Frequently Asked Questions

Do you Only See LGBTQIA People?

We're here for everyone! Whether you're straight, gay, bi, trans, cis, enby or anywhere in between - you're welcome here.

Our therapists have experience working with all sorts of people and tackling a wide range of issues. While they each have their specialties, they're also great all-rounders.

So, if you're dealing with everyday stress, relationship problems, depression, anxiety, or any other mental health concern, we've got you covered. And if you happen to need more specialized support, chances are we can help with that too.

Bottom line: No matter who you are or what you're going through, we're ready to lend an ear and offer support. Everyone deserves good mental health care, and we mean everyone.

Do you offer lower fee therapy?

Yes. Please discuss this with the intake coordinator or therapist. Typically 20% of our work includes offering lower fees. This includes slots in our therapy groups, consultation groups and WPATH mentorship. We are grateful to our pre-licensed associate mental health clinicians employed in our practice. They help us offer lower fee therapy. Keep in mind their lowest fee slot is typically around $100-$120 and those are in limited supply. We will not be able to match that which can be offered by a grant-funded or non profit clinic.

How do I book a therapy appointment? What are the steps?

First fill out a secure contact form. This gives us information about the issues you want to work on, your schedule, and clarifies whether our therapists are a good fit for you. Our intake coordinator will work to assign you a therapist who is a great fit, unless you requested a particular therapist. Then, you will be contacted and offered a few meeting times with a therapist. This meeting is free of charge. Use it to decide if the therapist is right for you, and to ask all the questions you have about therapy.

Once I decide I want to see a therapist, what are the usual next steps?

1. Fill out our secure form and receive a reply from our intake coordinator. Their job is to learn about your needs and to pair you with one of our therapists. You can also ask them questions about insurance and your fees. If our practice is the right place, they make you a an initial appointment to get to know a therapist.

2. Meet with a therapist for a brief intro meeting (usually video or phone) and get a sense of whether they are a good fit. The free meeting is around 10-20 mins. The therapist will start figuring out if they have the right skills to help you. You will also make sure your schedules sync, make a plan for how often you will meet, and talk fees. This first intro meet up is not therapy.

3. Next schedule a full hour-long "intake" appointment where you and the therapist talk about what is going on with you in detail, discuss your goals for being in therapy, and learn more about your history.

4. Assessment or evaluation can sound intimidating but basically for the first 3-4 sessions, your therapist is learning about you, your mental health, and how you work together. Based on this information (assessment) they give you a better idea of how long you might be in therapy, if you have a particular diagnosis, and if you need to see a different kind of specialist. Sometimes, at the end of this process, you may be transferred to a different provider or program.

5. After assessment, if you continue with your therapist, you will meet every week for therapy. Some people meet less frequently, which depends on their issues and finances. This may sound obvious but people who attend therapy consistently, rather than cancelling a great deal, have more success. Your therapist will periodically check in with you around how you are doing on your therapy goals and whether you are improving. You may hear that called a "treatment plan."

How can I make get most out of therapy?

Folks who are engaged between sessions often make more progress. This may look like journaling, monitoring mood on aps or charts, meditating, using guided visualizations, doing workbooks, expressive arts, reading self-help books or blogs, or doing joyful movement. You can bring what you are learning, dreaming and writing about to sessions. Be honest with your therapist if you feel therapy isn't working for you. This gives you an opportunity to talk about what can be improved. Final tip: Make a list of what you want to talk about before each session and take notes during sessions to review them later.

Where else can I see a lower fee therapy in California?

In the Bay Area, for queer and trans competent therapists, try The Pacific Center (LGBT), The Oakland LGBTQ Center, The Liberation Institute (LGBT). In Concord try The Rainbow Community Center (LGBT), and associates in private practices listed on Gaylesta.org. For general SF Bay Area therapy try: Open Path Collective, New Perspectives (MediCal and low fee), Blue Oak Therapy Center, The Psychotherapy Institute Community Clinic, The Wright Institute Clinics, and CIIS Church Street Clinic. Most offer online therapy/telehealth.

In Los Angeles county for LGBT therapy you can check out the L.A. LGBT Center.

In Sacramento consider the Gender Health Center and Open Path Collective for general mental healthcare and the LGBT Center's therapists.

Do you take insurance?

We are in-network for Optum Insurance, United Behavioral Health, UMB and United Health Care and take two employee assistance plans, Corporate Counseling Associates (CCA) and Lyra Health. We also can provide services if you have PPO insurance, which allows you to see out-of-network providers. If you use a PPO plan, your full fee is due at the time the service. After a month we will send you a special receipt called a "Superbill," which you submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement. Keep in mind if you are seeing one of our pre-licensed clinicians, you must check with insurance to make sure they will pay out-of-network claims billed under their licensed supervisor's NPI (national provider identification) number.

What is the current wait to get in to see a therapist?

The wait is approximately 3 days to 2 weeks depending on the provider.

Do you only see people weekly?

We tailor therapy to your mental health needs and your finances. Some clients come in weekly and others, every other week.

What forms of payment can I use?

When you register as a new client, we ask that you put a debit/credit card on file in our practice management system for billing. You can also use your HSA/FSA card. You can arrange with your therapist to pay by check or money order if needed. Venmo and Zelle are *not* accepted due privacy regulations.

How long does it take to write a letter to refer for surgery or other medical interventions?

Wondering about the process for gender-affirming care? Here's how we approach it:

We start by getting to know you and your goals. Together, we'll discuss:

Your plans and any potential hurdles blocking gender authenticity
Your overall mental health
Fertility considerations
Options, benefits and risks of treatment
What to expect during recovery

Remember, you never have to "prove" your gender to us. Our job is to support you, not judge you. The assessment process helps us communicate your needs to your doctors and can show insurance companies why treatment you seek is medically necessary. We follow the latest WPATH Standards of Care in our work. Currently any evaluation process done by a pre-licensed therapist will be for their current therapy clients. Their assessment and letter writing is supervised, so that the final letter will have the signature of both the therapist and their supervisor. How long a gender health evaluation takes is individualized. If you are wanting to learn more you are welcome to book a free, 15 min video appt by filling out the secure contact form.

What is the difference between an associate or pre-licensed therapist and a licensed therapist?

Working with a pre-licensed associate therapist offers several unique benefits:

Fresh perspective: Associate therapists bring the latest training and techniques to their practice.
Affordability: Sessions are often more budget-friendly
Enthusiasm and dedication: These therapists are passionate about honing their skills and providing quality care.
Close supervision: A licensed, experienced therapist closely oversees their work, ensuring you receive high-quality treatment.
Collaborative approach: Your sessions benefit from the combined knowledge of the associate therapist and their supervisor.

While associate therapists are still completing their licensing hours, they are well-trained professionals committed to providing excellent care under expert guidance.

Can I use my FSA or HSA to pay for therapy?

Yes! You can use a healthcare savings account (HSA/FSA) to pay for sessions, which means your therapy is paid with pre-tax dollars, saving you money.

What are your Fees? Check them out here.

What is a Good Faith Estimate?

Generally when your therapist tells you how much you will be paying out-of-pocket, and you decide on how many times a month you will be attending, you can easily estimate how much therapy will cost. Not so with other medical providers, when there are sometimes hidden fees and charges. However, therapists too must give you a good faith estimate each year based on the 2022 "No Surprises Act" Learn more here

When are you hiring?

Authentic Alliance opened in January of 2024 and is hiring therapists and clinical supervisors with experience working with relationhips (including CNM) this year. We are also looking for specialized life coaches for neurodivergent and/or LGBT clients. If you feel you would be a good fit, there is more info on how to contact us here.