Setting Up an Appointment

Setting up your first appointment with a new therapist can be daunting.  You may be concerned about how the process works.  You may be concerned about time and money.  You may be concerned about finding the right therapist.  It's normal to have questions and emotions during this process.  The following guide may help you in the process of setting up an appointment.

Before You Contact Us

1. Be aware that it may take 1 to 3 weeks from the time you call before you meet your therapist for the first time.  (If you are currently in a life threatening situation please call 911.)
    
2. Make a list of days and times when you can possibly meet with your therapist.  Sessions are 45-50 minutes in length and begin on the hour.  Consider travel time in your calculations.
    
3. Calculate your monthly therapy budget.  This will help determine how often you can afford to meet.  Remember to consider therapy as an investment in yourself.  Our rates depend on the therapist.  Therapist Trainees are available at $60/hour.  Therapist Interns are available at $80/hour.  Licensed Therapists are available between $125-150/hour.
    
4. Decide upon a phone number where you feel comfortable being contacted and decide if there are better times of the day to be contacted.  We want to respect your confidentiality.
    
5. Contact Journeys either via our appointment form or phone.  If you are calling and receive our voice mail system, please leave the information you collected on points 2-4 along with your name.
    

After Contacting Us

1. Once we receive your information, Journeys attempts to match your needs with an availabile therapist. 
    
2. One of our therapists will call you to discuss potential meeting times.  If a meeting time cannot be found then your information will be given to another therapist.
    
3. When a mutually open time is found than the therapist will schedule the first appointment with you by calling and finalizing the time.  If your therapist did not establish a fee then feel free to call back and ask.  

Before the First Session

1. Consider your session as a learning experience.  You are learning about your therapist and your therapist is learning about you.  You may bring in questions and read your therapist's bio online. 
    
2. Remember that your first session does not obligate you to more sessions. 
    
3. For the first session be prepared to answer the question, "Why are you coming to therapy?"  This question helps us establish your needs and goals.

Your First Session

1. Use our directions page to find the location of our offices.
    
2. There is no need to arrive early to fill out paperwork.  Your therapist will give you paperwork during the first session and ask you to return it the following week.  However you may choose to fill out paperwork in advance (Client Information Sheet and Journeys Counseling Philosophy).
    
3. Upon reaching our office enter the waiting room and have a seat.  There is no formal receptionist.
    
4. For the Costa Mesa office, look for a light board that has your therapist's name.  Flip the light switch to the "on" position to let them know that you are there.  If their name is not there that's ok.  They may be arriving at the same as you. For the Torrance office there will be no light switch but please take a seat in the waiting room.
    
5. Your therapist will be anticipating your arrival and come out to greet you.
    
6. Your therapist will lead you to one of our comfortable offices.
    
7. From there forward the session may take many forms but will typically involve the following:
   1. Introductions
   2. Discussion of Journeys Counseling Philosophy
   3. Discussion of confidentiality, procedures, and your rights a client
   4. Discussion of the question, "Why are you coming to therapy?"
       
8. Payment is required at the time of the session, usually at the beginning or end.
    
9. At the end of the meeting you and your therapist will schedule the next session.

•  Schedule your first appointment