Dedicated to helping individuals heal, grow, and discover deeper meaning in their lives
Karina Sergi is a pioneering psychotherapist, educator, and researcher dedicated to helping individuals heal, grow, and discover deeper meaning in their lives. With over 20 years of experience, she has worked across hospitals, universities, non-profits, private practice, and clinical research, bringing a compassionate and innovative approach to psychotherapy.
Approach
Life is complex and often filled with uncertainty, challenges, and the need to make sense of our experiences. My approach to psychotherapy draws from the understanding that growth comes from confronting life’s difficulties with courage and curiosity.
With the help of a trusted and experienced therapist, one can learn to embrace the full spectrum of the human experience—joy and sorrow, fear and courage, struggle and peace of mind, ultimately allowing you to gain clarity, build resilience, and move forward with purpose.
I believe that discomfort and challenges often carry the seeds of growth and transformation. Our work will help you identify your needs, connect with your values, and find meaning and intention even in the face of life’s uncertainties.
The 4 Steps of Psychotherapy
Services
Traditional Talk Therapy
Engage in a collaborative process to explore your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Through compassionate dialogue, we work together to understand your experiences, identify patterns, and develop strategies to foster personal growth and well-being.
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP)
Experience a transformative approach that combines the therapeutic potential of ketamine with integrative psychotherapy. This method facilitates deep healing by accessing conscious and unconscious material, alleviating treatment-resistant conditions, and promoting profound personal insights.
Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy
Discover a powerful modality that fosters harmonious relationship among psychological parts and accesses the core Self, IFS therapy aims to achieve balance and self-leadership, leading to profound healing and personal growth.
Psychedelic Integration and Coaching
Navigate and integrate your psychedelic experiences with guidance and support. This service empowers you to process insights gained, apply them meaningfully in your life, and ensure lasting transformation.
Clinical Research
Contribute to the advancement of mental health treatments through participation in cutting-edge clinical research. Our studies aim to explore and validate innovative therapeutic approaches, ensuring they are safe and effective.
Speaking, Consulting, and Training
Benefit from expertise in psychedelic-assisted therapies through tailored training programs, consultations, and speaking engagements. Prioritizing safety, ethics, and efficacy while inspiring professional leadership and informed practice.
Transformational Retreats
As a co-founder of both ReWild Medicine and SkyFire Retreats, I am dedicated to offering transformative experiences that cater to diverse aspects of personal development and healing.
FAQ
Participating in psychotherapy can offer numerous benefits. Therapy provides a supportive environment where you can develop problem-solving and coping strategies to address challenges such as depression, anxiety, anger, relationship issues, unresolved childhood experiences, grief, stress, and creative blocks.
Beyond addressing immediate concerns, therapy can also facilitate personal growth, enhance interpersonal relationships, and improve daily life management. By working with a therapist, you gain a fresh perspective on your challenges and practical tools to address them.
Some benefits of regular therapy include:
- Developing skills to improve your relationships
- Resolving specific issues that led you to seek therapy
- Learning effective coping strategies for stress and anxiety
- Managing emotions such as anger, grief, and depression
- Enhancing communication and listening skills
- Shifting unhelpful behavior patterns and creating healthier ones
- Navigating family or marital challenges more effectively
- Strengthening your ability to connect with your inner resources and access your core Self to foster balance and self-leadership
- Gaining a deeper understanding of yourself, your goals, and your values
Yes, confidentiality is a cornerstone of the therapeutic relationship. In general, all communications between a client and therapist are protected by law and cannot be disclosed without your written permission.
However, there are legal exceptions to this rule:
- If there is suspected child abuse, dependent adult abuse, or elder abuse, therapists are mandated to report this to the appropriate authorities.
- If a client makes a serious threat of harm to another person or property, the therapist may be required to notify law enforcement or the intended victim(s).
- If a client expresses intent to harm themselves and is at risk, the therapist may need to take steps to ensure safety, which could include notifying emergency contacts or authorities.
Your privacy is taken seriously, and any disclosures will adhere strictly to these legal requirements.
Standard therapy sessions are 55 minutes long. In some cases, I may recommend a longer session if clinically indicated to address your needs more effectively.
The number of therapy sessions varies for each individual and depends on factors such as your goals, the complexity of your concerns, and your readiness for change. Most clients attend between 10 and 30 sessions, but the frequency and duration of therapy are entirely up to you. Together, we will regularly review your progress to ensure therapy aligns with your goals.
Yes, I provide virtual therapy sessions for clients residing in California. This option ensures accessibility and flexibility, allowing you to attend sessions from the comfort of your home while maintaining the same confidentiality and quality as in-person therapy.
Therapy can benefit anyone seeking to improve their mental health, relationships, or overall well-being. If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or curious about personal growth, therapy can provide the tools and support to help you move forward. A consultation session can help determine if therapy is a good fit for your needs.
The first session is an opportunity to discuss your reasons for seeking therapy, explore your goals, and establish a plan for moving forward. We will review confidentiality, expectations, and any questions you may have about the therapeutic process.
To schedule an appointment, please complete the contact form on this website. I will respond promptly to discuss your needs and find a time that works for you.
Additional Information
Both in-person therapy and telehealth therapy sessions are available to residents of California.
- Initial Phone Consultation (20 minutes) Complimentary
- Intake Appointment (75 minutes)
$250-$300, sliding scale
- Individual Therapy Session (55 minutes)
$225-$300, sliding scale
Forms of payment accepted: Check, Cash, Venmo, PayPal, Zelle
In order to offer comprehensive treatment tailored to each person, I do not accept insurance or work directly with insurance companies.
