Frequently Asked Questions —Find a Therapist for You

Not at this time! 📃 I am currently not accepting new clients.  

Feel free to still schedule a chat with me to see if we would work well together: HERE 📲

My typical client is an adult who is struggling with anxiety or feels "stuck" in life. 🫣 Many of my clients have depression, anxiety, have problems relating to complex trauma or childhood trauma or intergenerational trauma, or who feel trapped because of codependency struggles. Some struggle with grief, body image issues, grief, perfectionism, people pleasing, or anger. 🤐 Some are first time therapy seekers and future cycle breakers. Others may be feeling stuck in their progress with talk therapy and are seeking somatic therapy treatments that I offer, (i.e., EMDR.) Whatever the case, feel free to schedule your phone consult here to determine best fit!

An ideal client will be curious and committed to the process of growth, healing, and recovery; ❤️‍🩹 they will be willing to invest time, energy, and effort despite inevitable struggles and setbacks.  

Check out these pages for specific services/specialties:

• Childhood/Complex Trauma
• Anxiety & Depression
• Relationship Struggles
• Grief & Loss

If you are not quite sure if we are a good match, book a free consult and we can decide together if we are a good fit!

Whether you choose me as your therapist or not, I always encourage anyone who is seeking therapy to shop around for the right therapist. Take advantage of free phone consultations, get a feel for chemistry, and make sure that you find the right fit for you!

✨ I specialize in helping clients recover from and navigate: 

• intergenerational, childhood, & complex trauma
• AAPI & BIPOC issues (cultural/family expectations)
• narcissistic abuse, including verbal & emotional abuse (guilt tripping, manipulation, blaming, gaslighting, obligation)
• codependency (i.e., self-sacrificing, people pleasing)
• complex grief (i.e., mourning people who are still alive or involved)
• existential crises (i.e., loss of purpose or identity)
• perfectionism and high expectations
• anxiety / depression / lack of fulfillment/joy
• imposter syndrome / feeling inadequate/incompetent
• dissociation (i.e., numbing out, autopilot mode) 
• low self-esteem or low self-confidence
• dating struggles or singleness

I am well-versed in empowering clients to address the issues listed above and more —clients have reported more satisfaction, agency, & confidence in their lives as a result of working with me in as little as one session! 😲

Book your first individual therapy session with me today!

☑️ My ideal client is:

• motivated to do the work
• open and curious to learning
• going to set apart time & energy for self-reflection & processing
• ready to make changes or break old habits
• persistent through the ups & downs of growth & recovery
• usually a person of color who resides in Texas or California

🤔 Sounds like you? Book online with me today!

My ideal clients usually want to address issues such as:

• Childhood/Complex Trauma
• Anxiety & Depression
• Relationship Struggles
• Grief & Loss

Still not sure if we would be a good match? No worries— book a free consult and we can decide together if we would work well together 👍🏼

Fees range from $75 - $280 depending on the type of session or service you are booking. 

👉🏼 The most popular options that are booked most regularly is the:

$200 per 50-minute session for individuals

I am more than happy to provide you with a detailed receipt (superbill) of the services rendered. This document can be submitted to your insurance company for potential reimbursement. To streamline the process, it is essential that you confirm the availability of your out-of-network (OON) benefits. I do not directly engage with insurance providers, but I am here to support you in navigating this.

Ready to get started? Book your first individual therapy session now!

All services are conducted virtually/remotely. I do not see clients in-person. We can meet at a scheduled time via a secure and compliant video conferencing platform. 💻

That means that, whether you are residing in Anaheim, San Francisco, Monrovia, San Leandro, Spring Valley, Laguna Niguel, or Stanford in California OR you are currently in Carrollton, El Paso, Houston, Round Rock, Austin, Sugar Land, or Anna in Texas, I can still provide remote therapy services to you via telehealth!

Sessions are conducted via HIPAA-compliant video meeting platform / video call. Occasionally, sessions are conducted via telephone call. 📞

Visit here to read more about virtual / telehealth services.

