FAQ’s

About Therapy

  • What a completely understandable question to have. And the answer is not simple or singular. Check out my blog post “Top 5 Therapy Questions” to read more on my take.

    I’ll do my best to answer here in a nutshell. Therapy works by offering a safe, containing, and (imo) sacred space within which you can slow down, reflect, wrestle with life’s challenges, connect to yourself, feel deeply and practice new ways of being all while being witnessed, supported, and attuned to. Though therapy can be challenging (and good therapy often is), this kind of exploration can lead to a sense of relief, healing, peace, and clarity. And in my experience, when therapy works, it can result in more satisfying relationships and a more authentic and satisfying life.

    Reach out to ask any questions about therapy and how I work.

  • The length of time one is in therapy depends on what they are seeking treatment for, the severity of symptoms or challenges, and the therapy modality they engage with. In short, there’s no one-size-fits all answer to this.

    The clients I typically work with seek therapy to do deep inner work, addressing long-held beliefs and patterns. Many of my clients are the adult children of emotionally immature parents or caregivers and/or have experienced complex and relational trauma. Therefore, the therapy work I do with clients is relational and depth-focused. Because each of us has a unique lived experience and holds these experiences in completely different ways, the length of time it takes for one to reflect, process, heal, and integrate will be all their own.

  • Yes, therapy is a confidential and private space to safely explore all thoughts, feelings, and areas of life. In fact, MFT’s in California are legally and ethically bound by confidentiality.

    There are a few exceptions to confidentiality, which I always discuss with clients in our first session. Because MFT’s in California are mandated reporters, we are legally required to file a report of suspected child abuse, elder abuse, or dependent adult abuse. Further, if a therapist believes you may be a harm to yourself or others, they may need to break confidentiality to keep you and/or others safe.

    Beyond this, if you have consented to your own treatment (ex: if you are over 18 years old), your therapist cannot discuss details about you or your therapy with anyone unless you have signed a Release of Information form.

    Parents who consent to treatment for their child may be able to speak with a therapist about the child’s therapy. However, therapists are generally encouraged to meet with parents only when doing so would benefit the client (the child) and to share as few details as possible.

    In couple’s therapy, I have a “no secrets” policy. This means that if one partner shares something with me individually, I will ask them to bring that information into our next session. The only exception to this would be in the case of domestic violence or other situation in which safety is a concern.

  • LMFT stands for Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. LMFT’s have earned a master’s degree in counseling and have obtained extensive training and experience in order to provide psychotherapy to individuals, couples, families, and groups.

    LMFT’s treat a variety of concerns including interpersonal and relational issues, and mental, emotional, and behavioral challenges.

  • When looking for a therapist, there are a few things I’d suggest you look for.

    First, check that they treat the issues you are seeking therapy for. Do they have experience treating what you are going through? Is it something they specifically say they treat? That being said, treating some symptoms and challenges requires a therapist to have more extensive and specialized training than others. If a therapist you are interested in working with does not say they treat your specific challenge, it may still be worth reaching out to ask further questions.

    Another big factor is how you feel with a particular therapist. To get the most out of therapy, it’s imperative that you feel safe, heard, and understood. Like going to the gym, therapy can be challenging. You may find yourself practicing new skills and stretching yourself in new ways. But when you feel supported and contained in session, it begins to feel safe enough to do this work and explore the deeper layers of your life and yourself.

    Read my blog post “Top 5 Therapy Questions” to read more about choosing a therapist that’s right for you.

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Financial

  • My fees are $200/session for individual therapy and $225/session for couples therapy. I believe in making therapy as accessible as I can, so I offer a limited number of sliding scale spots, based on need.

    If private pay therapy is not feasible right now, I’m happy to offer referrals and share resources for low fee therapy options.

  • The financial commitment for therapy depends largely on the specific symptoms and challenges you are seeking treatment for, and in turn the type of therapy that may work best for you.

    I specialize in treating complex trauma, a type of trauma which results from repeated, long-term exposure to abusive, neglectful or otherwise harmful environments and relationships. In my view, effective therapy for complex trauma includes building a trusting and reparative therapeutic relationship, developing deeper insight, emotional processing and regulation, skill building, and real-world practice.

    Therapy to treat complex trauma tends to be slower-paced and longer-term. However, in my experience, it can also be transformative and deeply meaningful.

    You always have the ability to choose what kind of commitment you are able and willing to make.

    If you’re curious about starting therapy, reach out to schedule a free consult call. We can chat about what you are seeking therapy for, and I’m happy to answer any questions you may have, to see if we may be a good fit.

  • My practice is private pay only and I am considered “out of network” (OON) for insurance providers. However, I offer monthly superbills, which many of my clients utilize by submitting them to their insurance providers for partial reimbursement.

    I encourage clients to check with their insurance provider and ask about out-of-network benefits for mental health/behavioral health.

  • A superbill is an itemized receipt for healthcare services, which can be submitted to insurance providers for possible reimbursement.

    Reimbursement is dependent on your insurance provider and your plan’s out-of-network benefits for mental/behavioral health.

  • Insurance may cover the cost of private pay therapy either partially or in-full, depending on your provider and plan.

    I encourage clients to check with their insurance provider and ask about out-of-network benefits for mental health/behavioral health.

    I provide superbills to clients who would like to submit them to insurance for possible reimbursement for therapy.

Policies

  • Therapy sessions are 50 minutes long and start on the hour.

    If you are late to a session, we will still need to end the session at the 50 minute mark.

  • I have a 24-hour cancellation policy, which means if you need to cancel or reschedule your session with less than 24 hours notice, you will be charged the session fee.

  • Yes, I offer both online therapy for California residents and in-person therapy in Pasadena, CA.

    Some clients utilize both—they come in person when possible and we meet online when needed too.

  • In my experience, weekly therapy is the most effective way in which to engage with therapy. However, I do offer biweekly therapy when appropriate for the client.

    I ask biweekly clients to avoid cancellations whenever possible so sessions remain regular (otherwise, a month will pass between sessions). If a cancellation cannot be avoided, I ask that we attempt to reschedule to maintain the integrity of your therapy work.

  • Yes, I offer a limited number of weekday evening sessions. Reach out to schedule a consult call and we can discuss availability.

  • All session fees are automatically charged to the debit/credit card on file on the day the therapy session has occurred. Kelsey Blazak Psychotherapy pays the credit card fees and they are not added to your bill. If requested, I can provide invoices and superbills for therapy services provided.