FAQ

Where is your office located?

Visit us:

10315 Woodley Ave, Suite 214-215 Granada Hills, CA 91344

Parking is free, and there are always parking spaces, but through Telehealth, we work with individuals throughout California.

What are your hours?
We offer morning and evening sessions Monday thru Friday and some weekends.
How long are your sessions?

Individual sessions are between 45 to 60 minutes.

We offer 120-minute EMDR sessions for clients wanting to process a specific negative experience.

What forms of payment do you accept?
We accept several forms of payment, including all major credit cards, HSA/FSA, cash, and checks.
Do you see clients through insurance?

Currently, we are in-network with: 

  • Lyra Health (EAP)
  • UnitedHealthcare
  • Oxford Health Plans
  • Aetna
  • UMR
  • Oscar
  • UHC Student Resources
  • AllSavers UHC
  • Harvard Pilgrim
  • Meritain
  • Nippon

We are also considered out of network providers for other insurances if you do not have one we accept. Many people do not realize that even when providers don’t take insurance, reimbursement is possible, sometimes up to 90% depending on your out-of-network (OON) benefits. Call your insurance company to determine if you have OON behavioral health benefits, the reimbursement rate, how to submit claims, etc.

All you need to do is ask us for a superbill after each session and submit that to your insurance company. Please note that with a superbill, we will need to assign you a diagnosis.

Why don’t you accept more insurance plans?

We understand how frustrating it must be to find someone you want to work with but who does not accept your insurance.

There are several reasons why mental health providers do not take it. The main reason is that insurance companies require us to provide a diagnosis, which means that any diagnosis becomes a pre-existing condition. That diagnosis stays in your medical record, which has implications for life insurance coverage and may impact future employment decisions.

How do I make an initial appointment?

Our preferred way is that you start with a free 15-minute consultation to learn more about you and see if we can help.

Click the “Get Started” Button Below to schedule your consultation

GET STARTED

Do you have a cancellation policy?
Yes, we do. We require a 24-hour notice to change or cancel an appointment. If you do not give at least a 24-hour notice, we will charge you for the session.
Do you do Telehealth sessions?

Yes, we do! And we love Telehealth because we can work with people even when they live too far from the office. You can call or video chat from the comfort of your home.

A day before your appointment, you will receive an appointment reminder text with a link to our session. All you need to do is click the link on the day and time of your session to begin – no need to download anything. Telehealth is only available to California residents.

Hablan español?
Si se habla español, y todos somos bilingues.
With what age ranges do you work?

We work with teens (13-19 yrs old) and adults in their 20s, 30s, and 40s.

Do you work with women, men, couples, families?

We specialize in working with individuals in therapy. We believe that personal transformation impacts the quality of people’s relationships. For this reason, we do not work with couples but we love incorporating family and friends in the therapy if it’m important to the individual receiving treatment. 

 

What do you do in sessions with clients?

In sessions, we talk about your past, present, and future. By discussing your past, we will learn how experiences shaped your view of self and the world around you. We will discuss how those views of self and the world impact where you are in your present life. And we work actively toward the future self you envision.

You will learn techniques that will help in your day-to-day management of unpleasant feelings. Those unpleasant feelings and the behaviors to avoid having to feel them keep you stuck. You will learn how to manage them so that you begin to move forward.

Once you are ready for more than just managing, then the deeper work begins. We will discover the negative beliefs you have about yourself and the events in your life that caused them. We will process through those memories, replacing negative views of self with realistic and positive beliefs that will transform how you view yourself, your relationships, and your decisions in life.

What are you always writing in that notepad during sessions?
Before we write anything down, we will ask you for permission. We write things that you said that are insightful. In the subsequent sessions, we will even quote it back to you. When something is important, we want to make sure that we capture it.
Do you ever get tired of hearing people talk about their problems?
We believe that listening to a person share their story in whichever way they choose to do so is an honor and a privilege. We recognize how difficult it is and how vulnerable it can make one feel. So, in other words, NO, we do not get tired.
How long will I be in therapy?

Some people receive four or five sessions; most people receive therapy between 4-6 months, while a few stay a year or more. The decision depends on the goals you have for therapy.

Do your clients lie down on a couch during sessions?
If it makes you comfortable, lie down on the couch. Sit, lie down; it’s all up to you.
Can I swear in therapy?

Of course! We get excited when someone starts cursing because it means they’re getting more comfortable with us.

Know any therapy jokes?

There are a few that are so bad that they are good. Or are these jokes still bad?

Why did Waldo go to therapy? To find himself.

Why did the brake pedal get therapy? It was tired of being depressed.

“After 12 years in therapy, my psychotherapist said something that brought tears to my eyes.” “What did he say?” “No hablo ingles.”

“How many narcissists does it take to change a lightbulb?” Just one, all he has to do is hold it in place while the world revolves around him.

“Doctor,” said the receptionist over the phone, “there’s a patient here who thinks he’s invisible.” “Well, tell him I can’t see him right now.”

Cats or dogs?

I love dogs, always have. I have a beautiful golden doodle named Taco; he loves me unconditionally. But I have found cats to be sweet on their terms, and there’s something to be said for earning their trust.

Guinea Pigs or Iguanas?

I had an iguana years ago; his name was Mr. Darcy, and he loved cuddling with me. After he passed away, I could never bring myself to have another one. Right now, we have two guinea pigs, Bob and Mike. All they do is eat and poop and chat. They talk to you all day long if you let them.

USC or UCLA?

We’re all Trojans!… sorry (not sorry). But we forgive you if you’re not, and we might still work with you, maybe.