FAQ

What are the differences in the terms “counseling,” “mental health counseling,” “behavioral health counseling,” “therapy,” and “psychotherapy?” If the provider is licensed (or pre-licensed and clinically supervised) in a professional discipline regulated by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences or the California Board of Psychology, those terms mean the same thing. Psychiatrists, licensed and regulated by the Medical Board of California, are the original providers of modern psychotherapy. In recent years, psychiatry has shifted toward treating symptoms of mental conditions with medication.

What qualifies LMFTs to practice psychotherapy? A minimum of a master's degree followed by a minimum of 3000 hours of supervised clinical experience qualifies MFT Interns to sit for licensing exams administered by the Board of Behavioral Sciences. LMFTs use a range of human behavior theories to inform assessment and treatment. I use a combination of Psychodynamic, Family Systems, Existential, and Cognitive-Behavioral theories. Respectively, these theories place emphasis on your past, how your family and culture affect your beliefs about yourself, how you create meaning in your life, and the conditions of your life right now.

Isn't therapy for people who are "crazy?" Contrary to common belief, high-functioning people benefit most from therapy. People suffering from severe mental conditions can also benefit from therapy, but typically require the care of a treatment team including psychiatric medication monitoring and case management, which is outside the scope of most private practice settings, including my own. 

Do therapists financially exploit clients by encouraging unnecessary visits? No. Professional therapy is regulated by state laws and professional ethics that protect clients. You are in charge of frequency and duration of your therapy.

What is your fee? I charge $180 per session, payable at the time of service by cash or check. Sessions are typically 50 minutes long. The initial session can require up to 90 minutes, accommodating the completion of intake paperwork. Because I do not pro-rate sessions, the initial session is also $180.

Do LMFTs accept insurance? Some do. Although I accept private pay only, many PPOs will partially reimburse the cost of therapy provided out-of-network. I can provide a “superbill” for you to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement.

Anxiety prevents me from leaving the house. How can I get therapy? I provide home visits. In addition to my $180 fee, I charge $0.54 per mile, round trip from my Glendale office.

Do you refer to related services? I use a robust network of psychological, social, medical, and legal services.

Do you provide a free consultation? I provide a free 10 minute consultation by phone. That’s enough time for me to determine if I can help you, and equally important, it will give you enough time to decide if you want to schedule an initial session with me.

Why tell my problems to a stranger? Why not confide in family or friends? When you work with a professional therapist, you receive objective and useful feedback that is about solutions and is about you, at a pace that works for you. You may need to manage some anxiety the first time you call for an appointment, but making the call is worth having those feelings. Therapy can connect you to yourself in a safe and powerful way.

Michael S. Moore, LMFT

Glendale, CA   |   323-652-9502

michael@msinclairmoore.com