Frequently Asked Questions About Therapy in Los Angeles

How to get started with therapy:
The Match Call Process

  • We want to make sure you’re set up with the right person from the start!

    The best way to get started with therapy at our office in Highland Park or via virtual sessions is a Match Call with our Care Coordinator, Clarissa.

    Clarissa will ask you a bit about what’s bringing you to therapy at this time, share about our relational approach, and pair you with a therapist to get started with the work. Think of her as your advocate; she’s an expert at understanding what’s coming up for you right now and matching you with a therapist whose style, personality, and expertise actually fit your life.

    This isn't a gatekeeping step—it’s a strategy to protect your time and thoughtfully pair you with the therapist who’s most likely to be the right fit.

  • Our “Right Fit” Commitment

    Finding the right fit matters deeply, it’s actually the most important part of the work. If, after your first session, it doesn’t feel like the right connection for any reason, just let our Care Coordinator know.

    We will thoughtfully rematch you with another therapist, without judgment. To make sure your journey isn't interrupted, your first session with the new therapist is on us. You won't have to start your search all over again or worry about the logistics; your comfort, trust, and sense of safety come first.

  • We believe the best way to determine if a therapist is the right fit is to actually experience the work together. Because the therapeutic relationship is so vital, we customarily encourage clients to dive straight into their first few full sessions. It often takes a few meetings to get a true feel for the connection and to begin making progress.

    To ensure we start you on the right path, the process begins with a free Therapist Match Call with one of our Care Coordinators. On this call, we’ll discuss what’s bringing you to therapy and provide more details about our relational approach to ensure we are the right practice for your needs. Our coordinators will then pair you with the therapist who is the best fit for your specific experience.

    While most clients find they are ready to jump into the work after this match call, we can occasionally offer a 20-minute complimentary phone consultation with your paired therapist if you have specific questions before your first full session.

  • We know that when you're ready to start, you're ready now!

    Once you complete your Match Call with our Care Coordinator, Clarissa, we can usually move quite quickly—often getting you scheduled for your first session with your affirming, relational therapist within a week or so.

Pricing & Insurance

  • We are not in-network with insurance panels, but we are happy to provide you with a monthly superbill.

    You can submit this to your insurance company for potential out-of-network reimbursement. While most of our clients navigate this easily, we can't guarantee how your specific plan handles claims. We choose this model so we can focus on your pace and your needs, rather than a "diagnosis" or a "treatment plan" dictated by an insurance company.

    Learn more about our stance on insurance and sample questions to ask your insurance company to verify your benefits and coverage.

  • How much does therapy cost?

    Investing in your mental health & emotional wellbeing is a big decision, and we want to be as clear as possible about what that looks like.

    Our session fees vary based on the type of therapy (individual, relationship, or group) and the experience level of the therapist you are matched with.

    Generally, our rates are tiered as follows:

    • Licensed Therapists: Reflect the years of specialized training and clinical expertise our senior staff brings to the room.

    • Associate Therapists: Offer our mid-tier rates as they work toward full licensure under expert supervision.

    • Graduate Intern Therapists: Offer our most accessible rates as they are actively enrolled in Masters programs and see clients at Kindman & Co. as part of their training curriculum.

    Because we believe in liberation and access, we also reserve a portion of our practice for reduced-fee (sliding scale) spots. For the most up-to-date, specific breakdown of our current fees and session lengths, please visit our Pricing & Insurance page.

    During your Match Call, Clarissa will also walk you through the specific fees for the therapists she recommends so there are no surprises.

  • We believe everyone should have access to emotional support.

    We reserve 20% of our practice’s caseload for reduced session fees. We are proud to have both Associate Therapists and Graduate Student Interns on our team who are handpicked for their skill and heart. Associate therapists and interns are able to offer even lower reduced fees as they are in training and/or working towards licensure.

    These spots are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. If our reduced fee spots are full, we’d recommend exploring our group therapy offerings as a wonderful, more accessible way to find connection and healing.

Our office Space & Logistics

  • Our home base is in the Highland Park (90042) neighborhood of Los Angeles.

    We’re a convenient home for therapy for our neighbors in Eagle Rock, Pasadena, Glassell Park, and across Northeast L.A. (NELA).

  • Yes! We know life is busy and getting to an office isn't always possible.

    We offer secure, HIPAA-compliant telehealth video sessions for anyone located anywhere in California. Whether you’re in our Highland Park neighborhood or across the state, we can meet you where you are.

  • We are big fans of all things furry and uphold the research that demonstrates the emotional support and healing that a pet can offer.

    As long as Fido is potty-trained, will get along with our office dog, Weezie, and can keep relatively quiet for our therapist neighbors in the rooms next door, we are thrilled to have them participate!

    Please let your therapist know in advance if you would like to bring your dog.

Our team & what to expect from starting therapy

  • There are many paths to becoming a therapist! At Kindman & Co., most of our team are Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs) or Clinical Social Workers (CSWs).

