FAQ

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What is a marriage and family therapist (MFT or LMFT)?

MFTs are healing arts practitioners licensed through the board of behavioral sciences in the state of California. Requirements include either a master’s degree or doctorate degree, 3,000 hours of supervised experience post-degree, and passing both a written and clinical vignette examination. MFTs treat individuals, couples, and families with a focus on understanding how people operate within the context of their families and look at problems from a relational standpoint. Please see www.camft.org for more information!

What is a licensed professional clinical counselor (LPCC)?

LPCCs take into account individual development, personality, socioeconomic, ethnicity and cultural factors when it comes to addressing challenges. LPCCs also require either a master's degree or doctorate degree, 3,000 hours of supervised experience post-degree and passing a written and clinical vignette exam. 

What forms of payment do you take?  What are your fees?

I currently accept credit cards, paypal to lsplumer@yahoo.com, venmo, checks or cash. 

My current session fees are $195 per 50 minute session and $195 for initial evaluation.  I do not bill insurance companies directly but if you have a PPO or HSA/FSA I can provide a superbill receipt that you may be able to turn in for reimbursement depending on your individual out of network benefits. 

When therapists contract with insurance companies and bill them directly, the insurance companies are able to dictate the types of therapy I can provide and the length of time I am able to provide it. They have the right to review your private session notes as a condition of payment. I am able to provide the best quality therapy by working outside of this system where I can make clinical choices based on your personal needs, not an insurance company's guidelines, and I am able to keep your therapy private.

Therapy is an investment in your quality of life and relationships and I am unable to do the best work possible if I have to also cater to an insurance companies contractual demands for moving people through my practice as quickly as possible. Because I do not accept insurance I am able to offer a more personalized concierge therapeutic experience for my clients.

How do I choose a therapist?

Research has shown that the best predictor of a good therapeutic outcome is how comfortable a client feels with their therapist.  During our first session it is a time for both of us to get to know each other. I will take a thorough background and give you a treatment plan on what interventions I feel might be the most effective and what your treatment course might look like. I encourage my clients to ask questions and give me ongoing feedback about what is helpful or not helpful.