Please call us at (805) 242-2236 or email us at waynechanpsyd@gmail.com to schedule a free 15-minute initial consultation.

Sessions are typically 50 minutes long, weekly or biweekly. Depending on the acuteness of presenting concerns, meetings may be more frequent. Often, we can move to less frequent meetings as therapy proceeds and acute concerns are resolved.

Length of treatment is determined by the treatment plan, which is drawn up during the first 1-2 sessions and addresses each client’s unique concerns and goals. Clients may have short-term and long-term goals, and this too will direct length of care.

I offer sessions both in-person (office located in Santa Clara, CA) and online (or by phone). Online therapy takes place via a private (HIPAA compliant) video platform, and many of my clients prefer its convenience. While in-person sessions are in some cases more therapeutically productive, whether one method is preferred over the other is the client’s discretion. Please note that our current office location is not wheelchair-accessible.

During the first 1-2 sessions of clinical therapy, we will work together to identify goals and draw up a treatment plan. This will in turn help us come up with measures of progress. Not each session will adhere rigidly to the plan (treatment is often organic), but this gives us a guideline to keep us on the right track. What clients can expect from therapy depends primarily on their goals and, importantly, willingness to change, consider new ideas, and invest in their own growth. While many issues and ideas will be explored in session, significant work happens outside of session, when these concepts are applied.

Depending on clients’ goals, psychopharmacology (e.g. antidepressant, anti-anxiety, or ADHD medications) may be helpful in conjunction with therapy, but we can work without them as well. When necessary, we coordinate care with clients’ other providers.

Please see the Appointments + Rates page for current rates. Sessions are 50 minutes long + 10 minutes administrative. These rates are fairly standard among licensed doctoral-level psychologists in the Bay Area who have specialized training in evidenced-based treatments. Although we do not accept insurance directly, most insurance companies do offer reimbursements.

While we are not an in-network provider for any insurance plans, the costs from your sessions may qualify for reimbursement from your PPO. Please contact your insurance company to check the terms of coverage before obtaining services. (For additional information, see the American Psychological Association's coverage guide.)

Considering out-of-network therapy has some advantages, even if the out-of-pocket expense is higher. Many providers are increasingly choosing to not participate on insurance panels. This is because insurance companies limit the size and scope of their provider networks, and many qualified therapists either can’t join these panels or, if they are in-network, are limited in the care they can give their patients. Insurance companies may dictate terms of service, limit the number of sessions, or request access to confidential clinical records, making it difficult for therapists to provide care that would be in the clients’ best interest. Because insurance companies will only cover costs if therapy is deemed “medically necessary,” providers may spend a considerable amount of time justifying their clients’ needs to insurance companies, detracting from time they would much rather spend on client care.

Finally, many qualified providers are disincentivized from joining insurance panels because most insurance companies contract with providers at below market value rates. As a result, clients may have a hard time finding a therapist who is a good match, especially if they are looking for specialized care.