You have questions, here are some answers

Here are the steps for getting started, in order:

1. Contact Laura for your free 15-minute phone consultation. (408) 883-9696 or laura@kaleidotherapy.com

2. Schedule a free 15-minute online meet-and-greet .

3. Schedule your initial session and complete paperwork online through the client portal.

4. Start your therapy journey.

The goal of the consultation is to determine whether I will be a good fit for you or your loved one. During the call, I will ask what you or your loved one would like to address in therapy as well as what you are looking for in a therapist. I will also answer any questions you have about the practice and how I work.

A typical therapy session is 45-50 minutes long. My fees are $350 for the intake and $300 for sessions. For teen and child clients, the intake process includes a parent session, which is billed at the same rate as a therapy session. Most clients pay with credit card, cash and check are also accepted. Your credit card is kept securely on file and is automatically charged the evening of each appointment.

You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your health care will cost.

Under the law, health care providers need to give clients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the expected charges for medical services, including psychotherapy services.

You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency healthcare services, including psychotherapy services.

You can ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule a service, or at any time during treatment.

If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill. Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate.

For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, or how to dispute a bill, see your Estimate, or visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises.

I am considered an out-of-network provider. This means I don’t directly bill your insurance company so it’s really important for you to talk to your insurance company to find out your out of network benefits. I’ve had clients that have had one hundred percent reimbursement and I’ve had ones that had zero reimbursement.

At the end of the month, I provide you with what’s called a superbill, a list of the sessions you had for the month. It includes a CPT code and diagnosis code. When you submit the superbill for reimbursement, the diagnosis becomes part of your permanent medical record. Note that some people feel uncomfortable with having a mental health diagnosis in their record.

If you have a flexible spending account or health savings account, you can use it to pay for sessions. (This is usually through your company’s benefits; you can use pre-tax dollars to save). Also, remember your work with your therapist may be tax deductible as a medical expense even if you choose not to file for reimbursement with your insurance.

I recommend asking your insurance provider these questions about your benefits:

1. I am seeking outpatient mental health benefits. Does my plan cover out of network providers for this service? If so, what is the coverage? What is my coinsurance? (This is the percentage of the fee you will have to pay for the services)

2. For telehealth: Is the coverage temporary? If so, until when?

3. What is my Out-of-Network deductible? (The deductible is the amount you must yourself before the plan begins paying at all). You may have a separate deductible for in-network providers and one for out-of-network providers.

4. How much of the out-of-network deductible has been met so far this year?

5. My therapist charges $_______. Is this within the Allowed Amount or UCR (Usual, Customary, and Reasonable Fee) for an Out-of-Network Provider? If not, what is the Allowed Amount? (Some plans may cap the amount they allow, and reimburse based on this, but may not disclose the Allowed Amount)

6. Is my therapist's license covered by your plan? (I am a Clinical Psychologist licensed in California and Indiana)

7. Are there any limits to the number of sessions per year?

8. When do benefits start and renew (you want to know when your deductible renews)? Is my coverage active?

9. How do I submit invoices to the plan for reimbursement? Do I need to get a form to attach them to? What is the address where I would send MENTAL HEALTH claims?

10. What is the Out-of-pocket Maximum? (The amount you must pay each year before the plan starts paying 100% for health expenses)

11. What are the reimbursement rates for CPT codes 90791 (Diagnostic Evaluation), 90834 (Individual Therapy), 90847 (Family Therapy), and 90846 (Family session without client present)?

I do not currently offer a sliding scale. However HERE is a great resource for agencies that do.

Weekly therapy sessions are the most effective way to help clients achieve their goals. Each session lasts for 45 to 50 minutes. You and I will choose a recurring day and time that works for both of our schedules.

For online therapy I use a secure HIPAA compliant online platform called Simple Practice. I ask that you find a quiet, private, and safe place to log in for your sessions. Please eliminate all distractions in preparation for your sessions.

For in-person sessions, I see folks outdoors at Maywood Park in Santa Clara. We can walk during our session or I will bring two chairs for us to sit in a secluded area of the park, it’s up to you.

I am available Monday-Thursday, from 9am-5pm. I do not see clients Friday-Sunday, nor do I respond to text messages or emails on these days.

Scheduling an appointment reserves my time for you. If you are unable to attend a session, I prefer you cancel at least 48 hours in advance. I do have a very firm 24-hour cancellation policy, so if you need to cancel for any reason, make sure you give 24 hours notice to avoid paying the late cancellation fee, which is the full session rate. I offer phone and video sessions in case something happens last minute that prevents you from coming to your appointment.

The amount of involvement I have with the parents of a teen client depends on what is going on for the client as well as the family’s style. I individualize this on a case-by-case basis. At the start of a teen’s treatment, parents have a session with me to collaborate on goals and set expectations regarding frequency and type of contact. Some families like a brief check-in at the end of every session. Others have a monthly parent session. Some families have a brief phone call with me every couple months. In general, I tend to check in with parents about every six weeks, or as critical information arises.

A good fit between therapist and client is necessary for therapy to be effective. You should always tell me if you aren’t comfortable or feel like things aren’t working out. We can pivot our focus or my interventions. I frequently check in with clients regarding their goals and how they feel therapy is going. If you don’t want to continue working with me, I recommend you try another therapist before deciding if therapy is or isn’t for you. I’m always happy to help you find the right fit by providing referrals to other great clinicians.