👉🏼 How long are the sessions? ⏱️

I offer two different session lengths.

• The most common is a standard 50-minute session, or the "therapeutic hour."  My sessions usually last around 50 minutes.

• Another option is a 30-minute mini session to accommodate busy schedules, tight budgets, people with shorter lunch breaks, and clients who are ready to decrease the intensity/frequency of sessions but would still appreciate consistent follow ups. These mini sessions can also serve as great check-ups or check-ins to address any issues that may arise between sessions.

👉🏼 How frequent should I have therapy? ⏲️

Most often, clients meet with me on a weekly or every other week basis. To start, I strongly recommend newer clients meeting with me either weekly or every other week in the beginning and adjusting frequency as needed. Additionally, I prefer that all of my clients meet with me at least once a month.🗓️

We can discuss decisions about frequency and termination or graduation at any time. While I can provide my feedback or recommendations, the final say and decision depends on you! 

I've addressed these common concerns and questions in a blog article here. Please take a look 👀

As always, you're welcome to schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation with me here to figure out if therapy is good for you!

Sessions often begin with a recap on how you have been since our last session or where you would like to start. My approach is strengths-based and person-centered, so I am ready to start where you want and discuss the issues you want to unpack. 👍🏼 

Together, we craft our goals and then explore the ways we are going to achieve those goals through tackling various action items. 📋 Sessions are often a mix of back-and-forth sharing (insights), education, and skill-building or guidance through exercises. 

Most often, I will leave you with at least considerations to make and think about. 💭Sometimes, I may leave you with practices to try or exercises to incorporate so you can be active in the healing process between now and the next time we meet. This kind of holistic healing is a collaboration between us, and the best results often come as a result of the effort and work you put in between our appointments.

Not to worry; try to relax! 😊 Just show up and come as you are ✨

At your first appointment, it is standard practice to go over the policies and informed consents to ensure that we have details, such as confidentiality, privacy, payment responsibility, and attendance expectations, etc., cemented into understanding. 📄 (Going over the policies/consents is my least favorite part, so bear with me! 😣) I will be trying to set the expectations for our time working together. I can also answer any questions you may have for me.

Following that logistical intro, we will typically discuss the reasons you have decided to reach out for therapy/counseling and your overall goals. 🗣️ I may also ask you to elaborate on your intake paperwork responses for more context or understanding. 

While this all may sound very serious, boring, and rigid, or awkward (!), the first session should feel like a conversation! We are simply getting to know one another and getting warmed up to the idea of opening up and being vulnerable. 🫱🏼‍🫲🏼 It's also the opportunity to start building a roadmap for the overall course of working together so that our time together is fruitful and productive!

Got a first appointment coming up? Please be sure to complete all your electronic intake paperwork prior to your first session. ✅📋 This allows for us to dive right in and maximize our sessions.

Each time we meet, you can leave feeling heard, seen, and empowered because I am ready to journey alongside you with humor, grace, and empathy. 😌

In a lot of ways, I function like a coach: I'll teach skills, provide feedback, and guide you on how to incorporate and internalize what you've been learning and unpacking. We will uncover key insights and employ tools to overcome your nagging doubts and fears. 

Stay open to the process! 🤝🏼 We will likely revisit past hurts with curiosity and compassion so that you can venture into your future with confidence.

⚠️ I require that clients give at least 48 hours' notice to reschedule or cancel appointments.

⛔ All late cancellations occurring within 48 hours of the scheduled appointment day and time or no-shows incur a charge equal to the original cost of session, charged to the card kept on file. 

Without 48 hours’ notice and over 10 minutes late, the remainder of your session will be forfeited and you will be charged full fee (not covered by insurance) for the no-show. 

Please note: Cancellation fees are never covered by insurance; read more HERE.

It depends! ⏳ The length and numbers of session in therapy treatment varies greatly depending on many factors including your presenting issues, your goals for therapy, and client and therapist availability. It is truly different for everyone. 

