i've never been in therapy. where do i start?
Start by contacting us for a free consultation.
If you're considering therapy, you're probably already overwhelmed. It doesn't help that all the options online seem to blend together. Maybe you're the type who likes to research your options. Or maybe you just want to pick someone and get started. How do you decide on someone to share your hopes and insecurities with?
Most therapists offer a free consultation - take us up on this offer! It can be tempting to just pick whoever is the closest, least expensive, or most convenient for your schedule. But what if you show up and the person is weird?? (And not in the good way.)
Finding the right therapist can make all the difference. That's one of the reasons why we offer a free consultation. We only take on clients we know we can help. If we're not a fit, we can connect you with someone who is. No biggie!
What are your hours and rates?
$160-200 for 50-minute one-on-one sessions.
$215-275 for 75-minute couples sessions.
Appointments are available Monday through Saturday.
Prospect Therapy prioritizes those in the transgender and nonbinary communities who are unemployed or underemployed when offering reduced-rate sessions, however you may still be eligible for a reduced rate if that does not apply to you.
We partner with the Alana Faith Chen Foundation and the Lotus Therapy Fund to offer subsidized therapy sessions at no or low cost to you. Please ask us about these options.
We are not in-network insurance providers.
When you book an appointment, you will be asked to list a credit card on file. All payments are due on the day of your session by charging this card. Sessions cancelled within 48 hours of the session time are subject to the full session fee.
Prospect Therapy clients have access to an online client portal, where you can see available appointment times and reschedule at your convenience.
Are there other ways to access low-cost therapy?
We are not directly affiliated with these resources, however the following are ways to access low-cost or no-cost therapy:
The Alejandre Foundation: Planting financial seeds to balance equity and invest in the healing of Latinx generations.
Mental Health Liberation Fund: to provide free, quality therapy for BIPOC adults living in the so-called “US”.
NQTTCN: The National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network provides crucial financial support to Queer and Trans Black, Indigenous and People of Color to increase access to mental health support for QTBIPOC by QTBIPOC*.
Loveland Therapy Fund: From the Loveland Foundation, supporting Black women and girls’ access to therapy.
Open Path Collective: Member therapists provide affordable, in-office and online psychotherapy sessions between $40 and $70 ($30 for student intern sessions).
how does payment work?
When you book an appointment, you will be asked to list a credit card on file. All payments are due on the day of your session by charging this card. Sessions cancelled within 48 hours of the session time are subject to the full session fee.
Prospect Therapy clients have access to an online client portal, where you can see available appointment times and reschedule at your convenience.
Can I use insurance to pay for therapy?
We don’t accept insurance. BUT your insurance company may reimburse you for your therapy.
Many insurance plans provide out-of-network mental health coverage. That means you may be able to submit your therapy receipts (superbills) to your insurance company for partial reimbursement. Here is a handy 1-page script on what to ask your insurance company.
You also have the option to not use your insurance. We and our clients benefit from the freedom to work on issues as they present and not have to meet the demands of managed care, diagnosis requirements, and limits on sessions.
What your therapist’s fee says about them
Prospect Therapy is not an in-network provider with any insurance companies.
Why don’t you accept insurance?
Because we want the freedom to provide the best quality of care and because our business isn’t set up that way. We would need to take on too many clients and provide a lower quality of service. Tired, broke therapists give bad therapy.
All insurances have limitations on what they will cover. They have expectations about what we can and can’t do with our clients. (We have ethics and state boards to tell us that already.) And in exchange for meeting those requirements, insurance companies don’t reimburse us enough for our services.
For the record, many excellent therapists accept insurance and provide great therapy. They have different sets of expenses and can sustain their practices this way. Many agencies have great therapists working there, and get supplemental grants and funding to provide services at a lower cost. We’re not hating, we simply don’t work that way.
How much will therapy cost me? What is a Good Faith Estimate?
You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost.
This Good Faith Estimate shows the costs of items and services that are reasonably expected for your health care needs for an item or service. The estimate is based on information known at the time the estimate was created.
