FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Where is your office located?

We work primarily via telehealth. We can provide services throughout all of California. 

 

Do you offer online counseling?

Yes, we provide primarily telehealth counseling. 

 

What are your hours?

Monday - Friday 10:00 am - 7:00 pm 

Saturday By appointment availability. 

Sunday By appointment availability. 

 

How long are sessions?

Sessions are 50 minutes long.

 

How much do you charge?

Individual Therapy - $175 - $190 per 50 min session

Relationship Therapy - $215 - $225 per 50 min session

If Sliding Scale opportunities are available, range is: $80-165

 

Do you take insurance? 

We only accept Cigna & Aetna HMO and PPO plans as well as Cigna and Aetna EAP authorizations. No other insurance is accepted for in-network. We are considered an "Out-Of-Network" provider for all other insurance providers, which means we do not accept any other insurances directly. 

 

If you have a PPO health insurance plan, then we are able to provide you with a monthly receipt called a "Superbill" and you can submit this to your insurance provider for possible partial reimbursement. We recommend calling your insurance provider directly and checking with them to confirm if you have "Out Of Network" benefits. Try our Reimbursement Calculator below for an estimate of your potential costs. 

 

Otherwise you can choose to see us privately and not involve your insurance at all. See why many of my clients choose this option below. 

 

Why would I choose to pay private pay instead of using my insurance benefits?

Many clients choose to not involve insurance companies for counseling services for several reasons. Private pay allows:

• No required diagnosis

• No limit to the number of sessions 

• No need to worry if your insurance will cover couples therapy

• No need to worry about your insurance companies accessing your health records 

• More availability for sessions to start your work immediately

• More theory and intervention options to help best meet your needs

 

Many of my clients actually prefer to work with us privately and not involve their insurance at all. This is because in order to use your insurance for counseling, a mental health diagnosis is required, and this gets attached to your record. Insurance can also put limitations on the number of counseling sessions you can have, prior to truly completing the process. 

 

And by not taking insurance, we are able to maintain a smaller caseload of clientele and devote all of our focus into helping you. Instead of taking hours each week going back and forth with insurance, we devote that time and energy to our clients, resulting in better outcomes for therapy.

 

How do I set up an initial appointment?

If you are interested in moving forward with a consultation or to set up an appointment, fill in the contact form and someone from our office will get back to you. 

 

What is your cancellation policy?

No charges will occur for appointments canceled 24 hours or more prior to appointment date and time. A session fee of $100 will be charged for No-Shows or Late Cancellations (those less than 24 hours notice), no matter the reason. Voicemail and email is available 24 hours a day and checked daily. 

 

How much paperwork do I have to fill out?

You will receive your intake documents through your email to be completed electronically in the client portal of our electronic health record. There will be about 6-8 pages to sign in order to begin services, including informed consent forms, intake questionnaires, demographic questionnaire, and credit card form, etc. The exact forms will depend on the treatment service and need for counseling. 

 

What can I expect in a first session? 

During the first session, your therapist will cover the practice policies and go over your intake questionnaires to ensure we have a good grasp for establishing treatment goals. The first session will be used to gather more information about yourself (or your relationship with your partner), your relationship with the problem at hand, and establishing clearly defined goals for treatment, as well as establishing therapeutic rapport to ensure a comfortable space for your continued growth in treatment. 

 

With whom do you work? 

We work with adult individuals (18 years old +) and relationships. No minors are seen at this practice. 

 

What is your approach?

We utilize a variety of research supported modalities with our clients, based on your specific needs. Our main theoretical approaches included: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Narrative Theory, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TFCBT), Mindfulness, and Attachment Theory. 

 

How long will it take?

There is no specific timeline for healing. Healing is not linear. No therapist can say an exact time for when you will feel therapeutic benefits, as this is all very personal. But, generally, individuals we have worked with report positive changes by 3-6 months assuming they are putting in the work for their treatment and this only increases as time goes on until graduation from services. 

 

Will I have homework?

This will depend on your therapist's style within our practice and your preference. Any therapist can offer homework if you would like, but it is also respected if you do not want homework. 

 

How often will we need to have a session?

Sessions are generally done once a week. Biweekly (every other week) sessions are also a possibility if finances or time do not allow for weekly sessions. 
 

Good Faith Estimate Notice 

You have the right to request a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical 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 bill for medical items and services.

•You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees.

•Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or 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.