Insurance
Q: Do you accept insurance?
A: We do not accept insurance, however, if you have a PPO insurance policy we are considered an out-of-network provider. This means that you pay us directly for each session and then we provide you with a monthly superbill. You can submit this to your insurance company at the end of each month. If your insurance company accepts the claim, they will mail you a check for the amount they agree to reimburse you. Most PPO plans will reimburse you for a portion of the session fee but every plan is different so we recommend that you call your insurance provider to ask about their coverage. You can also use your Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA).
Q: How much does my insurance plan cover for an out-of-network provider?
A: For individual therapy, call your insurance provider and ask them about reimbursement for procedural code 90837. For couples therapy, ask about code procedural 90847. You will want to ask what percentage of a fee they would reimburse based on our location in Los Angeles and your personal therapist’s license.
Q: Is there a deductible that has to be met before I am reimbursed for out-of-network therapy sessions? If so, what is it and how close am I to meeting that?
A: Every plan has a different deductible and your insurance provider can tell you what that is and far you are from meeting it.
Q: Is there a limit to how many sessions you will reimburse for?
A: Different insurance plans provide different coverage but this is a good question to ask your insurance provider.
Telehealth
Q: Why would I do online therapy?
A: Online therapy has been thoroughly researched and all the studies show that it is just as effective as in-person therapy. Online therapy also provides a level of convenience and comfort by allowing you to avoid driving through traffic and instead have therapy in the safety of your home. Finally, online therapy makes it so that geographic location is no longer an issue when it comes to choosing a therapist. Our licenses are valid for anyone residing in California.
Q: How can I be sure online therapy will work for me?
A: If you have concerns about whether online sessions are for you, book a free 15 minute consultation and let’s see if we are a good therapeutic match. Click here to schedule an appointment.
Services
Q: What services do you provide?
A: Our team provides individual, couples, and family therapy and ADHD coaching.
Q: What is your theoretical approach?
A: Our team utilizes a variety of modalities including cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, solution focused therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, narrative therapy, and more. When working with couples and families we often explore family systems theory and family of origin patterns. You can click here to find out more about our team.
Cost
Q: How much do sessions cost and how long are they?
A: Our sessions are 50 minutes unless other arrangements have been made and each of our therapists have different hourly rates which can be viewed here.
Q: Do you provide sliding scale?
A: If cost is a barrier our team does provide a limited number of slots for clients in need of a reduced rate. This is offered at the discretion of each therapist.
Qualifications
Q: What qualifies you to be a therapist?
A: Everyone at Best Self Psych has a masters degree in their respective fields. Pam Shaffer, Savannah Fine, and Michal Rogers have all completed the requisite hours and passed rigorous ethics and licensing tests in order to be fully licensed. They also attend continuing educational programs in order to learn more about the mental health field and maintain their licenses. The members of our team that are associates have finished their schooling and initial internships as well as passed their ethics exam. They have the necessary associate licenses and work under the supervision of Pam Shaffer and Elle Hawkins.
Q: Why would I see an Associate?
A: Associates are uniquely positioned in their careers while they earn their licensure hours. Having earned their masters degree, they have been educated in the latest research related to mental health. They also must complete over 300 hours during their masters degree coursework, so they have already worked with clients by the time they graduate. In addition, because they are still supervised, clients get the benefit of two therapists reviewing their case for the price of one.