Questions, answered.

Therapy can help in many different situations, and you don’t need to be in crisis to start. People come to us when they want a private place to talk things through, when something isn’t going well and they’d like a professional’s view, when they want someone to listen without judgment, or when their feelings are getting in the way of work, sleep or relationships.

If you’re unsure, a free 15-minute call with our intake team is a good first step. We’ll talk through what’s going on and whether therapy, psychiatry or testing would help most.

If you already know who you’d like to see, book straight from their profile on Our Team. You’ll be asked for a card to hold the appointment, and our 48-hour cancellation policy applies from then on.

If you’re not sure who to see, or the clinician you want has no times showing online (it usually means they’re fully booked), send us the short form, call or text (650) 434-2563, or email team@mindbodygarden.com, in English or Chinese. Our intake team will suggest clinicians who fit what you need.

Yes. Start with a free 15-minute call with our intake team. We’ll listen to what’s going on, answer your questions about cost and insurance, and suggest clinicians who match. Some of our clinicians also offer a short free consultation of their own; when they do, you’ll see it as an option when you book with them.

No. You can contact us directly, without a doctor’s referral. There are two exceptions: Kaiser members need an external referral from Kaiser before their first visit, and some insurers ask you to get psychological testing pre-approved. If your doctor or therapist would like to refer you, they can do so through our For Providers page.

We reply within one business day, often the same day. When your first session can be depends on the clinician: many have openings within one to two weeks, and some are booked four to eight weeks ahead. If the clinician you’d like is full, we’ll tell you up front and suggest others who can see you sooner, or add you to their waitlist, which usually takes one to two months.

We can’t book a first session for the very next day, so if you need help right away, please see what to do in a crisis. Psychological testing is often booked a little further ahead, so get in touch early if you have a deadline, such as a school or exam application.

Each clinician’s profile on Our Team shows the languages they speak, the states they’re licensed in, the insurance they take, their rates and what they focus on, and you can filter by any of these.

If you’d rather not choose alone, tell us a little about what’s going on and we’ll suggest a good fit. The relationship matters more than any credential, and most people know within a few sessions whether it feels right.

Once you’re booked, we’ll email you a confirmation with your clinician’s name and either the office address and directions or your video link. Our secure Client Portal then sends your intake forms: an intake questionnaire, the informed consent, our privacy notice, your card details and, for most clients, two short questionnaires about mood and anxiety. If you’re paying for yourself, you’ll also receive a Good Faith Estimate. Please complete everything before your session; if the consent isn’t signed by then, the first few minutes go to signing it.

The session itself is mostly about getting to know each other: your clinician will ask what brings you in, a little about your history, and what you’d like to be different, and you’re welcome to ask how they work. Together you’ll sketch out a first plan, which the following sessions put into practice. Change takes some time, and it’s normal for things to feel harder for a while before they feel better.

Once you’re booked, you’ll receive an email invitation to our secure Client Portal. There you can fill in your intake forms before the first session, see and manage your appointments, update your card, and download statements for your records or your insurer.

We email you a reminder 48 hours and again 10 minutes before each appointment, and for online sessions the reminder includes your video link, so please leave appointment reminders switched on. Already a client? Sign in to the Client Portal

Yes, any time, and you don’t need to explain why. Fit matters, and changing clinicians is a normal part of finding the right one. Let your clinician or our team know, and we’ll help you find someone who’s a better match. You’ll work with one therapist at a time, and when you switch, we’ll send fresh intake forms for your new clinician.

We’re out of network with most insurance companies, but there are several ways to use your benefits. We work with the employee benefit programs Lyra Health, Spring Health and Modern Health, and with Kaiser when you have an external referral. Some of our clinicians also take other plans, such as Aetna and Blue Cross, through Headway, a service that bills your insurer for you; ask us who does.

With any other plan, you can use out-of-network benefits, and FSA and HSA cards are accepted. We’re not able to contact your insurer for you, so it’s worth calling them before you start; we’re happy to tell you what to ask.

Therapy sessions are $200 to $300, depending on the clinician, and each clinician’s rate is on their profile. With our psychiatrist, the first evaluation is $500 and each follow-up is $300. Psychological testing is priced separately; see how much testing costs.

If you’re paying for yourself, you’ll receive a Good Faith Estimate, as the No Surprises Act requires. It estimates weekly sessions for the rest of the year, so the total can look large, but you’re only ever charged for the sessions you attend.

By credit or debit card, including FSA and HSA cards, through our secure Client Portal. You’ll add a card when you book, and session fees are charged to it. For psychological testing, the card is charged only once the assessment is complete. Statements and superbills are available in the Client Portal.

With Kaiser, we charge your copay or deductible only after Kaiser has processed the claim, and we let you know before we do. If your sessions are billed through Headway, Modern Health or Spring Health, they take care of billing and you won’t need a card on file with us.

Yes. Many plans pay back part of the cost of seeing an out-of-network provider. Each month we send you a superbill, a detailed receipt with the codes your insurer needs, which you submit to them for reimbursement. Plans typically repay 50 to 80 percent once your deductible is met.

