Questions about therapy in Laguna Beach

Every new client starts with a free consult. You reach out through the contact form, we talk through what is going on, and we match you with the clinician whose experience fits. There is no paperwork and no commitment before that conversation.

A free 15 minute call with a clinician. You say a little about what is going on, we ask what you are looking for, and we tell you which of our clinicians fits. No detail is required, and nothing is billed.

We say so, and we help you find someone who is, here or elsewhere. Honesty about fit is one of this practice's stated values, including when the answer costs us the client.

Sessions run about 50 minutes.

Yes. We offer in-person sessions at our Laguna Beach office and telehealth sessions anywhere in California. More on how that works is on our telehealth page.

We are at 333 Third Street, Suite 4, Laguna Beach, CA 92651. Street parking is available on Third Street, with more public parking a short walk away in the village. Arriving a few minutes early is a good idea in peak season. There is a full walkthrough of parking and building access in our guide to visiting the office, and more about the space on the practice page.

It starts with a free consult, not a commitment. You meet the clinician, talk through what brought you in, and decide together whether it is a fit. Sessions last about 50 minutes, in person or by telehealth across California. The full walkthrough is in what to expect at your first therapy session.

Possibly. Paix and Luz are part of the practice and often greet people at the door. They are always optional: say so when you book and they will be somewhere else. More about them on the practice page.

Yes. We work with children, teens and their families, and parents are part of the process.

Yes. Couples counseling here is delivered by a clinician trained in the Gottman Method and Emotionally Focused Therapy.

Anxiety, depression, trauma, ADHD, autism, OCD, tics and Tourette's, hair pulling and skin picking, men's issues and life transitions. The full list is on our practice areas page.

We are out of network with insurance plans. We provide a superbill after each session that you can submit to your insurer for possible reimbursement through your out-of-network benefits. There is a step-by-step walkthrough in out-of-network therapy and superbills.

A superbill is a detailed receipt carrying the information an insurer needs to process an out-of-network claim: the clinician's license number, the date of service, the service code and the diagnosis code. You submit it to your insurer yourself. There is a step-by-step walkthrough in out-of-network therapy and superbills.

That depends entirely on your plan, and we cannot tell you in advance. Call your insurer and ask what your out-of-network outpatient mental health benefit covers before your first session, what share of it they reimburse, and whether the benefit has a deductible you have not met yet.

Under the No Surprises Act you are entitled to a written estimate of expected costs before service begins. Because we are out of network, that applies to everyone we see. You receive yours in writing with your intake paperwork, before your first session.

Cash, check, Zelle, PayPal and credit card.

An associate therapist has completed a master's degree and clinical hours but is still accumulating supervised experience toward full licensure. A licensed therapist has met all state requirements and holds an independent license. Both provide therapy, and associates work under the supervision of a licensed clinician. There is a fuller explanation in associate therapist or licensed therapist.

Michele Hall-Preston, LMFT, the practice's founder and director, supervises our associate clinicians: reviewing cases, consulting on treatment direction and providing guidance on clinical decisions. More on what that means for your care in what clinical supervision means.

No. We are an outpatient therapy practice. We do not provide emergency services and we do not monitor messages outside business hours. If you need help right now, call or text 988, text HOME to 741741, or call 911 if you are in immediate danger. Our crisis support page lists the resources.

Only what is needed to schedule a conversation. The form does not ask for symptoms, diagnoses or conditions, and you should not send sensitive health details through it. Everything else is covered on the call. Our privacy policy sets out what we collect and why.