FAQs - Telechats

Frequently Asked Question

Explore our FAQs for quick answers about therapy sessions, virtual options, specialized treatments, scheduling, and what to expect. Start your journey toward healing and well-being today by contacting us for more information or to book an appointment.

Psychologist, LCSW, and EMDR Psychotherapist licensed in California, Oregon, and Texas.

How can I schedule an appointment

You can schedule an appointment by contacting our office directly via phone or email. Our staff will assist you in finding a convenient time for your first visit.

Do you offer free consultations to new clients?

Yes, we offer a free initial 15-minute consultation over the phone. This is a great chance for us to get to know each other, talk about your goals, and see if we’re a good fit. It’s important that you feel comfortable and heard right from the start.

Do you accept insurance?

We are not currently affiliated with any insurance panels, so you are responsible for paying the full session fee upfront.
If you have a PPO plan, you can be reimbursed for your sessions by your insurance, depending on your plan benefits.

After each session—or monthly, based on your preference—we can provide superbills (session receipts) that include all necessary information and codes for insurance reimbursement. You simply submit these to your insurance provider, and they will reimburse you based on your plan’s benefits.

However, HMO and Kaiser plans do not offer reimbursement for out-of-network services.

What are your fees?

235 – 50-minute session

$470 – 120-minute session

EMDR therapy can be done with 50 minute or longer sessions can be scheduled when needed.

What is your cancellation policy?

Your time is reserved for you.

If you need to cancel or make changes to a scheduled appointment, 48 hours’ advance notice is required prior to your appointment time. If the appointment is canceled less than 48 hours in advance or you are a no-show, you will be charged the full session fee.

What age demographic do you work with?

We work with individuals 18+ living in the states of California, Oregon, and Texas through telehealth.

Do you work with clients of all backgrounds and orientations?

Absolutely! We welcome clients from all backgrounds, orientations, and identities. Our goal is to create a safe, inclusive space where you can explore your unique experiences without judgment. Your beliefs and values are respected and honored. You are safe and you belong!

What should I expect in my first therapy session?

Preparing for your first session is simple. Just come as you are and think about any concerns or goals you’d like to discuss. If you can’t, it’s okay. We’ll take it step-by-step, and there’s no pressure to have everything figured out. The focus is all about getting to know you and what’s brought you here. We will ask you some questions to understand your background and the specific challenges you’re facing. Together, we’ll discuss your goals for therapy and start building a personalized plan to guide your journey. This is about you and only you!

How many sessions of therapy do I need?

The number of therapy sessions you’ll need varies because everyone’s needs and goals are different. Therapy is personalized to address your specific challenges and help you work toward a life you’re happy with. There’s no “one-size-fits-all” approach in therapy; some people might benefit from just a few sessions, while others find that longer-term support helps them reach their goals. The goal is to meet your needs on your terms.

How do I know if I need therapy?

Think of therapy as a regular way to maintain your mental and emotional well-being, just like regular oil changes help keep a car running smoothly. Sometimes, you might benefit from regular weekly sessions to work through specific issues, while other times, therapy can be helpful for occasional check-ins to ensure you’re on track and addressing any potential challenges before they become bigger problems. If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or simply want support in living a more fulfilling life, therapy can provide the guidance and tools you need to help you move forward.

Why do you offer virtual therapy only and not in person? Isn’t in person therapy better?

In recent years, research and our experience have shown that virtual therapy is more effective, than in-person sessions—especially for EMDR therapy. These findings led us to switch to an exclusively virtual practice model.

Subconscious Distractions Are Minimized
Your brain operates 97% at a subconscious level. For example, think about when you get into a car, start it, and begin driving—do you consciously think about each action? No, your subconscious is in control, while only 3% of your thoughts are conscious. This is where virtual therapy becomes beneficial. With an in-person session, your subconscious may be preoccupied with concerns like making it on time, wondering if you’ll run into someone as you walk in, or worrying about how you’ll feel afterward. What if you get emotional during the session and have to face others on the way to your car? Or if there’s traffic after? All these concerns interfere with your session. Virtual therapy removes the subconscious worries and distractions, allowing you to stay focused and leading to a deeper, more meaningful session.

