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 operate from a broader lens. We take into account individual development, personality, socioeconomic, ethnicity and cultural factors when to 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, checks or cash.  I bill California Victim’s Compensation Fund (aka Victim Witness) directly.

My current session fees are $160 per 50 minute session and $160 for initial evaluation. Discounts are available for pregnant moms/families with a child under the age of two, students, military and veterans, and people with limited income depending on space available.  Please ask about your individual situation. Other than Victim’s Compensation, I do not bill insurance companies directly but if you have a PPO or HSA/FSA I can provide a receipt that you may be able to turn in for reimbursement depending on your individual benefits.  By not billing insurance directly I am able to provide more privacy for my clients and without a third party dictating how we do therapy.  Many PPO insurance companies will reimburse for out of network services and I can help you with this process.    

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.