Frequently Asked Questions
What can I expect when I contact you?
You have a couple of different options about how things can go. If you reach out to us through one of our “Get Started” or “Set Up An Appointment” buttons, you will be directed to choose a 15-minute telehealth (virtual) or telephone appointment. One of our therapists will confirm the appointment by email and will contact you at your appointment time. This is a low-pressure way for you to get your questions answered, find out if we’re a good fit, and go over details about scheduling, fee, etc.
Alternately, if you already know which therapist you’d like to work with, you can reach out to them directly in whatever way is most comfortable for you by phone, text, or email by clicking on one of the buttons or links next to the therapist’s profile on our Team page. The therapist will get in touch with you and set up a time for a free 15-minute initial phone consultation. If you and the therapist are in agreement, your therapist will then get you set up in our secure online client portal and you can begin either in-person or virtual therapy as soon as your schedules allow.
Each of our therapists have a unique way of working and specific sets of skills and specialities. During your first few sessions, your therapist will take some time to get to know you and try to understand what brings you to therapy. They will work with you to determine what your goals are for therapy and together you will embark on a journey of healing, transformation, and growth.
Your therapist will work with you to determine what your goals are for therapy and together you will embark on a journey of healing, transformation, and growth.
What kind of therapy do I need?
What you need is greatly dependent on what is troubling you, your past experiences in therapy (if any), your personality, what you know about yourself, and what areas of expertise your therapist has. Most therapists use a blend of techniques to best provide the personalized care that clients need. Our therapists prioritize collaboration and are always careful to check in with you about how the process is going.
We value your voice as the most important one in the room. Although we are experts in psychology, relationships, and mental health, you are the expert on you.
The single most important factor in a successful therapeutic outcome is the quality of the relationship you have with your therapist. Know that you are free to change therapists at any time for any reason; in fact we will help you find someone new if you feel that you need a change.
Although most therapists are skilled at utilizing and blending techniques from many different therapeutic approaches to create a highly personalized plan of care for you, some forms of therapy (such as EMDR, Equine Therapy & Somatic Experiencing) require a special certification or license. If you are looking for a specific type of therapy, be sure to discuss this with your potential therapist before you begin.
We value your voice as the most important one in the room. Although we are experts in psychology, relationships, and mental health, you are the expert on you.
How much will therapy cost?
How much your overall therapeutic journey will cost depends on several factors such as length of each session, frequency of sessions, how many people are in each session (are you seeking therapy for just one, two, three, or more?), and how long you continue treatment.
Each therapist has their own fees and session lengths. We encourage you to discuss these with your therapist during your initial free 15-minute consultation call. Before you begin your first session, your therapist will give you a Good Faith Estimate of projected costs to review so there will never be any hidden or unexpected costs. You can use this Good Faith Estimate Calculator to get an idea of how much therapy will cost over various numbers of weeks.
Therapy is an “at-will” relationship, which means you are free to end therapy or change therapists at any time for any reason. If finances are your only reason for leaving though, be sure to discuss this with your therapist prior to ending the relationship, as some of us are able to make special arrangements should cost suddenly become a barrier for you getting the care you need.
Each therapist has their own fees and session lengths. We encourage you to discuss these with your therapist during your initial free 15 minute consultation call.
Do you take my insurance?
The short answer is probably not. The longer answer is we have a few limited spaces available for people with Medi-Cal through Health Net/MHN. Ask your preferred therapist if you qualify.
If you’d like to use your insurance other than Health Net/MHN Medi-Cal, we ask for payment from you following each session and provide you with a Superbill (a special monthly statement) that you can send to your insurance company to seek reimbursement. Because benefits vary so greatly from company to company, we are not able to advise you as to what your insurance will cover. It is up to you to check with your insurance company to see whether and how much they reimburse. We’re happy to step you through that process if you’d like.
We ask for payment from you following each session and provide you with a Superbill (a special monthly statement) that you can send to your insurance company to seek reimbursement.
How long will I be in therapy?
While you might be concerned about how long you’ll be in therapy, therapists sometimes joke that our job is to put ourselves out of a job. We want you to get better. Nothing brings us more joy or job satisfaction than when you feel empowered and liberated from what’s been troubling you. That being said, psychotherapy is not a “quick fix.” One of our goals is to get to know you so we can better help you and that takes time. When we first meet with you, we’ll help you determine what your life (or the issue that brings you to therapy) will look like in three months, six months, a year, etc. This will help us stay on track and give us a point of reference to see if therapy is working for you or not.
We’ll help you determine what your life will look like in three months, six months, a year, etc., to help us stay on track and give us a point of reference to see if therapy is working for you or not.
What if I hate therapy?
Most people find the experience of therapy to be a mixture of pleasant and unpleasant feelings. On the one hand, you are in a very caring, supportive environment with someone who is dedicated to listening deeply to you, and to helping you heal and grow, which can feel wonderful. However, you may find certain sessions to be emotionally painful. On these days, it might feel like you hate it.
You are not seeking therapy because everything is perfect; you are seeking therapy because you are struggling and perhaps in a lot of pain. Talking about that pain might feel, well, painful. But it is also cathartic. It is healing, and with healing comes relief. Over time, the pain will lessen as you learn new coping strategies and new ways of connecting with the world around you. It will lessen as you heal.
That being said, we ask you to schedule your session mindfully. If possible, try to give yourself some time before and after each session to transition out of and back into your normal life. Some people are able to squeeze therapy into their lunch breaks, while others may need to clear their calendars completely on therapy day. If you haven’t been doing it, we invite you to take care of your emotional needs more regularly, and that includes in regard to doing therapy as well.
We don’t believe you will actually hate therapy, but if you find yourself dreading going to each session, listen to yourself and talk to your therapist about it. After all, we’re here to listen and support you. We’ll help you figure it out even if that means helping you find a new therapist.