Frequently Asked Questions

Everyone faces tough times, and needing extra support is completely normal. Therapy can help if you:

• Feel overwhelmed or stuck

• Want help navigating a challenge or life change

• Recognize patterns you’d like to change

• Need tools to manage stress, triggers, or emotions

Seeking therapy shows self-awareness and strength. It’s a proactive step toward growth and long-term well-being.

People come to therapy for all kinds of reasons. You might be:

• Going through a big life change like a breakup, job loss, or move

• Feeling overwhelmed, anxious, down, or stuck

• Struggling in your relationships or with self-esteem

• Working through spiritual questions or creative blocks

• Just wanting to understand yourself better and reach personal goals

Whatever brings you here, therapy can offer support, encouragement, and practical tools to help you move forward.

Therapy is a little different for everyone, depending on your goals and what you’re going through. But generally, you can expect to:

• Talk about what’s happening in your life right now

• Explore past experiences that may be connected

• Reflect on your progress and insights from previous sessions

Therapy can be short-term (to focus on a specific issue) or longer-term (for deeper growth and lasting change). Most people meet with their therapist weekly.

The more you put into the process, the more you’ll get out of it. Your therapist might also suggest things to try outside of sessions—like journaling, reading, or small action steps—to help you apply what you’re learning.

At its core, therapy is for people who are ready to grow, open to new perspectives, and willing to take an active role in creating positive change.

Medication can be helpful, but it usually doesn’t solve the root of the problem on its own. Therapy helps you get to the why behind what you’re feeling and supports long-term growth by working through patterns, behaviors, and emotions.

For many people, the best results come from a combination of therapy and medication. You and your doctor can decide what approach makes the most sense for your unique situation.

Yes! We work with many insurance providers.

To check your coverage, contact your insurance company and ask:

• “Do I have mental health benefits?”

• “How many sessions are covered?”

• “Do I need a referral?”

We’re happy to help you understand your benefits, but it’s your responsibility to confirm coverage with your provider.

To explore the insurances we accept, visit our Fees Page.

Yes, confidentiality is a core part of therapy. What you share in session stays private, helping build the trust needed to do meaningful work together.

Your therapist will give you a written confidentiality agreement (called Informed Consent), and won’t share any information without your written permission unless required by law.

By law, confidentiality must be broken only in certain situations, such as:

• Suspected abuse or neglect of a child, elder, or vulnerable adult

• If there’s a serious risk of you harming yourself or someone else

Otherwise, your privacy is fully respected—always.

We offer a wide range of therapy services to meet different needs, including:

• Individual therapy for adults and teens

• Couples therapy and relationship counseling

• Family therapy

• Therapy for children (toddlers and up)

• Group therapy (topics vary)

• Specialized approaches such as CBT, EMDR, DBT, and mindfulness-based therapy

To explore all of our services, visit our Services Page.

Yes! We offer virtual therapy for all clients through a secure video platform called SimplePractice.

Here’s how it works:

• Free 15-minute consultations are done by phone

• Full-length sessions happen via video

• You’ll receive a secure link by email or text before each session

• Teletherapy is available to all clients at Pacific Mental Health

It’s convenient, private, and easy to use! 

The standard therapy session is 50 minutes, but you can talk with your therapist if you’d like to adjust that length. Changes must be scheduled in advance to allow time in the therapist’s calendar.

As for how long you’ll continue therapy overall—that’s up to you! We offer both short-term and long-term options depending on your goals and needs.

• Most clients meet once a week

• Others may meet bi-weekly or monthly

• You’re always in control of the pace and frequency

That said, weekly sessions often provide the most consistent progress, especially at the beginning.

We ask that you cancel or reschedule at least 24 hours in advance. This time is reserved just for you, so late changes can’t always be filled.

• Late cancellations (less than 24 hours) or missed sessions will be charged the full session fee

• If you’re running late, your session may be shortened to end at the originally scheduled time

• If you want to adjust the session length, just discuss it ahead of time with your therapist so time can be reserved properly

You can cancel or reschedule through your SimplePractice account, or by calling or emailing us directly.

Getting started is simple! You can:

1. Browse our therapists on our website
2. Schedule either a free 15-minute phone consultation or a full intake session directly from their profile
3. Have your insurance info ready—this is needed to schedule a full session

You’ll fill out a short intake form during scheduling, where you’ll share a bit about yourself and your reason for seeking therapy. This is all handled securely through SimplePractice.

Prefer to talk to someone? You can also schedule by calling us at (425) 582-2041 or emailing [email protected].

Feel free to reach out for any further questions!