Some might benefit from 6 to 12 weeks of weekly therapy while others might prefer 6 month to 1 year. Still others sought me out for long-term treatment and anticipate seeing me at least once a month for years. It can be more or less or anywhere in between. 

It’s 100% up to you, and I am happy to give you input, provide feedback, share my recommendation on what options are most beneficial for you. 👍🏼

I will do my best to ensure that I am not wasting your time so you can maximize the effectiveness of therapy. Our time is valuable! ⌚

Overall, I recommend new clients start with either seeing me once a week or once every other week to start. For clients with a desire to maintain their progress, I am comfortable with seeing clients as little as once a month.

My path to becoming a mental health professional started before I was born and likely started with my parents and my parents' parents and ancestors. My experience of growing up in confusion, fear, and self-loathing prompted me to embark on a journey of self-healing to discover my authentic self. 

By investing in therapy, navigating the mental health system, becoming fascinated by why people do what they do and think what they think, and wrestling with my faith, I miraculously regained my voice! 🗣️ (seriously, I used to be very, very, quiet and timid and anxious!) I set and enforced boundaries, I learned new ways of communicating, and I did the very hard work to recover, heal, and find wholeness and peace. It's still a work in progress as I still seek ongoing healing, but I am stronger than ever before!

My experiences and passions ultimately culminated in me taking a chance and pursuing this uncharted career. I have become a licensed psychotherapist, trauma recovery facilitator, and a prayerful guide to share the hope for restoration that I never quite had as a kid, and it feels like coming full circle! 🫂

Healing is possible— I'm living proof of that!

I am a committed, practicing believer in and disciple of Jesus Christ. Simply put, I am a Christian! ✝️ Additionally, I believe in the inerrancy of the Holy Bible and have an intimate love relationship with God, including Holy Spirit, that is real and dynamic.

• Q: How might that affect my therapy sessions?
• A: It might not affect your therapy sessions at all. Your comfort level and care is the priority so you can decide. For some, my beliefs do not impact their therapy sessions at all because the topic is not broached. For others, they may seek me out for sharing similar or the same faith beliefs and that commonality may offer reassurance, comfort, or familiarity. Still others, clients have found it helpful to have sessions that incorporate specific elements of Christianity (e.g., prayer, Holy Spirit promptings, theological discussions, Biblical truths/reminders).

Certainly, our worldview and any spiritual background can impact the way in which we live our lives and perceive ourselves and others. 

While I acknowledge that my own faith background inevitably guides me, this does not mean that I impose my beliefs on others.

In short, my virtual office is a judgment-free zone 🤲🏼 and I welcome all clients with varying and diverse backgrounds, faith, cultures, etc. even if those differences may seem completely in contrast to my own beliefs.

In my practice, I am committed to creating a safe and inclusive space where individuals from all backgrounds are accepted and respected. I believe that it is essential for therapy to be a place where everyone feels valued and understood, regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or any other aspect of their identity.

As a therapist, I am seasoned and well versed in holding tension well and working in the gray zones of life — so whatever our similarities and differences, I am confident that I can maintain a safe, supportive space for you to process hurts and heal well! ❤️‍🩹

Nope! There should be no surprises regarding your payment obligation. 🙅🏻‍♀️🙅🏻

You may have noticed that my rate may have increased since the last time you booked on my website. This rate change only applies to new clients. No need to worry — only the rate that was listed in your intake paperwork at the start of our working relationship is the rate that you will be charged. (See: Good Faith Estimate)

If and when I do raise my rates for existing clients, you will receive notice ahead of time. You will also receive electronic/email notification to acknowledge the rate change.

You will need a superbill generated by me, the clinician. 🧾 Please read this article for more information about superbills.

Email lan.nguyen.lcsw@gmail.com to request issuance of your monthly Superbill.

No, I do not provide this service or write these letters for clients of any length. I believe this topic and matter is beyond my scope of practice.