Call your insurer before you start to ask about your out-of-network rate and deductible; it can help you decide, and we’re not able to call them for you. For psychological testing, ask them to pre-approve it first. Coaching is not covered by insurance and is self-pay only.

Yes, with an external referral from Kaiser, for both therapy and psychological testing. Ask your Kaiser clinic for an external referral after their screening, before you book with us; without it, Kaiser won’t reimburse your fees. If you have an older referral, call your clinic to check it’s still valid.

We bill Kaiser for you. Any copay or deductible is charged only after Kaiser has processed the claim, and we let you know before we do.

Yes. Employee benefit programs like these often cover a set number of sessions in full. Check with your HR or benefits team that you’re eligible and how many sessions you have.

Lyra Health. We bill Lyra directly. Every Lyra plan covers therapy, but only some employers cover psychiatry, so check before you book with our psychiatrist. Some employers extend Lyra so you can keep going using your health plan; add your health plan in your Lyra profile (Profile, then Health Plan), making sure the member ID matches your card exactly, along with a payment card. If Lyra doesn’t cover a late cancellation or missed session, the session fee is yours.

Spring Health. Create your Spring Health account, then ask their care team at careteam@springhealth.com to match you with one of our clinicians. Once you’re matched, you can book.

Modern Health. Ask Modern Health to connect you with one of our clinicians. Once they’ve referred you, we’ll set up your first session.

Some of our clinicians keep a few reduced-fee places. Ask our intake team, and we’ll tell you who has openings and what’s possible.

Cancel or reschedule at least 48 hours before your appointment and there’s no charge; you can do this in the Client Portal or by letting your clinician or our team know. Cancellations with less notice, and missed sessions, are charged the full session fee to the card on file.

Both, and you can choose. We see clients in person at our offices in Los Altos, San Francisco, Sacramento, San Diego and New York, and online by secure video wherever your clinician is licensed. You can also mix the two, for example meeting in person at first and online after.

A quiet, private space where you won’t be overheard, a phone, tablet or computer with a camera, and a steady internet connection; headphones help. We’ll send you a secure link before each session. You’ll need to be in a state where your clinician is licensed while you meet.

Often, yes, online. Our clinicians are licensed in 15 states, and each profile lists theirs. Our psychologists can also see clients in states that are part of PSYPACT, an agreement that lets psychologists practice across member states; it doesn’t cover other licenses, such as LMFT or LCSW. You’ll need to be in that state during each session. Filter by state

If none of our clinicians is licensed where you are, some offer coaching by video instead. It works on the same things, but it can’t include a diagnosis, isn’t covered by insurance, and isn’t suitable if you’re at high risk.

For therapy, usually not. Our clinicians can only see clients who are in a state where they’re licensed at the time of the session, and that applies to trips abroad too, so plan sessions around travel with your clinician. If you’ll be in the U.S. for a while, or are moving here, get in touch and we’ll check what’s possible.

Coaching is different: it isn’t tied to a state license, so some of our clinicians can offer it by video wherever you live. It can’t include a diagnosis, isn’t covered by insurance, and is self-pay.

Yes. Our clinicians work in English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Spanish and Korean, and many are bilingual, so you can use whichever language feels most natural. Filter by language on Our Team to see who speaks yours. Psychological testing has some limits here; see testing in Mandarin.

Yes. Our couples and family therapists work with partners on communication, conflict and closeness, and with parents and children together, including families who live between cultures and generations. Some use the Gottman Method and other approaches tested in research.

In couples therapy, both partners come to every session together, and only one of you needs to fill in the first form. Your couples therapist won’t also see either of you, or other family members, on their own, even later; it’s an ethical guideline in our field. If you’d like individual support as well, we’ll arrange another clinician. Couples & families

For anyone under 18, a parent or legal guardian needs to contact us and give consent; other relatives can’t. With younger children, parents are part of the work: you’ll meet with the clinician, hear how things are going and learn ways to help at home.

Teens fill in their own intake form, which goes only to them, and get more privacy, which helps them open up. At the start, your clinician will agree with you both what will be shared, and will always tell you about any safety concern. Children & teens

Sometimes, depending on your clinician’s evaluation, so we can’t promise a particular letter in advance. A short letter confirming a diagnosis usually needs at least two or three sessions first, so your clinician can understand what you’re going through.

We don’t provide medical leave or disability letters to new clients, because a few sessions can’t give enough information. After three to six months of continuous treatment, your clinician may consider one if your symptoms meet the criteria. If a letter is for time away from work or school, we’ll ask you to keep up with therapy, here or elsewhere, while you’re away, so you still have support.

Many of our clinicians offer evening times, and some see clients on weekends. Ask our intake team for the times that suit you, and we’ll match you with someone who has them.

Most therapy sessions are 50 minutes, usually weekly at first. You and your clinician set the pace together and spread sessions out as things improve. Psychological testing sessions are longer; see how testing works.

