1. How long are therapy sessions?

Our individual therapy sessions are 45 minutes and our couples sessions are 55 minutes or 100 minutes (double session).

2. How frequent are therapy sessions?

Weekly.

3. How much is the therapy session fee?

With licensed psychologists & fellowship graduates, individual therapy sessions are $250 (45 minutes), couples or family therapy sessions (55 minutes) are $280.

With postdoctoral fellows, individual therapy sessions are $220 (45 minutes), couples or family therapy sessions (55 minutes) are $250.

The cost for group therapy sessions varies by each group, but our current groups are $80 per session. 

4. How much does psychological testing cost?

Testing is billed at $280 per hour, which includes the clinical interview, testing hours, data collection, report writing, and feedback session.

5. Do you accept insurance?

We are not in-network with any insurance companies, so we do not bill directly. With PPO insurances plans, we are considered out-of-network providers and you may be reimbursed in full or in part. We can provide you with a monthly superbill to give to your insurer. Do you want to learn more about why we are out-of-network providers? Additionally, you also have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate.

6. What types of payment do you accept?

We accept all major credit cards, cash, or check. Most people pay with a credit card during their first session and we charge that card after each session. Psychotherapy and assessment may also qualify for reimbursement using a Health Savings account or Flexible Savings Account – many people enjoy using this option because it is pre-taxed income, which greatly reduces the overall cost of therapy.

7. Do you offer a sliding scale fee?

We maintain a limited amount of sliding scale spots in our schedules. If you do not think you would be able to afford our full fee, do not hesitate to call us, because if we are unable to see you we would be happy to offer referrals to other trusted therapists in the area.

8. Where do I park?

For our Carlsbad office: Free parking is available in front of the building and on the surrounding streets: Madison, Oak, and Roosevelt.   

For our Encinitas office: There is plenty of free parking surrounding the building.

9. What do I do when I get there?

For our Carlsbad office: Make yourself comfortable in our waiting room. Your therapist will greet you at your appointment time.

For our Encinitas office: Flip the light switch under your therapist’s nameplate to notify them that you have arrived, then make yourself comfortable in the waiting room. Your therapist will greet you at your appointment time.

Why do you not accept insurance?

Therapy requires a safe place to grow and change.  Involving insurance companies decreases confidentiality.  Every year thousands of HIPAA violations occur as medical providers and insurance companies communicate. Its one thing for a breach of confidentiality to accidentally disclose that you have a broken arm and another thing to have a psychological diagnosis and treatment information released. Therapy requires safety and vulnerability, and the highest measures of confidentiality increase that safety.

Additionally, insurances companies require a psychological diagnosis to be entered into your medical record. This may negatively impact someone later in life if they want to join the military, become a pilot, or apply for life insurance.

Lastly, involving insurances also means that an outside company may try to direct the therapy. It is common practice for insurance companies to place limits on how many sessions a person can be seen and the type of therapy provided. Most of our patients with a PPO plan get some reimbursement for our services and given how high many deductibles are these days, choosing a therapist seems to be a question of deciding who you want to see.