Overall, clinicians who are asked by their clients to write letters or otherwise advocate for clients' use of emotional support animals, therapy animals, or animal-assisted accommodations are advised to consider whether the clinician has relevant training and/or experience to support such advocacy. As a result, I have opted to forego providing this specific evaluation and service.

Don’t get me wrong— I love my dogs 🐶 🐕 and I do believe in the healing companionship of pets. However, I believe others are better suited to evaluate situations surrounding emotional support animals so I will defer. 

If you are receiving therapy services from me, then you can only receive therapy services while being physically located in the states of California or Texas at the time of session. I am only licensed to be able to deliver ethical and legal therapy services in the states of California and Texas. 🌴🤠

Read this blog post for more information or email lan.nguyen.lcsw@gmail.com if you have any further questions.

EMDR therapy is a type of trauma therapy that I, Lan Nguyen, LCSW, am trained in. 💪🏼

Please visit this informational blog post to learn more about EMDR.

Coaching and therapy are two different services that serve different purposes. It is important to understand the differences between coaching and therapy before engaging in either service. 

What is coaching?

Coaching is a more active, task-oriented, directive approach that is more focused on helping individuals achieve their future goals and move forward. Coaches generally work with clients on a relatively shorter period of time in comparison to therapists. Unlike therapy which treats mental illness, coaching aims to build mental fitness. Coaching enhances or optimizes adequate/healthy functioning.

Here are some significant features to keep in mind:

• Coaching is not therapy: Coaching is a service that helps individuals achieve their goals and improve their lives. It is not intended to diagnose or treat mental health conditions.
• Coaching is not a substitute for therapy: If you are experiencing mental health issues, it is important to seek the help of a licensed therapist or mental health professional.
• Coaching is not a medical service: Coaches do not provide medical advice or treatment. If you have a medical condition, it is important to seek the advice of a licensed medical professional.
• Coaching is not a legal service: Coaches do not provide legal advice or representation. If you need legal advice or representation, it is important to seek the advice of a licensed attorney.
• Coaching is not a financial service: Coaches do not provide financial advice or investment advice. If you need financial advice or investment advice, it is important to seek the advice of a licensed financial advisor.
• Coaching is not eligible for insurance reimbursement. 

Because coaching is not a substitute for therapy, professional mental health care, or psychotherapeutic services, any prospective coaching clients who meet medical necessity for emotional or mental disorders will be referred to a licensed mental health professional for treatment. If coaching clients are receiving concurrent professional mental health treatment, then clients may also enroll in or accept coaching services or coaching programs.

It is important to understand the limitations and merits of coaching and to seek the appropriate services for your goals and future. If you have any questions or concerns about coaching versus therapy, please consult with me or another qualified, licensed professional.

—

What is therapy?

Therapy is a service that helps individuals address mental health issues and improve their overall well-being. Therapy addresses, treats, and manages mental health illnesses, diagnoses, or significant challenges in overall functioning across domains. Areas of impaired functioning can include one's social network, interpersonal relationships, and career/schooling/vocation. Therapy targets emotional and mental disorders and the various symptoms and barriers that are related to such diagnoses and impairments in functioning. Therapists tend to ask more open-ended questions that may lead to new discoveries. 

Here are several important factors to consider:

• Therapy is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment: If you have a medical condition, it is important to seek the advice of a licensed medical professional.
• Therapy is not a substitute for legal advice or representation: If you need legal advice or representation, it is important to seek the advice of a licensed attorney.
• Therapy is not a substitute for financial advice or investment advice: If you need financial advice or investment advice, it is important to seek the advice of a licensed financial advisor.
• Therapy clients possess rights to confidentiality and privacy. However, there are some exceptions to confidentiality, such as when there is a risk of harm to self or others.
• Therapy can be eligible for insurance reimbursement depending on the type of insurance coverage plan and benefits.

It is important to understand the constraints and benefits of therapy and to seek the best-fitting services for your needs and desired outcome. 

If you have any questions, please contact me here or book a FREE 15-minute phone consultation with me or another qualified, licensed professional.

Please refer to this page for more information about the Good Faith Estimate.