How do I get started for therapy?

Clients interested in care can contact Dr. Lin for a free 15-minute phone consultation to discuss reason for interest in therapy, payment method, and schedule the initial session.

Why would I use private pay for sessions if I have insurance?

Depending on your insurance plan, there can unfortunately be limitations to the number of sessions you will be covered for. Prior to the first session, it is highly recommend that all clients contact their insurance companies to clarify what is or is not covered in order to make a more informed decision about your mental health care. Private pay affords clients the flexibility for treatment planning that is more tailored to their individual needs instead of limited by their insurance plans.

Do you offering any in-person appointments?

Dr. Lin can currently offer Friday in-person appointments in San Diego, if requested by the client. The remainder of the week all appointments are by video. Video appointments allow Dr. Lin to see patients from all over the state of California and Colorado. The video therapy appointments can be conducted over computer, smartphone, or tablet.

What can I expect at the start of therapy?

Prior to the first session, new clients will get access to the Client Portal through an emailed link, where client can create an account and have access to important forms to be complete before the initial session. The forms that need to be reviewed and signed will include: Informed Consent, Consent for Telehealth Consultation, Notice of Privacy Practice, Practice Policies, and Credit Card Authorization. Additionally, there will also be an Intake form to complete for background information. Please complete these forms prior to the first session. If the paperwork are not completed 24 hours prior to the initial session, the initial session will be cancelled.

Sessions will likely be scheduled at the same time slot on a weekly basis, unless otherwise discussed during treatment planning. The initial sessions will be what is typically the mental health intake, which can take 2-3 sessions. Intake sessions are for information gathering about the client’s current status, symptoms, and background history. During these initial sessions, a treatment plan will be formulate to determine goals for treatment and length of treatment.

What does therapy sessions look like?

Therapy sessions will typically be weekly 50-55 minute sessions focused on making incremental progress on the client’s goals for engaging in therapy. After the initial intake process and a treatment plan has been agreed upon, the treatment begins. A typical session will begin with a brief check-in and the agenda for the day. Some sessions will be focused on processing past events that the client is struggling with, while other sessions will focus on reviewing new coping skills and practicing them in session. At the end of the session, we will discuss practice that the client can work on before the next session, or we will discuss what self-care strategy the client wants to practice that week. These practices between sessions keep the work in therapy consistent and help promote change and growth. Clients are often provided with workbooks or worksheets to help them practice their skills more easily. These workbooks stay with the client and can be a tool to help the client in the future.

How long will treatment last?

Length of treatment will be dependent on several factors but will always be discussed with the client in session. Typically clients are in weekly treatment with Dr. Lin for 3-6 months, then client progress will be reviewed and treatment planning discussed again. Sometimes the frequency of sessions change to less frequent or “check-ins” to see how the client is doing with the tools that they now have. Sometimes Dr. Lin and the client mutually decide to end the therapy as the client has met their goals. A “termination” session will be conducted in order to review client’s course of treatment, discuss how to sustain skills learned from therapy, and generally wrap up the treatment. Clients are welcome to reach out in the future for additional sessions if the need arises.

Do you offer neuropsych assessments, functional evaluations, ESA evaluations, etc.?

Lin Psychological Services does not offer neuopsych assessments, functional evaluations, or ESA evaluations.

Do you provide therapy for children, couples, or families?

Lin Psychological Services does not provide therapy for children, couples, or families.

Have any additional questions?

If you have any additional questions not answered here, please feel free to Contact Us or call (858)888-9408.