The Good Faith Estimate does not include any unknown or unexpected costs that may arise during treatment. You could be charged more if complications or special circumstances occur. If this happens, federal law allows you to dispute (appeal) the bill.
If you are billed for more than this Good Faith Estimate, you have the right to dispute the bill. You may contact the health care provider or facility listed to let them know the billed charges are higher than the Good Faith Estimate. You can ask them to update the bill to match the Good Faith Estimate, ask to negotiate the bill, or ask if there is financial assistance available.
You may also start a dispute resolution process with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). If you choose to use the dispute resolution process, you must start the dispute process within 120 calendar days (about 4 months) of the date on the original bill.
There is a $25 fee to use the dispute process. If the agency reviewing your dispute agrees with you, you will have to pay the price on this Good Faith Estimate. If the agency disagrees with you and agrees with the health care provider or facility, you will have to pay the higher amount.
For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call the Help Desk at 1-800-985-3059 for more information.
How does Online therapy work?
Online therapy in California
These are live video sessions (kind of like Skype) via a secure connection. No login/account setup needed, and you can use your phone or computer. Just click and we can get started!
Some clients prefer to meet virtually so they can skip the drive and maximize their time, or because they don’t live near our office. As long as you’re in California, this is an option for you.
Is your office Accessible?
Yes, our offices are in an ADA Compliant building. All of our facilities are accessible. At this time, our telehealth services are not fully ADA compliant.
CAN you help my friend/partner/coworker/child?
Therapy works best when the person is motivated. If they are not interested in picking up the phone, chances are, they won't get much out of therapy. We can always recommend a professional who works specifically in areas that we don't specialize in, but it is generally up to that person to make the call.
I need to see someone ASAP. What is the soonest available appointment you have?
We are unable to provide crisis/emergency response. If you feel you are at risk of harming yourself or someone else, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. You can also call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1(800) 273-8255.
The quickest way to get in touch with us is by calling (562) 704-4736. We return calls within 48 hours and all voicemails are checked only by Prospect Therapy employees.
Have you ever been in therapy?
Yes! We know firsthand what it feels like to sit in that chair.
One of the reasons we believe so strongly in the process of therapy is because we know it works. All of us have been fortunate to have had a great working relationship with our own therapists, and we also know that the wrong fit makes progress much harder.
What kind of therapy do you practice?
Each of our therapists is specifically trained in different therapeutic practices and theories. We generally use a trauma-informed cognitive behavioral approach informed by feminist therapies and attachment theory. We use Emotionally Focused therapy and Gottman method when working with couples, relationships and families. Your therapist can and will tell you more about their approach to how they help you. We are not just “winging it”!
Every therapist at Prospect Therapy participates in double the hours of continuing education required by our respective state boards and professional associations each year.
What is LGBTQ+ affirming therapy?
Affirming therapy means more than taking a positive approach to people's identities, respecting pronouns, or simply being "LGBT-friendly." Affirming therapy considers the effects of internalized and institutionalized homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia as well as heterosexism on a person's psychology and relationships. It means understanding that aggression toward LGBTQ+ people takes many forms, occurs every day, and can influence our mental wellbeing. As affirming clinicians, we understand and counteract the privileges we hold not only in session, but in everyday life, even while identifying as part of the queer community. We stay current through regular consultation, training, and being an active member of our communities, to make sure that we provide the best possible care.
can you tell me more about your Training and experience?
A licensed therapist or counselor has completed a master’s degree, thousands of hours of supervised therapy sessions, and passed all state-required licensing exams. They also receive continuing education and training each year in order to maintain their licensure.
A pre-licensed therapist or counselor has completed a master’s degree, and hundreds or thousands of hours of supervised therapy sessions. They are required to continue getting supervision from a licensed therapist or counselor until they have passed their licensing exam.
This does not mean that a supervisor is in your session with you. It means that a pre-licensed therapist reviews their cases on a weekly basis with a licensed clinician, who ensures they are providing quality care.
Your therapist can tell you more about their individual education, clinical experience, training, and specialization when you meet.
Any other questions? Call us at (562) 704-4736 or send us a message to learn more about your options.