FAQ’s about Therapy in Modesto CA

As a Therapist in Modesto I am a LMFT stands for Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (often you will hear the term psychotherapist or therapist more commonly used). I hold a Master’s degree and have completed the necessary training to become licensed in that state, in this case, California. As a therapist in California, I am governed by the Board of Behavioral Sciences to assure ethical standards and best practices are being used with clients and in the field.

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of California. I provide in-person services in Modesto CA and via Telehealth throughout the state of California. Please note due to current laws when participating in therapy via Telehealth you, the client, must physically be residing in the state your therapist is licensed in.

In my counseling in Modesto practice I work with Individual audlts (18 years of age and older) and Couples (18 years of age or older for each partner). My current areas of focus are anxiety, grief, self-compassion, and couples counseling. 

In my counseling in Modesto practice I offer different options of how to complete our work. The assessment session is 60 minutes in length. Ongoing therapy sessions are 45, 60, or 90 minutes in long. Together, we consider what you need and how you work. We consider your lived experience, and what factors are currently impacting you.

As a therapist, encourage my to clients make a minimum commitment to yourself and your process of 4 months. If you are attending once a week, this would come out to about 16 sessions. This gives you time to assess what your experience in therapy is like, if it suits you, to notice changes in progress, and decide how to move forward.

As part of my counseling in Modesto therapy practice, doing healing work at the level that will sustain long-term change takes time and commitment. Most people wait to begin therapy and come in after they have been experiencing difficulties for some time. For that reason, it is very important that we create time to explore and create a foundation that allows you to move towards your ideal goals and intentions. 

As a therapist, creating accountability to complete this work is an essential ingredient. We meet weekly, usually on the same day and time. From tracking client outcomes, I have found that weekly sessions work best for my client’s unique needs. My clients find weekly appointments allow for more accountability and the ability to reflect on stuck points, growth, and progress.

Weekly appointments provide an opportunity to practice, implement, and maintain growth long-term, as there are more opportunities to implement changes and obtain support in fine-tuning as needed. Research has shown that less frequent sessions are not as effective in the long term—read more on the topic of weekly sessions. Furthermore, when sessions are spread out, during each session, more time needs to be dedicated to summarizing what has happened rather than focusing on the current issue.

As a therapist, together with my clients, we explore the specific their specific needs. We might explore longer session times or more than one session a week. Scheduling needs are addressed and discussed as part of every client’s care plan. We work as at team and communicate with each other along the journey.

In my Modesto counseling practice, I offer weekly sessions with different options at different lengths of time. Weekly sessions may not work for everyone, and that is okay. It is important that you consider what truly works for you.

A gentle invitation is to explore if there is anything you need to give permission to commit to your care weekly. I chat about it more about the values of weekly sessions with your therapist in Modesto.

If you are unable to commit to weekly session - it is totally okay. I will provide you with referrals to other providers or resources that may be able to best accommodate your scheduling needs. 

As a therapist in Modesto, I do my best to provide compassionate care to my clients. You won’t have to worry about a changing schedule. You will have a dedicated standing appointment. With a standing appointment, it provides ease to make arrangements as needed in other parts of your life (e.g. childcare, school, work, family, friends, ect.).

You have an ideal time in mind and it happens to be occupied my suggestion is you start sessions with a less ideal time and begin your work until your ideal time is available. New time slots are offered to current clients and then to new clients.  

Currently, appointments are offered Tuesday’s through Thursday’s.

In my therapy in Modesto practice, I currently do not offer evening or weekend appointments.

As a therapist, I understand that life happens and sometimes things come up. We can adapt.

 If you need to cancel your therapy in Modesto appointment for any reason, there is a 48 business hours’ cancellation notice (that is Tuesday-Friday). If less than 48 business hours’ cancellation notice is provided the full fee of your therapy in Modesto session is charged. 

If possible, we may be able to complete your session via telehealth. If you are on vacation in the state of California, we may be able to maintain your session time and complete it via telehealth.

As a therapist in my Modesto counseling practice, I offer in person services in Modesto or Online Counseling throughout California. Telehealth video therapy sessions through a secure HIPPA compliant platform.

For telehealth therapy sessions, I ask that you are in a quiet private, and confidential setting. If you care for children, make sure arrangements are made for their care. This will allow you to focus in session as this is your time.

Just as it would be for in-person therapy sessions we want to make sure we clear away any distractions so please make sure you are not driving, trying to complete another task at hand, or actively working. This allows for you to be fully present during your therapy session time and focus on your goals. 

Therapy in Modesto sessions are offered in-person at 1604 Ford Ave Suite 1, Modesto Ca, 95350, and Online Counseling throughout California via a HIPAA secure platform.

As a therapist in Modesto, it is important to provide compassionate care.

When utilizing insurance to cover the cost of Couples Counseling in Modesto, Insurance requires a diagnosis (meeting the criteria for medical necessity) for at least one of the individuals who are involved in couples counseling. Insurance then is essentially reimbursing for the work and support around the mental health diagnosis, and not the work for the couple.

As a couples’ therapist in Modesto, when I work with couples, my approach is the couple as a whole is the client and focuses not on one specific individual. Focusing on one party only of the couple would not be in alignment with how I work and practice couples counseling. Therefore, we work to understand and create change and healing within and between the couple. If you, the couple, choose to work with me, you understand and agree you will be paying out of pocket and will not be provided a superbill and therefore be unable to submit claims to your health insurance for reimbursement.

As a therapist in Modesto, I do not focus on working with domestic violence.

Here are some wonderful resources:

Haven: (209) 524-4331

Haven 24-hour Crisis line: (209) 577-5980

National Domestic Violence Hotline 800.799.SAFE (7233)

National Domestic Violence Text Line Text: 88788 “START”

As a therapist in Modesto, providing these types of letters is not within my area of experience. You can obtain more information and support here.

The only types of letters that I currently provide are attendance or summary treatment letters.

The following are other therapy resources to explore that may align with your needs: Therapy Den, Latinx Therapy, and Open Path Collective (reduced-fee therapy options).

If you are a student, your school may provide free or discounted therapy services. You can also check in with your insurance to inquire about providers.

You can also research nonprofits in the community that may be more affordable.