan and team for care is $280 for first session (60 minutes), which includes paperwork, summary and referrals as needed. Following consultations are $210/55 minutes.

 

Do you take insurance?

• I provide several slots for MediCal/ Beacon insurance in Santa Cruz. These tend to be full, but ask.

• Contact me about no-cost sessions for letters for trans care medical treatment.

• Some insurance plans will reimburse subscribers for out-of-network providers. Check with your insurance company. I can provide a superbill for you to submit to the insurer.

 

How can I pay you?

Cash, check, or Ivy Pay (HIPAA compliant paymentsystem)

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Do you provide telehealth?

I provide Telehealth. I use a HIPAA compliant Zoom platform. I can also communicate without video with either phone or through Zoom, with video turned off. We can also communicate via Zoom chat without using voice. I can only provide Telehealth in the state of California.

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Are you providing therapy in office?

Currently I have an office in Santa Cruz. I am seeing people who wish to be seen in person, are fully vaccinate, including booster shots, and have signed agreements regarding compliance with office COVID risk-reduction policies. Currently N-95 or KN95 masks are required for both myself and client, and I, or client, may switch to telehealth with less than 24 hours notice.

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Are your offices accessible?

• Language: I speak only English.

• ADA: Office and bathroom are ADA accesible. Please let me know of your needs so that I can give directions to curbcuts and ramps.

• Gender: We do not have all gender bathrooms at my office complex. The attached Museum of Art and History has  an all-gender, multi-stall bathroom that we may use when they are open.