Fees and Frequently Asked Questions

For those not using insurance the fee is $200 for a 55 minute session.

I accept Aetna, Cigna, United Health Care, and Optum.

You can check what the cost would be when using your insurance here.

I am sometimes able to provide a superbill (a receipt for medical services) for you to submit to your PPO insurance. 

You pay the fees upfront and I provide you with a superbill monthly. You are responsible for all interactions and reimbursements with your insurance. 

Currently I am not able to provide superbills for people with Anthem, Health Net, and Magellan. 

You can book a free consultation online or call or text me at (714) 584-9018.

Yes, currently I am only holding sessions online.

Video sessions are sercure and HIPAA compliant, using Alma’s telehealth platform.

Use a phone, tablet, or computer; whatever you have handy and are comfortable using.

Check to see that you have a decent internet connection; usually if a video on youtube plays you won’t have any problems with a video session.

Set up your device in a stationary position; on a table, balanced on pillows, whatever you’ve got handy. It just helps to have your hands free as we sometimes guide clients through calming exercises that involve relaxing your body or using your hands.

Use headphones that have a mic; anything that you can use to make a phone call dramatically improves issues with echoes.

Be in a private space for the entire session; a room, car, or even closet can work. You want to avoid interruption or distractions so you can be fully present in session.

If others are around let them know you shouldn’t be disturbed during your session.  If you have children please schedule appointments when someone else can care for them.

If you’re worried about being overheard: put something that makes noise outside the door of the space you are in, it significantly muffles the sounds from within, so even though someone might be able to tell that you’re talking they likely won’t be able to hear what you’re saying. A fan, air filter, or humidifier on high generally work as well as using another device to play music of white noise.

If you can’t find your link, are having internet issues, or something just isn’t working and it is time for our session call or text me at (714) 584-9018.

Yes they do.

I’ll be honest, before the pandemic I never regularly engaged in video or phone sessions unless someone had a child home sick or was having transportation issues. I thought that there was something about being in the same space that made the therapeutic connection more ‘real’. But I was mistaken.

It has been such a happy surprise to see that most people do really well with video sessions. My clients tell me and I have been able to experience the amount of connection, depth, and progress that can be achieved through a video session. I even see my own therapist online. It’s convenient and it works. 

Call or text me at (714) 584-9018 if you can’t make your session.  If you know in advance it’s helpful to let me know in the session before you need to miss. 

I have a 24 hour cancellation policy. If you need to miss or reschedule an appointment please let me know at least 24 hours in advance or the full fee for the session will be charged to your card on file.

I do provide one ‘freebie’ where you won’t be charged for the session with late or no notice because sometimes life happens. After that the fee will be charged. 

Yes, within 24 hours of booking your appointment your therapist will email you a link to a secure client portal where you can complete your forms online.

Your first appointment is a time for us to get to know each other and get comfortable. You are allowed to say as much or as little as you feel comfortable with. Some people have been waiting for a time to let it all out and just open the verbal and emotional flood gates.  Great, I’m down! 

And some people need time to warm up. To the situation, to me, to their own thoughts and feelings. Great, I’m down! 

If it’s okay with you, I ask what is bringing you to therapy. Finding out and defining what isn’t working in your life can help both of us better understand what you would like to work towards. 

It might be something specific like, “I want to stop having panic attacks.” It could be something that feels vague like “I want to be happy.” That’s okay! We can explore what that means for you and find a path from where you are to where you want to be.

My goal is for us both to feel like we’re on the same team helping you towards your better life. 

One other thing- in literally the first 5 minutes of a first session it is standard practice for me to go over office policies, what confidentiality means in the context of therapy, and that I’m a mandated reporter. 

This stuff is all in your intake paperwork that you sign but it is best practice for me to go over it verbally with you in session. 

I’ll be honest, it can be kind of artificial and is not like any other part of therapy that we will do. But it’s important and quick. And we only have to do it the one time and it’s out of the way. Though if you ever have questions about it I am more than happy to discuss it.

It depends on where you’re starting and where you’d like to end up. 

A person wanting to conquer their fear of public speaking is going to take a very different amount of time than a person who had an abusive childhood and wants to stop pushing other people away. 

In a phone consultation I can generally give you a ballpark estimate of the length of treatment.

Over the course of our work together we will check in periodically to see how things are progressing towards your goals to keep us on track. Because the ultimate goal is to get your life as awesome as possible as quickly as possible. Not to stay in therapy forever. 

First, come to sessions on-time and sober.

Second, if something is on your mind and you’re wondering if you should bring it up, please say something! I make it common practice to ask how things are going for you in therapy, but I’m not a mind reader. 

Even if it’s something about me or the relationship we have together, you are explicitly invited to speak up. In fact, those areas are usually where some of the best therapy work starts.

Nope.

I may share that I think something would be helpful, but it’s completely up to you if you want to do it. If you are open to doing things between sessions, I will collaborate with you so that you are 100% comfortable with the arrangement.

So if you’re up for it homework could be meditating or journaling during the week as part of self-care, making plans with friends, making a healthy meal plan, or watching cute animal videos when you’re feeling down.

Seriously, cute animal videos are great. If something makes you think or say, “Awwww!” and you get that warm or happy feeling in your chest, your body is actually pumping out chemicals that improve your mood. So, it’s adorable and self-care. Yay, biology!

Even if you agree to doing homework you won’t get in trouble for not doing it. If it’s something you wanted to do but just couldn’t get to it, or get yourself to do it, we can explore and troubleshoot ways to help you do it next time. 

Kylie Kellas, LMFT  is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist. She has a Master’s Degree in Counseling, completed 3,000 hours of supervised practice, and passed a wicked-hard test. She has been practicing psychotherapy for 8 years now, is trained in EMDR, and is currently in the two year process of becoming a Certified EMDR therapist.

Mark Myran, AMFT is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist. They have a Master’s Degree in Counseling and are currently completing their 3000 hours of supervised therapy practice required to become a licensed therapist in California, under the supervision of Kylie Kellas, LMFT. They are trained in EMDR, Emotion Focused Therapy, and Somatic Experiencing. 

Kylie here, I love being outdoors and in nature, it melts away the stress and grounds me in the present. When the weather is nice I spend a lot of time in my yard, my vegetable garden, at parks, and on walks. 

My partner and I have a toddler and we spend a lot of time together as a family playing, making pillow forts, and hanging out with grandparents. There’s lots of music, chatting, food, being silly, and chasing after a surprisingly fast toddler. 

Mark here, I like to mountain bike and take in the beauty of our open spaces.  My guilty pleasure is watching reality shows with my wife about people trying to find love (or social media followers).

Yep, I’m in therapy now and have had so much therapy. I truly believe in the power of therapy to improve the quality of your life, so I’ve walked the walk and talked the talk. Throughout my adult life I’ve been to about five years’ worth of weekly therapy.

Some things in my life have improved drastically; some things I’m still working on. I’ve been to good therapists, a bad therapist, and medium therapists. I’ve been in the client’s seat and felt stuck; I’ve avoided what I know needs to be worked on because I didn’t want to “go there.” I won’t begrudge you for doing the same.

Therapy gives people the tools, experiences, and realizations to be happier, more fulfilled versions of themselves. I’ve been on this journey, and I invite you to join it, too.

Probably.

If you’ve read this far, you’re likely very interested in this whole therapy thing and want to learn as much as you can about it and this therapy practice. You’re maybe feeling hesitant about taking that next step. It’s the unknown. It’s uncomfortable. Not reaching out feels so much safer.

It’s okay. You can do this. You can make that first step toward living a better life.

You can book a free consultation or send me a text or call at (714) 584-9018.