Your environment matters more than you may realize
The ambiance, décor, and setup of a therapist’s office do affect how comfortable and relaxed you feel. Think about what your personal design style is, and when you have gone to a restaurant or someone’s home where the design and decor are not to your liking, you haven’t been fully comfortable and relaxed. With telehealth, you are in your own space, which allows you to be more comfortable during a session. With telehealth, you’re in a setting you already feel relaxed in, helping you concentrate on your therapy rather than adjusting to a new environment.

The convenience of being in a familiar, comfortable setting
Telehealth allows you to attend sessions from the comfort of your own home, eliminating the stress of traffic, parking, and other travel-related distractions.When you’re in your own space, you’re surrounded by things that provide comfort and privacy, helping you relax and focus more fully on the session.

Telehealth is more effective for EMDR Therapy
EMDR therapy, which can address everything from trauma, the root of anxiety, depression, and healing the inner child to just about every emotional challenge you can think of, is actually more effective virtually, as being in a familiar and safe environment makes it easier to process challenging emotions. Telehealth sessions allow you to dig deeper without subconscious distractions.

Are virtual sessions secure and private?

Virtual sessions are conducted securely online, ensuring privacy and confidentiality.This means you can feel safe discussing personal matters without worrying about who might see or hear you.

What types of issues do you specialize in treating?

We specializes in treating a wide range of issues including anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, relationship difficulties, and more. See our Specialties under services tab

What issues can therapy help me with?

Everything. Every emotion, every emotional challenge, social anxiety, panic attacks, behavioral patterns, relationship patterns, there is nothing therapy cannot help with. Furthermore, a lot of physical symptoms, like TMJ, back and neck pain, constipation, headaches, nightmare, poor sleep hygiene, mostly stem from unresolved emotional things. If they go untreated, over time, they become physical symptoms.

How long does therapy usually take to see results?

There is no set time. It all depends on your individual needs; sometimes 1-3 sessions are enough, and sometimes a longer series of sessions is needed

What types of therapy do you offer, and which one is right for me?

We specialize in a wide range of therapies. Our approach is not limited to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). We pride ourselves on combining different methods to support your unique situation. You are unique, so why should you be limited to a single way of addressing your challenges? By integrating different approaches, we can address issues more effectively.

How do I find the right therapist for me?

There are no set guidelines for this. It depends on what feels right to you with your therapist. We do not believe we are the only ones who can help, nor do we think we can support everyone who reaches out to us, and we don’t claim to be experts on everything in mental health. However, we take pride in ensuring we are the right fit for you, and if we feel we aren’t, we’ll help you find someone who is. Our goal is to help you live a happier life, not to feed our egos by believing we are the only option. The therapist has to feel right to you, so you can open up, feel safe, and be heard.

How can therapy help with anxiety, depression, or stress?

Therapy can be a powerful tool for managing anxiety, depression, and stress. It provides a safe, supportive space to explore what’s causing these feelings and helps you develop coping strategies that truly work for you.

Understanding root causes – Anxiety, depression, and stress often stem from deeper issues that aren’t immediately obvious. In therapy, you’ll work to identify the underlying sources of these feelings—whether they’re related to past experiences, current life challenges, or negative thought patterns. Understanding where these feelings come from can be the first step toward finding peace.

Building practical coping skills – We guide you in developing tools to manage your day-to-day symptoms. These might include mindfulness exercises, breathing techniques, or thought-reframing strategies that help you feel more in control of your emotions and reactions.

Improving self-compassion and resilience – Therapy encourages self-compassion, helping you treat yourself with kindness and patience, especially on tough days. This support helps you build resilience over time, so you’re better equipped to handle life’s ups and downs.

Creating lasting change – Therapy isn’t just about short-term fixes; it’s about building long-term mental health. By identifying triggers, learning healthy responses, and making positive changes to thought patterns, therapy can help reduce the impact of anxiety, depression, and stress on your life. Over time, these changes can lead to greater emotional stability, improved mood, and an overall sense of well-being.

