FAQ

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Aliss offers a complimentary 20 minute phone consultation to discuss your needs and for us to explore how you would work together.

The first session together is a therapy Intake Session, 50-minutes for Individuals, and 75-minutes for Couples/Families, and Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy clients. The time will be focused on a deeper understanding of what you are bringing into therapy, your background, therapy goals and beginning the therapeutic process together.

Total duration of therapy is unique for every client, their specific evolving needs, and personal process. Weekly Individual Therapy sessions are 50 minutes, unless otherwise arranged.  Couples and Family Therapy sessions are 75 minutes, 90 minutes, or longer. Group Therapy Sessions are 90 minutes. Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy sessions range from 50 minute preparatory/integration sessions to 3.5 hour Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy sessions. 

Please schedule a consultation to discuss your specific needs and to determine your session fee. 

• Individuals:  $250 per 50-minute session. 
• Couples/Families:  $375 per 75-minute session. 
• Additional time is prorated. 

You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost based on your session fee and an estimated duration of therapy over the course of a year. Under the 2021 No Surprises Act, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical services, including psychotherapy.

• You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency services.
• Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 business day before your medical service. You can also ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule a service.
•  If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.
• Make sure to save a copy or take a picture of your Good Faith Estimate.

For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises 

Aliss is an out of network provider. She is able to provide a monthly super bill statement for you to submit to your insurance company or HSA/FSA for reimbursement.  She can also support in filing your PPO claim forms. Please check with your PPO insurance/HSA/FSA provider to determine your coverage for Individual/Couple/Group psychotherapy with an out-of-network provider.  

Some questions you may want to ask your insurance:

• Do I have mental health/behavioral health insurance benefits? 
• Am I covered for an out-of-network provider? 
• What is my deductible and has it been met? 
• How many sessions per year does my health insurance cover? 
• What is the coverage amount per therapy session? 
• Is approval required from my primary care physician?
• Are "telehealth" visits (phone and video/Zoom sessions) covered in addition to face-to-face visits?  Not all insurance companies cover telehealth visits. Some insurance providers previously honoring telehealth during COVID may be changing their policies and may reimburse less or not at all for telehealth as COVID restrictions ease. It is your responsibility to find out what your policy covers and any changes they make along the way that affect your reimbursement.  

If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, please let Aliss know at least 48 hours in advance of your scheduled session time. Otherwise, your account will be charged the full session fee.

Duration of therapy: It is difficult to estimate the length of psychotherapy because each person's situation is unique. You and your therapist will work together to determine how long your counseling will last. Some concerns can be resolved in a short period of time; others can take longer. There is no limit to the number of sessions you may receive. 

The Tamura Method is not a requirement of conducting Psychotherapy together. Non-sexual touch, "Conscious Energetic Touch",  may be offered as part of psychotherapy. Sexual touch of clients by therapists is unethical and illegal. Your therapist will ask your permission before touching you, and you have the right to decline or refuse to be touched without any fear or concern about reprisal. Touch can be very beneficial but can also unexpectedly evoke emotions, thoughts, physical reactions or memories that may be upsetting, depressing, evoke anger, etc. Sharing and processing such feelings with the therapist, if they arise, may be a helpful part of therapy. You may request not to be touched at any time during therapy without needing to explain it, if you choose not to, and without fear of punishment. All touch will be fully clothed..

Aliss Ching Chieh Wang, Bay Area Gestalt Institute, The Couples Center, and all affiliates do not condone or encourage any illegal behaviors or actions, including the use of psychoactive medicines and mind-altering substances. If you choose to partake we encourage safety and awareness.