Frequently Asked Questions

The questions come up often—in consultations, in emails, and in the quiet hesitation people sit with before reaching out.

If something isn't covered here, you're welcome to email me directly.

About The Work

How do I know if therapy is the right step for me?

If you're considering it, that's usually information worth listening to. People rarely think about therapy seriously unless something underneath is asking for attention.

You don't need a crisis to justify reaching out. Some of the most generative work I do is with people who are functioning well by every external measure and are starting to suspect there's more available to them than they've been letting themselves want.

If you're not sure, a consultation is the easiest way to find out. It's a focused conversation, with no pressure, designed to help both of us decide if working together makes sense.

What kind of therapy do you practice?

My approach is depth-oriented and integrative. I draw from several evidence-based modalities depending on what each client needs:

  • Internal Family Systems (IFS)

  • Psychodynamic therapy

  • Attachment-based therapy

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

  • Nervous-system-informed therapy

The goal isn't loyalty to one school. It's giving you what the work actually requires.

Who do you work with?

My practice is focused on high-functioning adults—professionals, creatives, founders, anxious overthinkers, and couples—navigating anxiety, burnout, perfectionism, relationship patterns, and identity work.

The common thread: smart, capable people whose external lives look like they're working, and whose internal lives are asking for something more.

What issues do you specialize in?

The areas I work in most:

  • Anxiety, including high-functioning anxiety

  • Burnout, chronic stress, and emotional exhaustion

  • Perfectionism and high-achiever patterns

  • Relationship anxiety and recurring relationship patterns

  • Couples therapy

  • Emotional overfunctioning and "the strong one" role

  • Life transitions and identity work

  • Postpartum mental health (concierge clients)

How long does therapy take?

Honest answer: it depends on what you're working with.

  • Initial shifts in awareness often within the first month or two

  • Behavioral changes usually within three to six months

  • Deeper structural change in underlying patterns often takes a year or more

  • Maintenance and integration can continue beyond that, often at a less intensive cadence

Some clients come in for focused, time-limited work and move on. Others stay because the work keeps opening doors. Both are valid.

Fees & Payment

Do you accept insurance?

My practice is private-pay, meaning I don't bill insurance directly. I can provide superbills—itemized receipts you submit to your insurance company for potential out-of-network reimbursement, depending on your plan.

Why don't you take insurance?

Three reasons that benefit clients:

Confidentiality. Insurance requires a mental health diagnosis on file, accessible to your insurance company. Private-pay therapy doesn't.

Clinical autonomy. Insurance dictates session length, treatment approach, and how long you can stay in therapy. Private-pay therapy is directed by clinical judgment.

Depth of work. Insurance reimbursement structures often incentivize short-term, symptom-focused care. The kind of depth-oriented work I do requires a different model.

For some clients, private-pay is the right fit. For some, it isn't. I'm happy to talk through the practical realities in a consultation so you can decide.

What is the investment?

Specific fees are discussed in the initial inquiry, since rates depend on the format (individual, couples, concierge) and a few other factors.

For context, private-pay therapy in Los Angeles for a specialized clinician typically falls in the $200–$400+ range per session. Concierge sessions are structured at a premium.

What is a superbill?

A superbill is an itemized receipt that documents your sessions, fees, and diagnostic codes. You submit it to your insurance company, and if your plan includes out-of-network mental health benefits, you may receive partial reimbursement directly from your insurance.

Reimbursement varies widely by plan. Before assuming superbills will offset your costs significantly, I recommend calling your insurance and asking specifically about your out-of-network outpatient mental health benefits.

Do you offer sliding scale?

I don't currently offer reduced-fee slots. For low-fee therapy options, I'm happy to provide referrals to community mental health resources or training clinics in Los Angeles.

Sessions & Format

How long is each session?

Standard sessions are 50 minutes. Concierge sessions run at least 75 minutes. For couples, longer formats are available by arrangement.

How often do we meet?

Weekly is standard. This isn't arbitrary—weekly cadence is what produces meaningful change in most therapy. Less frequent than weekly often means the work loses momentum.

In the first month, some clients choose to meet twice a week so the work gets moving quickly. We decide together on the consultation call.

For some clients, biweekly is appropriate at certain phases of the work. We can discuss what fits your situation.

Do you offer in-person or virtual sessions?

Both.

  • In-person: Encino and Studio City, in the San Fernando Valley

  • Virtual: California, Nevada, and Oregon

  • Concierge sessions are available across Westside LA, Greater LA, Malibu, Calabasas, and Westlake Village—delivered in your home, office, or wherever you need to be

More details on each format:

Is virtual therapy as effective as in-person?