In therapy, you’re not alone in facing your anxiety, depression, or stress. With our guidance and support, you can gain the tools and insights needed to live a happier life.

What are the benefits of EMDR therapy, and is it right for me?

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy was initially designed to help process PTSD symptoms and address traumatic events. However, over the years, EMDR therapy has evolved to address everything from anxiety and depression to healing the inner child, attachment issues, breakups, and changing behavioral patterns. There is almost nothing EMDR cannot be used for to provide quicker and lasting results. It can improve self-esteem and build emotional resilience. EMDR can also lead to faster, longer-lasting results compared to some other therapies. If you’re facing unresolved trauma or recurring negative thoughts, EMDR may be a powerful option to help you move forward. A therapist can help assess if it’s the right fit for your needs.

How is therapy different from talking to friends or family?

Having a support system of family and friends is very helpful, but their own biases can come in when providing you with feedback. They bring in their own emotions about the situation, often leading to further harm. Additionally, you may not feel fully comfortable sharing every thought and experience you’re having, and fear of judgment may prevent you from opening up more. With a therapist, there are no outside biases.

Is everything I share in therapy confidential?

Yes it is. Privacy and confidentiality are extremely important to us.

Can therapy help with trauma or past abuse?

Yes, therapy can help you heal from past traumas and abuse. It can help you overcome difficult experiences, regardless of what you may have been through.

What is inner child work, and how does it benefit me?

Inner child work is all about connecting with and caring for the younger part of yourself—the part that still holds onto experiences, feelings, and memories from childhood. Many of us carry unresolved emotions or beliefs from our early years that continue to shape us today, sometimes without us even realizing it. Inner child work helps you gently explore and heal those memories and emotions so that you can understand why certain situations or feelings trigger strong reactions.

The benefits of inner child work can be life-changing:

Healing Past Wounds – By going back to those past experiences, you can finally address emotional wounds that may still be impacting you today. This work can help you release old pain and build a greater sense of self-compassion.

Improving Relationships – Inner child work helps you break old, unhelpful patterns that may be affecting your relationships. You’ll be able to connect with others in a healthier, more open way, free from past fears and triggers.

Boosting Self-Esteem – When you show kindness to your inner child, you strengthen your sense of self-worth. This can help you feel more confident and empowered in your life.

Enhanced Emotional Awareness – Inner child work helps you get more in touch with your emotions, so you’re better equipped to handle them. You become more aware of your feelings and more comfortable managing them in healthy ways.

Inner child work is a journey toward self-acceptance, self-love and healing. We guide you through reconnecting with your inner child, helping you rebuild a foundation of self-compassion and empowerment that leads to a more fulfilling and authentic life.

How can therapy help improve my self-esteem or self-worth?

Therapy provides a supportive space where we work together to explore the root causes of low self-esteem and uncover any negative beliefs you may hold about yourself. We’ll help you recognize patterns in your thinking that may be holding you back and work to replace them with more positive, empowering perspectives. We’ll also focus on building self-compassion, which can gradually boost your self-worth and confidence. In our sessions, we’ll practice tools to manage self-doubt and build a stronger, more resilient sense of self. By setting achievable goals and celebrating each step forward, you’ll begin to see yourself in a more positive light, leading to lasting improvements in how you view and value yourself.

How can therapy help me manage relationship issues or marriage problems?

Therapy can be a powerful tool for understanding and improving your relationships. We’ll focus on understanding what may be causing you to feel unhappy or unfulfilled, whether it’s unmet needs, recurring patterns, or personal boundaries that need strengthening.

What are the benefits of working with a licensed therapist versus a coach?

Would you trust someone with limited training to perform heart surgery? Or would you want to go to someone who has spent years learning and has received extensive training to become an expert?

Working with a licensed therapist means you’re with someone who has extensive training and expertise in mental health. We have advanced education specializing in mental health, along with years of additional training and board certifications. Some coaches can be helpful, but before working with someone, ask about their training and certifications. Find out what kind of additional training they have received to become an expert in helping you.

What are the signs that therapy is working for me?

