Frequently Asked Questions
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GroundPoint Counseling is in network with Aetna, including Aetna's Employee Assistance Program. For all other plans, GroundPoint Counseling is an out-of-network provider, and a monthly superbill can be provided for clients who wish to seek potential reimbursement from their insurance company. It is recommended that you contact your insurer directly to confirm out-of-network mental health benefits.
GroundPoint Counseling is also an approved provider with the California Victim Compensation Board. If you have been affected by a violent crime in California, that program may cover the full cost of therapy.
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Yes, it may be. GroundPoint Counseling is an approved provider with the California Victim Compensation Board — a state program that can cover the cost of therapy for people affected by violent crime in California. When a claim is approved, the Board pays the practice directly and there is no cost to you.
GroundPoint Counseling is listed with the San Diego County District Attorney's Victim Services Division and the Los Angeles County Bureau of Victim Services. If you are already working with a victim advocate, they can refer you to me directly. If you are not, reach out and I will help you figure out where to start.
Eligibility is decided by the Board, not by me — but I am glad to talk it through before you commit to anything.
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Individual Therapy: $200 per 50-minute session.
Emotional Regulation Group: $100 per 90-minute session.
A limited number of sliding scale and structured payment plan options are available and discussed during the initial consultation to ensure care remains accessible
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Both are legitimate choices, and the right one depends on what matters most to you. Here's the honest trade-off.
Paying privately gives you more control and more privacy.
Insurance requires a mental health diagnosis. To pay for your care, an insurance company needs a diagnosis code submitted with every claim, and that diagnosis becomes part of your permanent medical record. Many people are fine with that. Some aren't — particularly if you're seeking therapy for something that isn't a disorder at all, like a difficult transition, a relationship, grief, or wanting to understand yourself better.
Insurance companies can also review your care. They may request records to confirm treatment is "medically necessary," and they can decide how many sessions they'll cover. When you pay privately, no one outside this office reviews your file, and how long you stay in therapy is a decision you and I make together.
Private pay also means you're not limited to who's in a network. You choose your therapist based on fit — which, in the research and in my experience, is the single biggest predictor of whether therapy works.
The honest downside is cost. Private pay means the full fee comes out of your pocket. That's real, and for many people it's the deciding factor.
Using insurance makes therapy more affordable, and that matters.
Lower out-of-pocket cost is not a small thing. Therapy only helps if you can actually keep coming, and for many people insurance is what makes a longer course of treatment possible. If insurance is the difference between starting therapy and not starting, use the insurance. Access beats theoretical privacy every time.
What you give up is some privacy and some control. A diagnosis goes on record. Your insurer sets certain terms. And you're limited to therapists in their network.
A middle path: if I'm out of network with your plan, I can provide a monthly superbill — an itemized receipt you submit to your insurance for possible out-of-network reimbursement. Many plans reimburse a portion. Call the number on your card and ask what your out-of-network mental health benefit is before your first session, so you're not guessing.
If cost is the barrier, tell me. I offer a limited number of sliding-scale spots and payment plans. That conversation is confidential and it doesn't change how I work with you.
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Yes. Under the federal No Surprises Act, you have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate (GFE) explaining how much your mental health care will cost. Self-pay clients receive a written Good Faith Estimate at intake, and you may request one at any time before scheduling. For questions or to request a Good Faith Estimate, contact GroundPoint Counseling at christian@groundpointcounseling.com or 213-663-4206.
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All major credit and debit cards are accepted, as well as HSA (Health Savings Account) and FSA (Flexible Spending Account) cards. Payment is due at the time of service. Payments are processed through a secure, HIPAA-compliant portal.
For clients using Aetna, any copay or coinsurance is collected at the time of service, and the remaining balance is billed to Aetna directly.
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An initial consultation helps determine clinical fit and safety.
Individual Therapy offers personalized, in-depth work tailored to your specific goals and nervous system capacity.
The Emotional Regulation Group provides structured, curriculum-driven learning in a closed cohort format. Both pathways are designed to support steady, sustainable change.
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A minimum of 24 hours’ notice is required to cancel or reschedule an appointment. Sessions cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice may be subject to the full session fee.
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GroundPoint Counseling is not a crisis service. If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. You may also contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988.
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The length of therapy varies based on individual goals, needs, and pacing. Some clients seek short-term skill-building support, while others engage in longer-term work.
Progress is reviewed collaboratively throughout treatment.
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All sessions are conducted through a secure, HIPAA-compliant client portal via SimplePractice.
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Yes. As a bilingual therapist, I provide therapy services in both English and Spanish. Sessions can be conducted entirely in your preferred language, and intake documents are available in both English and Spanish upon request.
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All services are currently provided via secure telehealth. In-person sessions are not currently offered.
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Yes. As a therapist licensed in California (CA LMFT License #153173), I can only provide therapy services to clients who are physically located in California at the time of each session. Sessions cannot be conducted while a client is traveling outside the state, as state licensure regulations require the therapist to be licensed in the state where the client is physically located during the session.
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Getting started is simple. Whether you're interested in individual therapy or a skills-based group, the first step is to request a brief, free consultation using the link below — a short, no-pressure conversation to talk through what you're looking for and make sure it's a good fit before anything begins.