    Both roles focus on "systems theory"—which is a fancy way of saying we look at you within the context of your relationships, your environment, and society.

    We don't believe you are the problem; instead, we look at what is and isn't working in your world, including systemic forces of oppression.

    Whether they are an LMFT, AMFT, or an LCSW, our therapists are real humans here to help you navigate challenging big feelings and move toward liberation.

  • Think of our Associate therapists like doctors in a residency program. By the time they join our team, they have already completed their Master’s degree and 1–2 years of intensive clinical training (practicum) working with clients.

    To become fully licensed in California, they must complete between 3,000 clinical hours—a process that can take up to 6 years post-graduation. They have the formal education and deep heart needed to practice; they are simply in the phase of their career where they work under the close supervision of one of our most experienced licensed therapists here at Kindman & Co. to continue building their expertise.

    We handpick our Associates for their warmth and commitment to our social-justice lens. A key benefit of working with them is that their session fees are more accessible, and because they are working under supervision, it’s like getting "two therapists for the price of one!"

  • Not here. We match you with therapists who already "get it."

    Our team includes BIPOC, queer, and disabled clinicians with a range of lived experiences. We take your identity and preferences into account during the match process so you don't have to start at "Identity 101."

    You can just show up exactly as you are.

  • Your first session is all about “landing” and orienting.

    We’ll start by briefly handling the basic therapy logistics, but the heart of our time will be spent getting to know each other. It’s a low-pressure space for you to share your story and what you’re hoping for, while getting a real feel for your therapist’s style.

    There is no pressure to have everything figured out or to reach a specific "goal" in hour one. Instead, we focus on starting to build a secure connection where you feel seen and advocated for from the very beginning. Don’t be surprised if you already feel a shift—just by showing up and being heard, many of our clients feel supported in a brand-new way the moment they start the work.

  • You don’t need to have it all figured out before starting—in fact, that’s often why people are here!

    Many folks come to us with just a general sense that something feels off, overwhelming, painful, or stuck. That’s enough. Therapy is a space to explore these big feelings together, at your pace. We’ll help you start to find the language for what’s happening.

  • That’s completely normal and honestly, to be expected! Sharing your inner world with a "real human" you’ve just met takes courage.

    You don’t have to share everything right away, nor do we expect you to. In fact, we want you to move at a pace that truly feels comfortable for you. A significant part of our relational approach is supporting the process of building enough trust and safety for you to feel more comfortable being vulnerable and bringing more of your authentic self over time. There’s no pressure or set expectations here.

Relationship & Couples Therapy

  • Relationship therapy (often called partner, family, or couples therapy) is a supportive, relational process where you and your partner(s) or loved ones meet with a therapist to learn how to repair conflicts and strengthen your security.

    At Kindman & Co., we use the PACT method—a science-based approach that focuses on how your brain and body react to connection. We focus on helping you have new, different experiences in the room that you can take home to better support your shared life together.

  • Everyone. While we specialize in supporting interracial and intercultural couples, queer partnerships, and non-traditional structures like consensual non-monogamy (CNM) and polyamory, our doors are open to all kinds of relationships.

    Whether you are married, dating, family members, business partners, or creative collaborators, we help you build mutual understanding and deepen empathy across your differences.

  • Yes. Our approach is designed for all partners to attend together. Ideally, we see you in person at our Highland Park office, but we also offer telehealth sessions throughout California. If we’re meeting virtually, it’s always our preference that you to be in the same physical space when possible, so we can work with the energy and body awareness that happens when you’re together.

  • Relationship work runs deep, so we typically offer 60, 90, or 120-minute sessions.

    This extra time allows you to move at your own pace and settle into the work without feeling rushed and also gives more time for all parties to share their experience and practice new ways of relating to one another.

    While every relationship is unique, we typically recommend planning for at least six months to create lasting change and build tools that deepen intimacy and security. Many partners choose to continue on a regular, long-term basis as a way of maintaining and protecting the security they’ve built.

  • Commitment comes in many forms, and we honor all of them.

    We work with partners at every stage—dating, engaged, married, long-term companions, or opening up. We also offer pre-marital counseling and support for non-romantic relationships, such as business partners or family members. If there is a connection that matters to you that you want to strengthen, you belong here.

  • It is very common to worry that therapy will feel like a "two-on-one" situation, but that isn't how we work.

    In our relational approach, the "client" isn't you or your partner—it’s the relationship itself.

    Your therapist’s role is to be a compassionate observer of the dynamic between you and help you identify where you get stuck or start to lose each other. We aren't here to identify a "villain" or decide who is “right” or “wrong.”

    Instead, we strive to create a secure space where everyone feels heard and advocated for. Our goal is to help all parties understand the "why" behind your interactions and build tools to know how to better support one another, so you can move forward together with more clarity and security.

Got more questions? We’ve got answers.

The easiest way to get started is to schedule a complimentary Therapist Match Call.We’ll help pair you with the right therapist for your needs so you can begin the work together.

You can always email us at [email protected] or call/text us at 213.793.2990 with any other questions.