Common questions about starting therapy

We're an out-of-network provider, which means we don't accept insurance directly and we don't submit claims on your behalf. What we do is provide superbills — itemized receipts you send to your insurer for reimbursement.

Many PPO plans reimburse a portion of their allowed amount for out-of-network care, often 50–80% of that amount. Because your plan's allowed amount and benefits vary, the number we quote you is always our fee — your insurer decides what they pay. It's worth calling them before your first visit to ask what they cover for these CPT codes.

If cost is part of the reason you're hesitating, mention it when you reach out. We keep a limited number of sliding scale spots, and we'd rather know early so we can be honest about what's available.

A few questions worth asking before your first visit:

• Do I have out-of-network mental health benefits?
• What is my annual deductible for out-of-network care?
• What is my reimbursement rate for CPT codes 99213 (medication management), 90836 (therapy combined with medication management), and 90834 (therapy alone)?

Reach out through the contact form or call us directly. We'll schedule a brief phone call to understand what you're looking for and to answer your questions — including whether we're the right fit. From there we'll talk through next steps, availability, and fees. You can also read more about how we work before you get in touch.

We aim to respond to every inquiry within one business day. Appointment availability varies by practitioner and by season, but most people are scheduled within one to two weeks. If you have a specific timeline — a school deadline, a start-of-treatment date — tell us in your message and we'll do our best to work around it.

Telepsychiatry is a video session with your psychiatrist or therapist, conducted over a secure, HIPAA-compliant platform. You'll meet from a private space of your choosing — your home, your office, wherever you feel comfortable. Many of our clients find it works just as well as in-person care, and it removes travel and scheduling friction entirely.

Dr. Chiao sees patients in person at the Mountain View office and by video across California and New York. Shuyi works by video in New York. If you're unsure which works for you, ask us when you reach out and we'll be straightforward about it.

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who can prescribe medication and also provides psychotherapy. Dr. Chiao offers psychiatric evaluation, medication management, and psychotherapy. A therapist provides talk therapy and does not prescribe medication — Shuyi offers therapy across a range of approaches.

Many people benefit from seeing both. Medication and therapy work on different layers of the same picture, and they tend to reinforce each other. If you're not sure what you need, we'll help you think it through before you commit to anything.

Shuyi offers a limited number of sliding scale spots, assessed case by case — just mention your interest when you reach out and we'll let you know what's available. Dr. Chiao does not offer a sliding scale at this time.

Both Dr. Chiao and Shuyi offer sessions in English and Mandarin (中文). If you or someone you know is looking for therapy in Mandarin, we're glad to help — cultural context matters enormously in mental health care, and we respect that.

Everything you share is protected by HIPAA — the federal law that sets the national standard for health information privacy. We use encrypted, HIPAA-compliant platforms for telehealth sessions.

We don't share your information with third parties, and we don't share it with insurance companies unless you ask us for a superbill. Your privacy is a prerequisite for the trust that therapy requires.

Your first session is an introduction — for both of us. We'll talk about what brought you here, your history, and what you're hoping to get from treatment. If medication is something you're considering, Dr. Chiao's first visit includes a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation.

There's no pressure to have everything figured out before you walk in — or log on. Just show up as you are.

Yes — many of our clients see Shuyi for therapy and Dr. Chiao for medication management. It's a powerful combination, and we'll coordinate your care so you're not managing two separate systems on your own. Mention it in your first message and we'll set it up.