What services do you provide?
I provide mental health therapy for individuals, couples, or whatever your relationship unit happens to be. My license allows me to work with anyone in the state of California.
I offer online therapy (“telehealth”) most days of the week, using an end-to-end encrypted version of Zoom for your privacy and security. I also offer in-person therapy in central San Diego on Thursdays.
I work as part of a group practice at Donna M. Chapman Psychotherapy. Click here for information on the group practice, including the office location for in-person sessions.
Details about my services and qualifications can be found on my Professional Background page and Therapy Practice page. My informed consent, which is basically a therapist’s contract for service, can be found here.
How do I know if you’re the right therapist for me?
That’s an excellent question, but also tricky to answer, because everyone has different needs. My suggestion is to start by checking out my Professional Background page, so you can learn about my training and experience, and then my Therapy Practice page, so you can learn about my approach as a therapist.
I also offer a free 15-minute consultation, so we can get to know each a little before you commit to anything. Keep in mind as well that my professional code of ethics mandates that I provide treatment that is 1) within my scope of expertise and 2) appropriate to you. This means that if I determine that I am not the right therapist for you, I am obligated to inform you.
Online therapy? Is that going to be as effective as in-person meetings?
You’re right to be skeptical, as video calls are limited in how much we can interact. However, you get to be in the comfort of your own home, which many people find to be more convenient and also an easier place to share vulnerable aspects of themselves.
There is also the plus that we don’t have to be physically in the same city, which effectively expands the pool of therapists you can potentially work with.
Ultimately, my goal is to create a therapeutic setting that is convenient, comfortable, and safe. Teletherapy can work quite well for that.
How long are your sessions, and how much do they cost?
My sessions typically run 45-50 minutes in length (sometimes we wrap up more quickly, and other times we take a few extra minutes to review what we covered). My standard fee is $180 per session for individuals, and $200 per session for multi-person. I offer a limited number of sliding-scale slots, discounted based on your income and need. I am also happy to discuss special accommodations on session length.
If you plan to pay out-of-pocket, you have the right to a Good Faith Estimate of treatment costs, which discloses how much therapy will cost you per year, based on how often you are wanting to meet.
I accept a few different insurance plans plans, but the list is always in flux. If you’re looking to go through your insurance, your best bet is just to ask what I currently accept. I can also provide superbills. If your insurance accepts out-of-network providers (as many PPO’s do), you can apply for reimbursements using the superbills.
I notice you also offer social skills coaching. What’s the difference between therapy and coaching?
This is an excellent question, but can be tricky to answer, because it depends on your specific needs. At the risk of oversimplifying things, I’d say that it mostly boils down to the severity and manageability of the issues you’re facing. Here’s a blog post I wrote that explains the differences in more detail.
Speaking of which, if you’re interested in coaching rather than therapy, please head over to my other site.
What’s up with all rock balancing photos?
Because therapy is an emotional balancing act, of course.
At least … that’s the metaphor I’m claiming.
But seriously, the photos are from a road trip up the coast of California that my wife and I took recently. I like the photos and really was just looking for a way to shoehorn them into my professional website. Plus, it was cheaper and felt less impersonal than buying stock photos of however one might represent Marriage and Family Therapy on a website. And I certainly won’t post photos of actual clients, as that would be a huge breach of confidentiality.
If you still have any questions, click the button below to contact me directly. If you’re ready to start therapy, you may also request a free consultation:
Dennis Hong 