Therapy isn’t a straight path up; it’s more like a journey with both ups and downs. Sometimes you’ll feel like you’re making big strides forward, and other times, it might feel challenging or even like you’re stuck. This is normal and part of the healing process.

Think of it like climbing a mountain. Some days, you’ll feel energized and reach new heights, and other days, you may need to pause, rest, or even revisit areas you thought you’d moved past. those “down” moments are actually important—they help us go deeper, build resilience, and make real, lasting changes.

Some days we will laugh, and some days we will cry. But you will never be judged or criticized; instead, you’ll feel safe.

How can therapy help me overcome insomnia or sleep issues?

Every habit stems from something; there is a starting point for it. We help you get to the root cause of what’s underlying and causing insomnia, sleep irregularities, or nightmares. We believe in healing the underlying issue so that you no longer continue to experience the same sleep issues.

Do you specialize in treating specific conditions, like PTSD or eating disorders?

Yes, we specialize in treating a variety of conditions, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression. We are Our approach is tailored to meet your specific needs, using methods that best support you in making lasting progress.

Can therapy help with managing work stress or career challenges?

Yes, therapy is an excellent way to explore work stress or career challenges. We’ll talk about what’s causing you stress at work—whether it’s heavy workloads, tough relationships, or feeling stuck. Together, we can explore ways to set boundaries, manage your stress, and understand what you really want from your career.

Our goal is to help you find more balance and satisfaction in your work life. Whether it’s learning stress-reducing techniques, building confidence, or figuring out your next career steps, therapy gives you the tools to feel more in control and fulfilled in your job.

How do therapy sessions help with transgenerational trauma?

Transgenerational trauma is when pain or struggles from past generations get passed down, often without us realizing it. If your parents, grandparents, or other family members went through hard times—like war, poverty, or discrimination—their experiences might still affect you today. This can show up in ways like anxiety, feeling overly cautious, or having beliefs and behaviors that don’t seem to fit who you really are.

In therapy, we’ll explore these patterns together, looking at what might have been passed down that’s now affecting you. We’ll work to understand where these feelings and reactions come from and find ways to break free from the past. Therapy can help you make sense of these family patterns, so you can create a life that feels more like your own and less shaped by past generations. You’ll learn to feel more in control, confident, and connected to who you are now, letting go of what doesn’t serve you anymore.

How can therapy help with grief or loss?

There’s no “right” way to grieve! You need to process your grief at your own pace. Often, people are told, ‘You need to be strong for…’ No. Your emotions matter, and you can provide support for others while processing your own grief. But by dismissing your emotions, you’re simply ignoring what you’re feeling, and like a pressure cooker, those emotions may eventually blow up, often leading to unhealthy coping mechanisms or other emotional symptoms.

We’ll work together to understand and honor the feelings you’re experiencing, whether it’s sadness, anger, guilt, or even numbness.

We’ll explore ways to cope with the loss and gradually find ways to move forward, while still honoring your connection to what you’ve lost. Healing from grief is unique for everyone.

What should I do if I feel stuck or not making progress in therapy?

If you’re feeling stuck or like things aren’t moving forward in therapy, let’s talk about it together. Therapy is a team effort, so if something isn’t clicking, we can explore what might be holding you back and try a different approach. Feeling stuck is actually pretty common—it doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong. Sometimes, those “stuck” moments are signs that we’re getting close to something important, even if it doesn’t feel that way right now.

Why Choose Dr. Sarah C

Compassionate Care

Dr. Sara C provides a warm and nurturing environment, ensuring every client feels valued and understood.

Evidence-Based Therapy

Utilizing proven therapeutic techniques, Dr. Sara C offers effective solutions tailored to individual needs.

Professional Excellence

With licenses in California, Oregon, and Texas, Dr. Sara C is committed to ongoing education and delivering the highest standards of care.

Personal Growth

Dr. Sara C empowers clients to achieve lasting positive change and lead fulfilling lives through personalized therapy.

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Frequently Asked Question

Psychologist, LCSW, and EMDR Psychotherapist licensed in California, Oregon, and Texas.

Why Choose Dr. Sarah C

Compassionate Care

Evidence-Based Therapy

Professional Excellence

Personal Growth

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