It depends on what you’d like to work on. Some people come for a few months for one problem; others stay longer, and some treatments, such as CBT for insomnia, are designed to be brief. You’ll review progress together and decide when you’re ready to stop.

Yes, through our psychiatrist; therapists and psychologists don’t prescribe. The first visit is a full evaluation; after that, follow-ups check how a medication is working and adjust it, and refills need a short follow-up visit. Our psychiatrist is currently licensed in California only, so you’ll need to be in California for these visits.

We don’t prescribe benzodiazepines, and stimulants for ADHD are prescribed only after ADHD has been diagnosed through a psychological assessment. If you’d like help coming off a medication like these, that’s considered case by case. Teens are also seen case by case, with a parent at the first visit. Psychiatry can work alongside your therapist, here or elsewhere, so your care fits together. See a psychiatrist

No. You can see our psychiatrist on their own, or alongside a therapist here or elsewhere. With your permission, they’ll keep in touch with your therapist so your care fits together.

Testing answers a specific question, so you and the people who support you can understand what’s going on and what will help. We evaluate ADHD, autism, learning differences and IQ for children and adults, provide documentation for test accommodations on exams such as the SAT, GRE and LSAT, and carry out evaluations for fertility treatment.

A licensed psychologist uses well-researched, validated tests, and the results can shape a treatment plan or support a request for help at school or work. Not sure which evaluation you need? Our free phone consultation is a good place to start. Testing & assessment

It depends on the question the testing needs to answer, and we’ll confirm your fee before you start. As a guide: an IQ test is $850; an autism evaluation is $3,000; an ADHD evaluation is $4,500 to $5,500; and an evaluation that looks at autism and ADHD together is up to $5,500. Fertility evaluations start at $800.

Evaluations for test accommodations are $3,000 to $5,500, depending on whether there’s an earlier diagnosis and what the testing body requires. Testing fees are usually self-pay, and the card is charged once the assessment is complete.

Most evaluations take two or three sessions of two to three hours, usually in person, plus questionnaires we email for you to complete at home. Depending on the question, we may also ask for teacher feedback and earlier records. An IQ test alone takes about 90 minutes to two hours.

Afterwards, a feedback session walks you through the findings: any diagnosis, the areas that need support and the areas of strength. You’ll also receive a full written report with personalized recommendations, usually within two weeks, which you can share with your doctors or school.

Partly. Our Mandarin-speaking clinicians can hold the interviews and guide you through the whole process in Mandarin, and autism evaluations can be done in Mandarin when needed. Many standardized tests, including IQ tests and the tests used for exam accommodations, must be given in English to stay valid; a Mandarin-speaking clinician can still be there to explain each step.

Sometimes. We offer secure online assessments for eligible clients in California and New York, held to the same standards as testing in the office. Whether it suits you depends on age, the question being asked and the kind of test, and our clinicians decide case by case. Some tests, such as IQ testing, are always done in person.

Sometimes. Many plans cover psychological testing, but usually only with pre-approval, so ask your insurer to approve it before you start; we can tell you what to ask for. Kaiser may refer members to us for some evaluations, such as autism, and you’ll need that referral before booking. Evaluations for test accommodations and for fertility treatment are usually not covered and are self-pay, and we can give you a superbill on request.

Yes. Many fertility clinics and agencies require a psychological evaluation for egg and sperm donors and recipients, gestational carriers and their partners, and intended parents. Ours includes a clinical interview of one to two hours and a personality questionnaire, and covers your health and family background, support, stress, and how you think about consent, boundaries and future disclosure to children.

It can be done in person or by secure video, and the written report goes to your agency or clinic within seven business days, or three with a rush report. Evaluations start at $800, are due at the time of service, and usually aren’t covered by insurance. Fertility evaluations

Yes. What you share stays between you and your clinician, and your records are kept in a secure, HIPAA-compliant system. We share nothing without your written permission.

The only exceptions are set by law: a serious risk of harm to you or someone else, or suspected abuse of a child, an elder or a dependent adult. Your clinician can explain these limits in your first session.

Only if you ask us to. With your written permission, given on a release of information form, we can talk with your doctor, therapist or child’s school, for example to coordinate care or share a testing report. You choose what is shared and with whom, and you can withdraw permission at any time.

No. If you use insurance, we share only what’s needed to bill it, such as session dates and a diagnosis code, never what you say in sessions. Your employer doesn’t see your records, including when you come through an employee assistance program like Lyra.

You have a say in planning your treatment, and you can ask about your clinician’s training and approach at any time. You have the right to keep what you share private, to ask for a copy of your records, to change clinicians if it isn’t a good fit, and to stop treatment whenever you choose.

Ask your clinician or our team. We’ll prepare your records and share them with you securely through the Client Portal, within 15 business days. If you’d like them sent to someone else, such as another provider, a lawyer or an agency, you’ll first sign a release of information, so we know exactly what to share and with whom.

We’re an outpatient practice and can’t respond to emergencies. If you’re in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

For support any time, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If you’re already seeing one of us, tell your clinician what happened at your next session, but please don’t rely on messages to us in an emergency.