FAQ’s

Do you take insurance for your services?

I accept insurance for individual therapy and I’m on the following insurance plans’ panels. I can also work as an out-of-network provider for other insurance plans as well. I can provide you with a Superbill that you can submit to your insurance company to apply toward your deductible and/or reimbursements.

Cigna, Healthnet (MHN), United Health Care/Oxford, and TriWest.

I DO NOT take insurance for couples/family therapy or groups.

In case I do not have insurance coverage or do not want to use my insurance for therapy, how much do sessions cost?

I offer individual therapy for adults, psychoeducational groups, classes and workshops at the following rates:

60 minute initial assessment at $220.00.

53-57 minute individual sessions at $190.00

83-87 minute individual sessions at $280.00

83-87 minute couple/family intake at $300.00.

71-75 minute couple/family sessions at $250.00.

60 minute psycho-educational/support groups at $50.00 (up to 8 participants).

90 minute psycho-educational/support groups at $75.00 (up to 12 participants).

Classes and workshop fees vary depending on the specific offering.

What if I have an emergency or need to cancel our appointment?

I have a 24 hour cancellation policy, so if you need to cancel, make sure to give me 24 hours notice to avoid paying a late cancellation fee, which is the cost of your session. I offer telehealth or emergency phone sessions in case something happens at the last minute that prevents you from coming to your appointment. Otherwise, I will bill for the missed session.

Does insurance always cover therapy?

Most of the time insurance will cover individual therapy; however, in order for treatment to be covered by insurance, clients must have a mental health diagnosis and treatment must be deemed “medically necessary” by the payer. So if you are dealing with an issue that is causing you distress but does not fit the criteria of a mental health diagnosis or their definition of “medical necessity;” but if you want support and guidance to deal with a problem or accomplish a task, your insurance will not pay for it.

In such cases, you will become fully financially responsible for your treatment; however, such instances offer us the opportunity to be more open and creative and use different, newer, or more effective treatment options that would not be available otherwise. You have more control of your treatment, privacy and confidentiality because no information is disclosed to insurance companies and you don’t need to have a mental health diagnosis to get the help that you need.

How many sessions will be needed?

It depends on your situation. Your history, the severity of your symptoms and your overall circumstances will be taken into consideration. Usually by the time you’re looking for counseling your problems are more complex, often chronic in nature, and require time to be understood and fully addressed.

Doing the healing work at the level that will sustain long-term change takes time and commitment; however, clients that invest the time and energy into their treatment get better faster with less relapses into old patterns.

I usually recommend at least 10-12 sessions. After that, we will discuss your progress as we go and reassess periodically. Beyond the sessions, the length of your treatment will greatly depend on your willingness to do the work in between sessions by doing your homework, practicing self-care and the skills and strategies that you learn in therapy. After all, persistence and consistency are the greatest indicators of overall success.

How often should we meet?

I work with new clients on a weekly basis. I know from experience and research that it’s important to come to sessions frequently and consistently to create a strong working relationship with your therapist and achieve your desired results sooner. As treatment progresses, sessions may be spread over time. Your health and well-being is worth the commitment. For practical purposes, we will try to establish a reoccurring weekly appointment at the same time.

What can I expect to happen during our time together?

Generally speaking, during the first 1-3 sessions, we will do a thorough history, discuss your situation in detail and establish specific goals for treatment. During the mid-stage of treatment, we will process your trauma, identify your triggers and develop a set of tools for dealing with the issues that brought you to counseling and a self-care routine to improve the overall your quality of your life. In the last stage of therapy, we will focus on practicing the new skills and understanding learned in the therapeutic process and integrating the goals from treatment into the fabric of your daily life.

Do you offer telehealth/online sessions?

Yes, I use a secure HIPAA compliant platform to offer online therapy and groups. If you have any questions regarding this process, please reach out to me here.

Is it possible to do EMDR and somatic work during online sessions?

Yes, it is and my clients are still having great breakthroughs through online somatic and EMDR sessions and continue to meet their therapy needs and goals.

Do you give homework?

Yes, especially in the beginning. I will suggest things for you do to at home that will support and integrate the work we do in sessions. I have found that clients make significantly faster and long-term progress when they do their homework and practice self-care on a regular basis.

What kind of results can I expect from therapy?

Everyone is different but generally speaking, the pain starts to subside and give space to awareness, resilience, self-compassion, understanding, joy and fulfillment. Clients improve their ability to notice and connect their cognitive, emotional and somatic processes and integrate the experience into new ways of dealing with their circumstances and feeling less triggered by challenging people and/or life situations. Their relationship to themselves and others improve. They have new tools to solve old and new problems and they feel more empowered to use them. At the end of therapy, they feel more connected to their inner sources of strength and wisdom and start to experience themselves and the world in a more positive light.

What is your availability?

My schedule fluctuates from time to time but I usually work from Mondays to Thursdays and Saturdays.

I currently have very limited openings for new clients.

If you are ready to do the work and transform your life; call (858)842-0234 or email me today at miriam@miriamchorfreitas.com for a FREE 20-minute phone consultation.