If you have an HMO or Medi-Cal, you will not be able to use your insurance for services. However, if you have a PPO insurance plan with out-of-network benefits, you may be able to receive reimbursement for all or a portion of the therapy fee. If you wish to seek out-of-network reimbursement from your insurance company, I can provide you with a monthly statement ( or “superbill”) that you can submit to your insurer for partial reimbursement. Please note that although the superbill lists diagnoses and procedural codes for the purpose of insurance reimbursement, there is not a guarantee that your plan will reimburse. It is recommended you first contact your insurance company to discuss their reimbursement policy for individual therapy for out-of-network providers. You will want to know the amount of your deductible, what percentage of behavioral health services they will reimburse you, and the number of visits allowed per calendar year.
Low fee treatment: I offer two low-fee treatment slots per quarter for low-income patients as well as active duty and veterans. If interested, please use the contact form to inquire about current availability.
Appointments are scheduled on a weekly basis at a time reserved specifically for you. To ensure fairness and access to care, a minimum of 24 hours’ notice is required to cancel or reschedule an appointment.
Late cancellations or missed appointments will be charged the full session fee, as these instances limit the availability for others seeking treatment. This policy encourages commitment to scheduled sessions and helps maintain access to care for all clients.
Under the No Surprises Act, all clients are entitled to receive a Good Faith Estimate explaining the costs of their mental health care. As part of my practice, I provide a clear and transparent estimate of expected charges for services during the initial consultation or upon request. This estimate outlines the anticipated fees for therapy, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, integration sessions, and other services provided.
Please note that the estimate is based on the information available at the time and may be subject to change depending on your treatment needs, frequency of sessions, or additional services requested. For questions or concerns about your Good Faith Estimate, you are encouraged to contact me directly.
Professional ethics and California State Law specify that communications with therapists (including Psychologists, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Psychiatrists, etc.) are privileged and confidential. This means that your information cannot be released or shared without your written consent.
There are, however, a few exceptions where confidentiality must be breached, as required by law:
Suspected Abuse or Neglect: If there is reasonable suspicion of abuse or neglect involving a minor, an elderly person, or a dependent adult, therapists are mandated to report this to local law enforcement or county protective services.
Threats of Harm to Others: If you disclose a serious threat to harm another person, the therapist is required to notify the intended victim(s) and law enforcement.
Risk of Harm to Self: If you express intent to harm yourself, and the therapist determines there is a serious risk, steps may be taken to ensure your safety. This may include notifying emergency services or a trusted support person.
Beyond these situations, any sharing of your information will only occur with your explicit written consent. Your privacy is taken very seriously, and every effort is made to safeguard it.
It’s important to understand that this is not a crisis or emergency practice. While I strive to respond promptly, there may be times when I am unavailable to immediately return your call or see you.
If you are in crisis or require immediate support, please contact one of the following resources:
Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health ACCESS Center: 1-800-854-7771 (Available 24/7)
Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988 (Available 24/7)
Orange County Behavioral Health Crisis Line: 1-855-625-4657 (Available 24/7)
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 (Available 24/7)
San Diego Crisis Line: 1-888-724-7240 (Available 24/7)
Emergency Services
If you are experiencing a medical or life-threatening emergency, please call 911 or go to your local hospital emergency room immediately.
Your safety is always the highest priority, and these resources are available to provide immediate assistance when needed.
This website is owned and operated by Karina Sergi, MS, LMFT, a licensed mental health professional in the state of California. By accessing or using this website, you agree to the terms outlined below. If you do not agree, please discontinue use of this site.
Informational Purposes Only
The content on this website is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute a client/therapist relationship, mental health treatment, or medical advice. A therapeutic relationship is only established after an initial consultation and signed consent. This website does not provide diagnoses or specific recommendations. Always consult your medical or mental health provider before making changes to your health care regimen.
Psychedelic Disclaimer
This website does not endorse, condone, or facilitate the use of illegal substances, including psychedelics, nor does it provide counsel about where to obtain psychedelic drugs or experiences. My practice focuses on the legal, therapeutic use of substances where permitted by law, such as Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP), in accordance with applicable regulations.
If you are exploring psychedelic experiences, it is your responsibility to understand and comply with the laws in your jurisdiction. I do not provide, prescribe, or distribute illegal substances, nor do I advise clients on obtaining or using these substances outside legal contexts. Any discussions about psychedelics within therapy or consultation are for integration purposes only, aiming to support personal growth, safety, and well-being following past legal or ceremonial experiences.
No Guarantees
Results from therapy or use of this website vary depending on individual circumstances. This website does not guarantee any specific outcomes. Use of this website is at your own discretion and risk.
Limitation of Liability
While I strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information, I do not warrant the completeness or accuracy of this website’s content. I am not liable for any errors, omissions, or damages arising from the use or misuse of this website. Links to external sites are provided for convenience; I do not endorse or assume responsibility for their content.
Copyright and Usage
All content on this website is protected by copyright law. Materials may not be reproduced or distributed without prior written consent. Users may download or print materials for personal, non-commercial use only, with appropriate attribution to the source.
Privacy and Security
While this website employs secure technology, no platform is entirely immune to breaches. By using this website, you acknowledge the inherent risks of internet use and agree to hold me harmless in the event of data breaches or unauthorized access.
By using this website, you acknowledge and agree to these terms. For further questions, please contact Karina Sergi, MS, LMFT at contact@karinasergi.com
Affiliations
Specialized Training
Contact
PSYCHOTHERAPY
● Los Angeles