Resources

Good care is bigger than one practice.

Therapy is one part of taking care of yourself. These are the people and places we point our own clients toward for everything else, including the things we do not do.

If you need help right now

If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, do not wait for an appointment. These lines are free, confidential, and staffed around the clock.

988
Call or text 988
Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, 24/7
Crisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741741
Free crisis counseling by text
LA County Mental Health
(800) 854-7771
24/7 local access line
Emergency
Call 911
Or go to your nearest emergency room

Psychiatry and medication

We are therapists, not prescribers. These are the psychiatrists we trust.

Therapy and medication often work best together. We cannot prescribe, so when medication is worth exploring, these are adult psychiatrists in our area we would reccomend. All three are out-of-network, like us.

Ivana Viani, MD

Adult Psychiatry · Psychopharmacology
  • ·Out-of-network
  • ·Online and in-person
  • ·West LA

Katherine Revoredo, M.D.

Adult Psychiatry · Psychopharmacology
  • ·Out-of-network
  • ·Online and in-person
  • ·West LA

When we're not the right fit

Six things we do not treat, and where to go instead.

We see adults and couples, and we are good at a specific set of things. When someone would be better served elsewhere, we would rather say so and help you find the right fit.

ADHD and psychological testing
Full neuropsychological evaluations and formal ADHD assessment require a psychologist trained in testing. We do not diagnose by questionnaire.
Where to go instead
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Full DBT runs as a structured program, not just weekly sessions. You want a clinician trained and adherent to the complete model.
Where to go instead
Westside DBT
Eating disorders
Eating disorder treatment needs a coordinated team, usually a specialist therapist, a dietitian, and medical oversight.
Where to go instead
National Alliance for Eating Disorders Eating Disorder Therapy LA
Substance use and recovery
If substance use is the primary concern, you want someone whose whole practice is built around it.
Where to go instead
SAMHSA's National HelplineFindTreatment.gov
Higher levels of care
Some seasons call for more support than weekly therapy: intensive outpatient programs, partial hospitalization, or inpatient care.
Where to go instead
FindTreatment.gov
Low-cost and sliding scale therapy
We are a private-pay practice and we know that does not work for everyone. Community clinics and training institutes offer excellent care at a fraction of the cost.
Where to go instead
Open Paths Counseling CenterWright Institute Los Angeles

Checking your PPO benefits by phone

A five-minute call, and exactly what to ask.

The fastest way to check is the calculator button below, which gives a rough estimate in a couple of minutes. The most accurate way is a quick call to your insurer. Call the number on the back of your card, ask for member services, and say you want your out-of-network outpatient mental health benefits. Then ask:

Out-of-network benefits
Do I have out-of-network benefits for outpatient mental health? If the answer is no, your plan won't reimburse, and it's good to know up front.
Your deductible
What's my out-of-network deductible, and how much of it have I met this year? This is what you pay yourself before any reimbursement starts.
Your coinsurance
Once I've met it, what percent of each session do you reimburse? This is often somewhere around 50 to 80 percent.
The allowed amount
What's the allowed amount for CPT code 90837? This is the one most people miss, and it's the important one. 90837 is the code Mellow uses for every session, including your first.
Session limits
Is there a limit on sessions per year, and do I need prior authorization?
Submitting a superbill
How do I submit a superbill, and where do I send it?

Why the allowed amount matters. Your plan doesn't reimburse a percent of what you actually paid. It reimburses a percent of what it decides a session should cost, called the allowed amount. So if a session is $250, your allowed amount is $175, and the plan covers 70 percent, you get back 70 percent of $175 (about $122), not 70 percent of $250.

A quick example, once your deductible is met. Allowed amount $175, plan pays 70 percent, so you're reimbursed about $122 per session, and a $250 session ends up costing you around $128. Before your deductible is met, you pay full price until you reach it, then reimbursement kicks in.

Check your PPO benefits

Not sure where to start?

Book a free 10-minute call. If we are the right fit, we will tell you. If we are not, we will point you toward someone who is.