For most adult outpatient work, yes. Research consistently shows virtual therapy produces clinical outcomes comparable to in-person therapy for anxiety, burnout, relationship issues, and most non-crisis presentations.

For many busy professionals, virtual makes consistent weekly attendance realistic. And consistency matters more than format.

What is concierge therapy?

Concierge therapy is the same depth-oriented clinical work I do in office—delivered with the discretion, flexibility, and privacy that certain lives require. Sessions take place in your home, office, a private hotel suite, or on location, depending on your needs.

It's designed for executives, founders, public-facing clients, new parents, families navigating private dynamics, and anyone whose schedule or privacy needs don't fit the standard therapy model.

Learn more about concierge sessions →

What's the difference between your Encino and Studio City offices?

Both offer the same therapeutic experience — private, comfortable, and designed for focused work. The difference is location. The Encino office is more convenient if you're coming from the western Valley — Sherman Oaks, Tarzana, Woodland Hills, Calabasas. The Studio City office works better for clients coming from North Hollywood, Toluca Lake, Burbank, Valley Village, or Universal City. Some clients choose based on whichever is closer to work rather than home.

Can I switch between in-person and virtual sessions?

Yes. Many of my clients do a mix — in-person most weeks, with virtual sessions when travel, schedule, or life gets in the way. We keep the same time slot regardless of format. Flexibility is built into how I work, and switching between formats doesn't disrupt the continuity of the therapy.

Is there parking at both offices?

Yes. Both locations have convenient, free parking nearby.

Getting Started

What's the first step?

Book a free 15-minute consultation. It's a focused phone conversation—no pressure, no commitment—designed to help both of us figure out if working together makes sense.

Book a Consultation

What happens during the consultation?

We'll talk about:

  • What's bringing you in (in your own words, at your own pace)

  • What you're hoping to work on

  • How I work, and whether the approach feels right

  • Practical questions—scheduling, format, fees

The consultation is also a chance for you to get a sense of me. Fit matters more than credentials, and good therapists know it.

What if we're not a good fit?

That's okay—and worth knowing early. Fit is one of the strongest predictors of whether therapy works. If we're not a fit, I'll either suggest a different approach or refer you to someone whose style might land better for what you're working on.

How quickly can I get started?

Availability varies. I'll share specific opening times during the consultation. For most new clients, the first session can be scheduled within one to two weeks of the consultation.

How do I prepare for my first session?

You don't need to prepare. You don't need to come in knowing what to say. You don't need to have your story organized.

The first session is an orientation, not a deep dive. Showing up is enough.

Privacy & Logistics

Is therapy confidential?

Yes. All sessions are bound by strict clinical confidentiality, with the standard legal exceptions (imminent harm to self or others, suspected abuse of a minor, elder, or dependent adult, and certain court orders).

For concierge clients with specific privacy concerns, additional protocols can be discussed in the initial inquiry.

How do I cancel or reschedule?

Sessions canceled with less than 48 hours' notice are charged in full, with rare exceptions for genuine emergencies. Once you're a client, rescheduling is straightforward—contact me directly or use the client portal.

What if I have a mental health crisis between sessions?

If you're in acute crisis, please contact:

  • 988 — Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (call or text)

  • 911 — for immediate safety concerns

  • Your nearest emergency room for acute psychiatric crises

For non-acute support between sessions, we'll have a clear plan in place once you're a client.

Do you prescribe medication?

No. I'm a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), not a psychiatrist. If medication is something you're considering, I can refer you to psychiatrists I trust to work alongside the therapy.

What is a Good Faith Estimate?

The No Surprises Act (2022) requires healthcare providers, including private-pay therapists, to provide clients with a Good Faith Estimate of expected costs. You can review mine here: Good Faith Estimate.

Still have questions?

If your question isn't covered here, the easiest way to get an answer is a 15-minute consultation. It's free, low-pressure, and designed to help you make an informed decision about whether to work together.

Book a Consultation

15 minute phone consultation

A focused conversation to explore your goals, assess fit, and determine next steps for working together.

Book a Consultation

Tanya Samuelian, LMFT

Encino

16530 Ventura Blvd, Suite 400
Encino, CA 91436

Studio City

11846 Ventura Blvd, Suite 204
Studio City, CA 91604

Virtual

CA, NV, & OR

Hours

Monday — Friday 9am-6pm
Saturday — Sunday 9am-1pm

tanyasamuelianmft@yahoo.com  •  (818) 652-3495  •  Good Faith Estimate


CA License #108113  |  NV License #5237-R  |  OR License #T3621
© 2020-2026 Tanya Samuelian, Marriage and Family Therapist Inc.