Please refer to the frequently asked questions below to find out more about the clinic, its policies, and helpful tips prior to your first appointment:
Q: What is the difference between psychologists, psychotherapists, psychiatrists, and therapists? (adapted from http://www.drcarlaelia.com/faq-s.html)
A: Psychologists typically go through five years of academic graduate study and often one to two years of post-doctoral fellowship training, culminating in a doctorate degree. They may hold a Ph.D. or a Psy.D.
Psychotherapists refer to Marriage and Family Therapists or Clinical Social Workers. They typically go through two years of academic graduate study, culminating in a masters degree.
Psychologists and psychotherapists focus treating emotional symptoms with “talk therapy” as a course of treatment.
Psychiatrists are medical doctors. They can prescribe medications, and they spend much of their time with patients on medication management as a course of treatment, although they oftentimes will provide therapy services.
"Therapist" is a broader umbrella term that may encompass psychologists, psychoanalysts, marriage and family therapists, social workers and life coaches, among other specialties.
Q: How often should I come in for an appointment? How long are they?
A: The frequency of follow-up appointments takes into consideration:
1) how best to support each patient's preference and comfort level
and
2) what is recommended by the doctor.
This arrangement aims for steady and consistent progress towards treatment goals, while allowing enough time between appointments so that each and every patient has a chance to reflect on what was discussed during the appointment and to allow adequate time for any medication-related changes to take effect if the patient is currently taking medication prescribed by the doctor. Intake or first appointments are 60 minutes long.
While there are some general timeframes for how often appointments can be, these timeframes may vary based on each person's unique needs.
For instance, during the "maintenance phase" of treatment, where symptoms are in remission and there are no major stressors or concerns, the doctor and the patient may decide together to wait a month or more until the next appointment. It is not recommended for a patient to be seen any less frequently than every 3 months, and this is usually considered a standard minimum frequency in psychiatric practice. Spacing out appointments any less often than every 3 months would not be optimal for patients during the course of treatment.
As another example, If an unexpected stressor appears in a patient's life (as we all may experience at one time or another), that person may want to set an appointment that is sooner than what was scheduled and/or to be seen more often for a period of time until things feel more comfortable, at which point, the patient may decide to return to less frequently scheduled appointments.
As treatment goals are achieved, the appointments may be less frequent and the termination process usually begins at that point. After that, patients may decide to set an appointment on occasion or as needed, sometimes referred to as a "booster" appointment.
Q: What is expected of patients during the course of treatment?
A: First, it should be said that any expectations for the patient are with the intention of benefitting the patient and his/her treatment. Patience, commitment to treatment, and motivation for self-improvement -- all of which empower our patients -- also make it more likely that treatment goals can be achieved in a timely and efficient manner. Rarely is it that one wishes to be in treatment of any kind for an indefinite period of time, so every effort is made for each prospective patient to get the treatment they need to improve and resolve issues so that he/she can resume a vibrant and healthy quality of life as soon as is reasonably possible.
Of course, all concerns and treatment plans are not the same, and some patients may require more time than others to meet their goals.
Communication about treatment goals and progress towards those goals is very important. Patients are advised to share any concerns about recommended treatments with the doctor, so that no stone is left unturned. It is important that patients feel like they are heard and that they give themselves a fair chance to determine what treatment is helpful and what needs to be changed.
If changes to medication are made during an appointment, it is important that these are followed, so that results can be more accurately predicted. If there are side effects or other concerns after changes to medication are made, please do not hesitate to contact the doctor.
If goals are set at each session, it is the patient's responsibility to work towards them in between sessions. Consistent attendance to scheduled appointments enhances your progress with treatment as well and is highly recommended! If something is not working for in your current treatment regimen, please do not hesitate to let the doctor know!
Q: What forms of payment are accepted at The Psych Clinic?
A: Most major insurance plans are accepted at the clinic [COMING SOON], however, patients are responsible for any co-payments or charges that are not covered by their insurance plan. Patients can request a receipt that can be submitted to the insurance company for reimbursement.
If you have questions regarding billing or which insurance plans we accept, please feel free to contact us. [COMING SOON]
Payment is due in full at the time of services rendered. The credit card used to make an initial appointment will be kept confidentially on file (only with your consent) to be charged automatically for the full session fee in the event of a late cancellation (fewer than 24 hours until a scheduled appointment), a no-show/missed appointment, record reproduction, or other balances that may be incurred.
The Psych Clinic accepts cash, personal checks, Visa, Mastercard, and Discover. Apple Pay and Android Pay are also accepted. There will be a $25 service fee for checks returned due to insufficient funds. Insurance plans under the following are also accepted (pending a benefits check performed by our office): Aetna, Anthem, Blue Shield of CA (Magellan), Cigna, COMPSYCH, HealthNet, Medicare, TriCare, and United (Optum). Medicaid/Medi-Cal are not accepted.
Q: I still have questions! How can I get them answered?
A: Please head over to our Contact page and send us a message. We would love to hear from you!
Frequently Asked Questions
Call Us: +1.310.367.2532
The Psych Clinic
Los Angeles