I am interested in getting a therapist letter for gender affirming surgery, what do I need to do?

Contact us! We offer free letters for gender affirming surgeries/procedures for people located in either California or Idaho. We will schedule a time to meet with you over telehealth, then send you some brief intake forms to fill out, and then we will meet over telehealth. Once that has happened you will receive your letter within a few days, which you can then send on to your surgeon’s office. If any edits are required by the surgeon’s office or your insurance (this happens very rarely) just contact us again and we can edit the letter for free.

Do you take insurance?

We can take insurance as an out-of-network provider if you have a PPO plan. Unfortunately we are not able to take HMO insurance, including Kaiser, or Medi-cal or Medicaid. For more information about how out-of-network insurance works, please see the Fees page.

Do I have to meet my therapist in person?

No. We offer telehealth therapy (online over a secure video platform) for clients located anywhere in California or Idaho.

What are the pros and cons of telehealth vs. in-person therapy?

Telehealth is, of course, very convenient. You can meet from the comfort of your own home and don’t have to figure out transportation or parking. This can make telehealth very easy to fit into your schedule if you have limited time.

Of course that can make people wonder if they are missing out on anything that they might get from in-person sessions. This depends. Many people find telehealth just as useful and impactful as in-person sessions. Some people find that they miss certain aspects of the routine of coming into sessions, or find that they have more privacy concerns trying to find a private and distraction-free space in their home. Other than that, telehealth therapy is just as effective and in-person therapy and if it is convenient for you there should be no reason to worry that you are not getting the full effects of your therapy sessions.

What are your policies to protect against Covid-19 for in-person sessions?

Our office in downtown LA is proud to continue to maintain Covid-conscious policies for the safety of you and your therapist. Alo Johnston works out of the downtown office and continues to mask with a KN95 during in person appointments. The office also has a HEPA air purifier running during all sessions.

What is Brainspotting?

Sometimes talk therapy can help us understand why we feel the way that we do but we struggle to get our bodies to understand how to feel safe and calm again. Brainspotting is a therapy modality that can help to process trauma in our bodies. It functions off the idea that where we look can effect how we feel and it uses eye location to help locate, focus, process, and release trauma or other overwhelming emotions. Brainspotting is often able to quickly process issues that many people have otherwise felt stuck in.

For more information about Brainspotting including research and case studies, please click here.

Some people prefer to do Brainspotting in-person but it can be done in person or through teletherapy. Alo Johnston is our resident Brainspotting therapist so If you are interested in trying Brainspotting, please ask to work with him when you contact us.

What is Geek Therapy?

Geek Therapy a form of therapy that incorporates various therapeutic evidence-based approaches, interventions, and modalities to connect with clients who identify with geek-based culture (anime, role-playing, cartoons, cosplay, table-top and video gaming, TV/Film, books, and more) to feel connected to their inner self, others, and the world.

Grayson Thompson is our resident Geek Therapist and if you are interested in trying Geek Therapy, please ask to work with him when you contact us.

Do you offer groups?

We do not currently offer groups, but if you are connected to a school or organization that is looking to have a group for your queer and trans students, or for the parents of your queer and trans students we are happy to discuss leading a group for your organization.

And if you are interested in attending a therapy group that you haven’t found anywhere, please let us know, we are always open to starting needed groups.