FAQ

Most services are provided through a secure telehealth platform at this time. We have limited availability for in person services and would be happy to discuss this further if you are interested!

The first step is to schedule an initial free 15-minute phone consultation. During the consultation, we will briefly discuss what is bringing you to therapy presently along with your therapeutic needs and goals. This is also an opportunity to meet your therapist and ask any questions you might have. At the end of your consultation, if we mutually decide that we may be a good fit for therapy, we will schedule an intake appointment that lasts 60-90 minutes.

I find that what is most helpful for clients to think of prior to your initial therapy appointment is, what do you want to get out of therapy? Spend some time thinking about what you would like to see change in your life, or how your life would be better in 3-6 months if therapy is successful. You will also want to check with your insurance prior to your first session regarding reimbursement (see below for more information). As you think about this, remember that you don’t have to put pressure on yourself to prepare anything for your first session—I’ll be happy to walk you through the process. 

At present, we do strongly recommend that you find a quiet, private place where you won’t be interrupted during your session(s). A reliable internet or network connection is ideal, as well as a smartphone, tablet, or computer with a camera and microphone. Prior to your appointment, test your mic, camera, and internet connection. Additionally, please be connected to a power source or have one nearby if needed.

Following your free initial 15-minute phone consultation, if we determine that we want to proceed with an intake appointment, we will schedule an initial appointment that will last approximately 60. We will initially review some intake paperwork and then get to know each other better in order to help you feel comfortable with the treatment environment and answer any questions you may have. We will spend a majority of the initial session discussing your symptoms, treatment goals, and available treatment options. At Live Well Therapy, we conduct in-depth initial assessments, and believe that these are essential to the success of any therapy program. Our goal is to help you feel comfortable and work collaboratively to develop a treatment plan tailored to your specific needs and goals.

You can expect your initial intake session to last 60 minutes. Subsequent sessions will last approximately 50-90 minutes, depending on the treatment modality and what’s best to address your therapy needs.

Treatment duration varies from person to person. Many factors will determine the length of treatment, including the severity of symptoms, time available to devote to treatment, life events, and life stressors. A realistic expectation of treatment duration is around 12-16 sessions, with some people moving through treatment more quickly and some more slowly. Most start to see benefits from treatment following 6-8 sessions. 

Yes, we offer remote “telehealth” appointments over a secure HIPAA-compliant platform. We will continue to offer “telehealth” following the pandemic, as well as in-person appointments when it is safe.

Sessions must be cancelled or rescheduled with at least 24 hours advance notice or the client will be charged the full session fee. This is because we are unable to fill a session with such short notice.

We do not treat children or adolescents at this time.

You may download a copy of my HIPAA privacy practice here.

Live Well Therapy currently accepts Lyra Health. Co-payment and payment (for out of network clients) is due at the time of service. If you have a different insurance, we are happy to provide you with a “superbill” for you to submit to your insurance for services as an out-of-network provider. Reimbursement is not guaranteed and is up to you to pursue. Many PPO plans reimburse 70-80% of what a client pays to out-of-network providers. It is recommended that you contact your insurance company directly to discuss the percentage of reimbursement for out-of-network providers. Clients are asked to provide session payment at the time of service. I encourage you to contact your insurance company in advance to determine if you have out-of-network benefits for behavioral health services, ask about your deductible, and assess your reimbursement percentage.

**I partner with a company called Advekit to assist you with getting the most out of your out-of-network benefits. If you choose to work with them, they will submit claims for reimbursement of my services on your behalf at no cost to you. Advekit runs the cost for you and you pay ONLY what you owe upfront and don’t need to wait for insurance reimbursement. Click on my Advekit profile to get a sense of how this might work for you.

There are several benefits of not involving insurance, including no restrictions on number of sessions, type of treatment, or whether or not a diagnosis must be present for treatment to be covered. This allows for increased flexibility and completely individualized treatment plans. Private pay also increases the level of privacy for the individual or couple involved, as the record of treatment is not shared with outside agencies.

Your first 15-minute consultation is 100% free of charge. For individual therapy, 53-minute sessions are $235/session and 90-minute sessions are $380/session. For couple therapy, 50-minute sessions are $260. Session duration may vary based on the modality of therapy used and the individual needs of each client.

You may pay for sessions by credit card through the secure Simple Practice online portal. You may also pay by cash or check if you prefer. Payment is due at the start of each session. My fee is on par with other psychologists in the community with similar expertise.

Unfortunately, laws and licensing requirements restrict our services to the state of California and its residents.