FAQ

What is your therapeutic approach?

I use a combination of cognitive –behavioral, behavioral, and solution-focused techniques to assist people with improving their lives and reaching their objectives. As someone who will support you and listen to your situation, I will help you create goals for changing your life. I will guide you with strategies to meet these goals.

Do I really need therapy? I can usually handle my problems.

Everyone faces challenging situations in life that may feel overwhelming to try to tackle without someone else’s perspective. You may have successfully navigated other difficulties but there is nothing wrong with seeking extra support when you need it. In fact, having enough self-awareness to recognize that help is needed is a strength and you are being courageous by taking the first step to reach out for help through therapy. Why wait any longer? If your problem has been with you for more than a few weeks, or if it is interfering with how you want to live your life, it is time to go to therapy.

Do you specialize in working with families affected by Autism?

Yes. I have been working with children with Autism and their parents for ten years. I specialize in assisting parents with effective parenting by teaching them positive behavioral support strategies. I have assisted couples and individuals who have been affected by having a child with special needs. They experience depression, the stages of grief, and difficulties with stress, money, time and relationships. Often marriages are strained because each partner is at a different level of acceptance with the situation.

Is medication a substitute for therapy?

In some cases, a combination of therapy and medication is the best treatment plan. Working with your medical doctor or psychiatrist can determine what is best for you. It is well known that while medication may temporarily improve symptoms, they cannot be the sole long-term solution to emotional and relational issues. Unlike medications that target a specific symptom (anxiety or depression), counseling addresses the root of the problem and how to change the behavior patterns that have been maintaining it.

What is your schedule and are you taking new clients?

I am available at a variety of times Monday through Thursday between the hours of 5:30pm and 8:30pm. Although my availability varies from time to time, I am currently accepting new clients.

How long are sessions and how often do we meet?

My sessions are 50 minutes long after the initial session which is 60 minutes long. Meeting once per week is the best when starting therapy.  The frequency of sessions can be decreased as we make progress on your goals.

How do I get started?

FREE Initial phone consultation:

When you call for your FREE 15-minute phone consultation, I will ask you for a brief outline of what your concerns or problems are. From our conversation, you will get a better sense of who I am and I can get a sense if I can be of benefit to you and the best way for us to work together to reach your therapy goals.

If we decide it’s beneficial to work together, we will schedule the initial session.

During the 60-minute initial session, we will take a detailed look at the areas of your life that are causing you concern and identify the changes you desire. Together, we will set goals for you to work toward a new outcome. We will also discuss referrals or resources that may further assist you in seeking the outcomes you want. We will then arrange a regular session time that works for you.

Regular sessions will typically last 50-minutes per week depending on what would best fit your counseling needs, goals, and your schedule.

Do you accept insurance? How does insurance work?

I am contracted with Anthem, Aetna, some Blue Shield plans, Magellan, and TriCare. I will bill for your sessions and collect your co-pay at the time of service. To determine if you have mental health care coverage, you should contact your insurance company carrier (usually the customer service number is found on the back of your medical ID card). When checking your coverage, please find out the following information:

  • What are my mental health benefits?
  • What is the coverage amount per therapy session?
  • How many therapy sessions does my plan cover?
  • If seeking couples/family counseling is this covered by the plan?
  • How much does my insurance pay for an out-of-network provider?
  • Is approval required from my primary care physician?

If you have a PPO plan that is not one of the above mentioned insurance companies, you may want to check to see if your plan covers behavioral health services for out of network providers. I provide you with the option to bill the insurance company for your services if you choose.

What is the best way to make an appointment?

You can download my initial paperwork from my website at the “important forms” tab or I can email it to you so that you can bring it with you to our first session to help us get started.

Where are you located?

I am located at 27001 La Paz Road, Suite 403. Mission Viejo, CA 92691.

Is therapy confidential?

In general, a psychotherapist is required by law to keep all communications between the therapist and the client confidential. No information is disclosed or released without prior written permission from the client.

However, there are some exceptions to this rule as required by law. These include the following situations:

I am required by law to report any incident of suspected child abuse, molestation, or neglect to the authorities.

I am required by law to report any incident of suspected elder or dependent adult abuse or neglect or abandonment to the authorities.

I am required by law to notify the authorities and any potential victims if you intend to commit suicide or homicide.

If you are ordered by an agency for an evaluation or treatment that requires the therapist to provide information back to the agency.

If the Courts order you for an evaluation, in which case I am required to furnish the Courts with information.

If your therapist is subpoenaed in a court proceeding, in which case I may be obliged to surrender clinical case notes. This rarely happens, and would not happen without your knowledge.

If you sign an authorization waiving your rights to confidentiality.

What are your rates?

My current rate is $175 for the initial session and $120 per 50-minute session. Payment is due at each session by exact cash or check.

Additional questions?

Please contact me at: (949) 292-3125 or email me at: jk@copinwithkopin.com