Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some questions and answers we get quite often
We’re so glad you are prioritizing your mental health, and we want to acknowledge how courageous it is of you to ask for help. Therapy can be scary for those who have never been in therapy before. Whether you’re going through a difficult life transition, or you’re feeling stuck and not sure how to move forward with your life, therapy is a space for people to understand themselves and their lives a little bit better.
People seek therapy for many reasons. Some use therapy as sounding boards, or to find clarity in their lives. In a world that has stigmatized mental health, many individuals seek validation of the struggles they’re grappling with or to be reminded of their strengths. Therapy is a place to explore your thoughts and feelings in a safe and brave space, to discover new parts of yourself, and learn healthier coping skills. It is also a place to process your emotions, build self-awareness, and dedicate this time to your self-care. Each individual has their own reason in starting therapy–your reason does not have to match up to everyone else’s reason. Your journey is only yours.
For insurance and payment information, please refer below.
Finding the right therapist for you may take some time, so we recommend that you start your search early. If you have specific issues that you would like to work on, please refer to our therapists’ profiles. Each of our therapists have different specialties. For example, if you’re looking for a therapist for your teen, you can find a teen therapist on our team page. Or, if you’re looking for an ADHD coach or specialist, you can also find who specializes in ADHD on our team page.
In order for you to have a feel for our therapists, you can schedule a complimentary 15-minute consultation call with one of our intake coordinators at info@yellowchaircollective.com.
Once you have chosen a therapist to work with, you will schedule a recurring appointment with your therapist. You and your therapist will discuss the cadence of sessions. Typically, our clients start with weekly or biweekly sessions. It is vital for you and your therapists to build rapport in order for the therapy to be effective. Thus, having too infrequent sessions (especially in the beginning) is not recommended.
You and your therapist will first meet for an intake session where your therapist will get to learn more about you and see how they can support you on your journey. Intake sessions are also a place for you to get to know your therapist better, and for you to let your therapist know what you’re struggling with or what you’d like to explore. In the intake session, you and your therapist will come up with goals that you’d like to work on. Each session will vary, depending on what you need that day. But your therapist will continue to follow up on your goals with you.
Yes, we offer online therapy sessions in the state of California and New York. Telehealth and online therapy are conducted via HIPAA-compliant Google Meet, Zoom, Doxy, or Therapy Portal. Your therapist will provide you with instructions about your online sessions prior to your first meeting.
Some of our therapists offer in-person therapy in our three offices (Burbank, Arcadia, and Manhattan Beach). However, due to the fluctuations in COVID-19 cases, we follow State and local protocol as to when to temporarily move in-person therapy sessions to online therapy sessions. Please follow up with your therapist to see if they offer in-person therapy sessions at this time.
We accept Cigna insurance, but therapists accepting Cigna can vary during the time of inquiry. Our intake coordinators can provide you with the most up-to-date therapists to see who is currently accepting insurance. To use your Cigna insurance, please refer to ‘How do I use my Cigna insurance for therapy?’ below for more information.
For all other insurances, we are considered an out-of-network provider. As out-of-network providers, we will provide you with a ‘superbill’ that you can submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursements. Your reimbursement rates will depend on your insurance plan. Please contact your insurance company to receive details on your benefits.
- Book an intake session with us by filling out our contact form (We are unable to provide a consultation call if you are using your Cigna insurance at this time).
- Please make sure to mark Cigna as your insurance on our contact form.
- You will receive an email to set up an initial appointment with a therapist accepting Cigna. Our email will request a picture of your Cigna card and your birth date. This will allow us to check your benefits.
- You will receive a separate email invitation to access our therapy portal. It will ask you to create a login ID and password.
- Once you are logged in, under documents, you will need to fill out your information and e-sign all the consent forms. Please be sure to download the intake form to fill out the necessary information.
- You are all set for the initial appointment! Please contact us if you have any questions about this process.
Our rates vary depending on the service you are looking for. Please refer to individual therapist’s pages for their rates.
All our therapists reserve a specific number of sliding scale spots to provide access to services for those who need financial accommodation with proof of financial needs. Please contact an intake/administrative coordinator at info@yellowchaircollective.com to discuss your payment amount and options.
We also provide sliding scale through our 501(c)3 non-profit organization, Entwine Community. Please refer to their website for more details.
Payment is due at the time of each session.
We currently accept credit/debit cards and Flex Spending Account (FSA)/Health Savings Account (HSA) cards with the MasterCard or Visa logo.
We have a 48-hour cancellation policy. We will charge any appointment cancellations that our therapists receive less than 48 hours from your next appointment. If you need to reschedule or cancel your upcoming appointment, please reach out to your therapist to find another time that works for you, or to let them know of your cancellation. Any missed appointments will also be charged the cancellation fee.
Yellow Chair Collective is dedicated to providing therapy to marginalized communities–especially in immigrant communities, Asian American communities, LGBTQIA+ communities, and neurodivergent communities. Inclusivity and diversity are at the heart of YCC, and our therapists are committed to these values as well. YCC specializes in Asian American therapy. Please refer to our Asian American therapy page for more information.
Most of our therapists come from Asian/Asian American backgrounds, along with some intersectionalities of being in the LGBTQIA+ community or neurodivergent themselves. Our group practice is LGBTQIA+-affirming. We also offer therapy in different languages (Korean, Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, Hindi, Nepalese, and Vietnamese). Please refer to our team page to see which therapists are offering therapy in a different language.
If the therapist you would like to work with is not accepting new clients at this time, we can either put you on the waitlist until the therapist you’d like to work with is available, or match you with a different therapist based on your needs. If you would like to schedule with a therapist sooner, we recommend that you schedule a session with a different therapist.
For all other inquiries, please email us at info@yellowchaircollective.com.
While we specialize in the Asian American experience, we welcome clients of all backgrounds!
