FAQs
How do I book a first appointment?
You can request an appointment online, call, text, or email us (see Contact Us). We’re flexible!
We know how frustrating it can be to find a therapist…aimlessly searching databases, leaving countless voicemails that go unanswered, waiting on hold with your insurance company. We make it easy. This is how it works:
Contact Us however you prefer, and we will reach back out within one business day. You’ll hop on a brief call to get a sense of whether you and Codi would be a good fit. A few questions later, and we’ll get you on the calendar for a first session. Codi will guide you through the onboarding process, and you can always message us if any questions come up.
Do you offer online or in-person appointments?
In-person appointments are available on Mondays and Thursdays. We offer virtual appointments on Tuesdays and Wednesdays through Spruce Health, which is a HIPPA-compliant platform designed specifically for healthcare providers.
Who is eligible for services?
We can only offer therapy to those located in the states in which we are licensed - California and Kansas.
What are your fees?
Individual Sessions range from $125-$150 per 45-55 minute session.
Do you take insurance?
We accept United and Optum Insurance. We are also in network with Lyra EAP. If you are outside of our contracted network, we can provide you with a superbill. We are more than happy to provide you a monthly statement to submit to your insurance provider for possible reimbursement directly to you. You may also be eligible to submit your therapy costs for reimbursement through a medical spending plan you may have set up with your employer. We can discuss this further during our initial phone call and I’m happy to assist you in the process.
What is your cancellation policy?
Since your appointments involve the reservation of time specifically for you, and out of respect for your therapist and other clients, a minimum of 24 hours is required for rescheduling or canceling an appointment in order to avoid paying the full fee of the session.
What can I expect when starting therapy?
Starting out might feel a bit strange.
You’re meeting a stranger after all! But it hopefully it won’t feel like that for long. It helps to know a bit about what to expect - the first few sessions may involve more question-asking than usual. You and Codi can move as fast or slow, deep or surface-level as you'd like; the pace is up to you. The general idea is for Codi to get to know you, so you can work together to set some goals.
Discomfort is a good sign. Don’t worry, you’re doing it right.
Sessions are typically 50 minutes long. Some sessions go by in a blur, and others go by slowly. However fast or slow the time goes for you, you’re doing it right.
One definition of therapy is “a slowed down conversation.” Therapy can involve pausing and looking at the things we often ignore - the good, the bad, and the ugly. And because we live in such a fast-paced world full of distractions, this process might feel uncomfortable. But that’s a good sign! Lean in. It means you’re challenged, learning, and primed for growth.
Therapy isn’t all doom and gloom. And laughter is welcome!
People think therapy is only for the bad stuff, but laughter is commonly heard from our office. You might come in for a session after a good week and wonder what to talk about. Don’t worry, you’re still doing it right. You don’t have to come prepared with an agenda or bullet points; simply showing up is enough. The good weeks are important too because you get to focus on what’s working, which often goes unnoticed. Together, you and your therapist will celebrate the big milestones and the little victories. And when it comes to emotions, we don’t discriminate. Come as you are, feel what you’re feeling, and we’ll meet you there.
How do I know if a therapist is the right fit for me?
It can be hard to discern what makes a therapist a “good fit,” especially when you’ve never been to therapy. Sometimes we don’t know what we need; we just want relief! But here’s what we do know: research indicates that the strongest predictor of positive treatment outcomes is the “therapeutic alliance” - aka the relationship between you and your therapist. It takes time to build trust in any relationship, and the one with your therapist is no different. So give it time, but also, pay attention. Ask yourself:
“Do I feel supported by my therapist, like they’re in my corner?”
“Do I feel heard and understood by my therapist? And if not completely, are they making genuine efforts to understand my experience to the extent possible?”
“Do I feel like my needs or goals are getting met by therapy? And if I don’t know what those are, do I feel like this is a safe space to figure them out?”
If something feels off or unsafe, please listen to your gut. Safety, both physically and psychologically, is essential to what we call “the work” of therapy. Because it is work! And you want someone working alongside you who has your best interests at heart.
If, for some reason, Benologa Counseling is not the right fit or you are looking for something different than what we provide, that’s okay! All therapists know that therapy is not a one-size-fits-all service. We would be happy to help you through the process of finding someone who is the perfect fit for you. Because at the end of the day, we want you to have the best chance at getting your needs met.