Insurance, Policies & FAQs
INSURANCE, THE EASY WAY
Since we are an out-of-network provider, we use Thrizer to help our clients submit claims to their insurance companies, often receiving 50-80% of their session fees back.
HOW THRIZER WORKS:
1. Schedule Your Session
Book your appointment as usual—there’s nothing different about how you receive care.
2. Add Thrizer Before Your Session
Set up Thrizer ahead of time so they can handle your out-of-network benefits and payment process. Your therapist will take care of this for you!
3. Pay Only Your Estimated Copay
Instead of paying the full session fee, you’ll only pay your estimated out-of-network portion upfront.
4. Thrizer Submits Your Claim for You
Thrizer automatically generates and submits your superbill directly to your insurance—no paperwork required from you.
5. Insurance & Payment Are Handled Seamlessly
Thrizer manages the reimbursement process behind the scenes, so you don’t have to wait or deal with insurance directly.
BENEFITS OF USING THRIZER
Thrizer helps clients successfully navigate their out-of-network benefits, saving them an average of 70% on sessions even if therapists don’t directly accept their insurance. They transform the entire process:
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No more superbills, insurance calls, or reimbursement waits.
Pay only your estimated copay upfront instead of the full session fee.
No paperwork—claims and superbills are handled for you automatically.
Faster reimbursement without dealing directly with insurance companies.
Clear, upfront cost estimates so there are no surprises. Less stress, so you can focus fully on your care.
POLICIES
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In the initial session, we always conduct an intake to get a better sense of what you’d like to work on. We’ll go over your history, your identity, and your goals for therapy. We’ll be talking about any symptoms you’re experiencing, family dynamics, and how you’ve been functioning in your relationships and academic and/or work responsibilities. Getting a thorough assessment allows us to develop a treatment plan, so the more honest and open you can be, the better. We know it can be scary to share and we really value your courage to show up. We go at your pace to make sure you feel safe and comfortable throughout the process.
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We are an out-of-network provider for PPO insurance plans. We’re happy to provide you with a statement (superbill) at the end of each month if you would like to send it to your insurance company for reimbursement of a portion of the session fee. Please feel free to contact your insurance company for information regarding benefits with an out-of-network provider.
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We accept check or credit card. We require all new clients to have a credit card on file even if you are not paying by credit card. Payment will be collected at the end of every session and we will not be able to schedule additional sessions if you have more than two outstanding payments.
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Our pricing varies depending on the clinician’s licensure and experience. We are sometimes able to offer a sliding scale fee for clients who are unable to pay the full fee but cannot make a guarantee that we will be able to meet this request.
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If you need to reschedule, we request that you let us know at least 24 hours before our session. If you do not show up for our session or you cancel in less than 24 hours in advance, we charge the full fee for the session. That being said, if you have a personal emergency or another immediate and unexpected situation has occurred on the day of our session, we do not charge for a late cancellation.
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We will send you the link to the client portal if you are a new client through Simple Practice. Please make sure that you fill out all of the documents prior to your first session. If you have any questions about any of the paperwork, we can discuss it during our first session.
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For established clients, you can reach us during normal business hours via our business phone numbers (contact your personal provider for their phone number). For non-urgent matters, your call will be returned in the next business day Monday through Friday. If it is an urgent matter, please leave a message and we will do my best to get in touch with you within that day. If it is a true emergency, please contact 911 as well.
If your provider is away for an extended period of time, we offer an on-call emergency contact for current clients.
You are also free to email us regarding scheduling changes but clinical discussions or treatment conversations are not recommended via email. Because email is often not a secure or confidential platform, sending a voicemail is preferred. You can also message your provider directly through Simple Practice.
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Click here to access “Therapy Never Includes Sexual Behavior.”
HEARTSHIP FAQs
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In the initial session, we always conduct an intake to get a better sense of what you’d like to work on. We’ll go over your history, your identity, and your goals for therapy. We’ll be talking about any symptoms you’re experiencing, family dynamics, and how you’ve been functioning in your relationships and academic and/or work responsibilities. Getting a thorough assessment allows us to develop a treatment plan, so the more honest and open you can be, the better. We know it can be scary to share and we really value your courage to show up. We go at your pace to make sure you feel safe and comfortable throughout the process.
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Yes. We offer both in-person and virtual therapy sessions to make care more accessible and flexible. Teletherapy sessions are conducted through a secure, HIPAA-compliant video platform so you can receive support from the comfort of your home or another private location.
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Many of our services can be provided through teletherapy, including individual therapy, couples therapy, and several evidence-based approaches such as CBT, ACT, and ERP. During your consultation, we can discuss whether teletherapy is a good fit for your specific needs or if in-person sessions may be more beneficial. We are flexible with our clients where sometimes we meet in-person and other times we meet virtually–it’s whatever works best for you.
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We offer therapy both in-person at our office locations in Pasadena and San Marino and through telehealth for any clients with a California address.
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We treasure each and every one of the clients that we have had the opportunity to work with. Many clients would describe us as warm, motivating, and encouraging. We're grateful to say that we’ve had many clients work with us for months and years because they have found our therapeutic relationship beneficial for their lives. That doesn’t mean we can’t help you solve your problems in a timely way, though. We take a client-centered approach so we’ll collaborate together to ensure we’re meeting your goals within your timeline.
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However long you’d like it to take! Some clients are looking for a few sessions and others are looking for more long-term support. We’ll work together to help you establish your goals and your treatment timeline.
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That’s completely okay. Many people start therapy unsure of exactly where to begin. Your therapist will help guide the conversation and create space to explore what’s been on your mind, even if it initially feels unclear.
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Yes. Because we want you to get the best care possible, we refer out clients who are experiencing substance use addiction and/or severe eating disorders. That being said, we're happy to connect you to referrals so that you can find the right people to help you in your journey.
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We're all about helping you feel empowered with the right steps for you. We believe it’s our job to always provide you with options so that you know about all the resources available to you. We're very comfortable working with psychiatry and we are also big believers in holistic care, including naturopathic care.
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We love that you’re thinking about this. You’re right--we likely haven’t lived the same experience as you, whether it relates to your race, gender, ability status, religion, or sexual orientation, as just a few examples. That being said, we're very comfortable talking about intersecting identities and we always try to bring a sense of cultural humility into our sessions. While we never expect you to educate us about your cultural experiences (we take the time to learn outside of session), we also approach cultural integration from a place of openness and care. Your identities matter to us and all identities are welcome in our practice.
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You don’t have to reach a certain level of distress to begin therapy. Many people seek therapy when they feel stuck, overwhelmed, or simply want support navigating life’s challenges. If you’re curious about therapy or feel like having support might help, that’s often a good sign it may be the right time.
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Success in therapy can look different for everyone. For some, it means feeling less anxious or overwhelmed, while for others it may involve improving relationships, building coping skills, or gaining greater self-understanding. Our goal is to help you move toward the changes that matter most to you.
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Depending on your insurance plan, you may be eligible for out-of-network reimbursement for therapy sessions. If applicable, we can provide a detailed receipt (superbill) that you can submit to your insurance provider for potential reimbursement. We recommend contacting your insurance company directly to understand your specific benefits.
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The best way to begin is by scheduling a free 20-minute consultation. During this call, we’ll briefly discuss what you’re looking for and help match you with a therapist if it feels like a good fit. Depending on availability, many clients are able to schedule their first session within a week.