Psychotherapy | Jasmine Cepeda Therapist

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Frequently Asked Questions:

1. What insurances do you accept?*
Unitedhealthcare, Optum, Oxford

*For all other insurances, if you have Out-of-Network (OON) benefits, your insurance will partially reimburse you 50-80%. Call your insurance to find out! I will help you! Click here to learn more about using OON benefits.

My fee is $150-200 for 45-60 min. sessions.

I also offer limited slots for sliding-scale options.

I take Zelle, Quickpay, and all Cards (including HSA/FSA).

I invite you to reach out and make an appointment.

2. What can I expect from our first therapy session together?

In our first session, you can expect a welcoming and safe space where we'll begin to explore the reasons you're seeking therapy and what you hope to achieve. It's an opportunity for us to get acquainted and for me to gain an understanding of your personal history, current challenges, and goals.

3. How often should we meet for sessions?

I typically recommend starting with weekly sessions to establish a strong therapeutic relationship and to maintain momentum in our work. Over time, as you begin to experience changes and achieve your goals, we may decide together to adjust the frequency of our sessions to biweekly or monthly, depending on what supports your growth best.

4. How long does the therapy process usually last?

The length of the therapy process varies widely among individuals, as it deeply depends on your unique needs, goals, and how the issues we're addressing unfold. Some people find significant progress within a few months-three years, while folks with childhood trauma (or high ACE score) may benefit from longer-term support. We'll regularly review your progress to ensure therapy continues to meet your needs and adjust our plan as necessary.

5. Is there a cancellation fee?
I hold your scheduled appointment time specifically for you and you alone. I also see a limited number of clients so that I can give you the focus and attention you deserve. Therefore, I charge $50 for individual appointments canceled with less than 24 hours' notice. The charge cannot be billed to insurance and is due the day of cancellation.

6. What are some of your specialized areas?

Given the modalities used (explained in more details below), I specialize in processing emotions, thoughts, perceptions, behaviors (including extreme, rigid, or presumptive ones), working through past or present traumas (psychological events of overwhelm, aloneness, fear, or helplessness, including in childhood), existential crises (like mid-life or quarter-life crisis), identity distress (like racial, sexual, 1st gen. stress, etc.), perfectionism, boundaries, loss, grief, and life transitions (such as dating, breakup, divorce, big move, new job, etc.). Building self-soothing strategies and practicing nonviolent communication are also concentrations.

7. How do I know if therapy is working for me?

Signs that therapy is working include feeling more capable of managing emotions and stress, noticing improvements in relationships and communication, achieving personal goals, and experiencing a greater sense of well-being and self-understanding. Therapy is a collaborative process, so I encourage open dialogue about your experience and any changes you're noticing.

8. Is everything I say in therapy confidential?

Yes! What you share in therapy stays between us. Psychotherapy is confidential unless: there is clear and imminent danger to yourself or another person, or you disclose information that provides evidence of current abuse or neglect of a child or an older adult, or if (on the rare occasion) I am court-ordered.

9. What if I start feeling worse before I feel better?

It's not uncommon to feel worse before feeling better, as therapy can involve confronting difficult emotions and challenges. This is often a sign of progress, as it means you're engaging with important issues. I'm here to support you through these ups and downs, adjusting our approach as needed to ensure you're supported.

10. How much do you share about your personal life?

Maintaining clear boundaries in therapy is vital for your growth and well-being. Our relationship is professional, where your journey is the central focus. While I'm here to support you, sharing personal details could shift focus from your goals in therapy. If you have any questions about these boundaries, we can discuss them openly.

Primary Modalities Used:

I do not give advice, tell you what to do, or generalize your experience.

I honor your unique and complex inner world!

1. What is emotion focused/
psychodynamic therapy?

Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) is an approach to psychotherapy that focuses on experiencing, expressing, and understanding
emotions in a therapeutic setting.

This involves recognizing and accepting your feelings without judgment, but with the spirit of allowing and self-compassion. E-motions, motivate thoughts, actions, and urges, hence the importance of processing emotions effectively.

EFT aims to help you understand the origins of your emotions, exploring how past experiences and relationships (like familial) may influence your current emotional responses. Looking into your past, your defense mechanisms, and unconscious processes makes this approach psychodynamic.

2. What is mindfulness -based/
somatic based therapy?

Mindfulness or somatic based psychotherapy centers around grounding individuals' physiological responses of unpleasant feelings like anxiety, stress, or trauma. These unpleasant feelings can overwhelm the body and nervous system. Somatic psychotherapy is about processing these unpleasant sensations with intention, discernment, acceptance, and mindfulness, We will work on building your "toolbox" of soothing "resources" to help your nervous system's inherent (or natural) self-regulatory capacity.

Symbols, metaphors, and the creative arts (including music, writings, and visual arts) may be used to explore your experience.

3. What is compassion focused therapy?

Compassion-focused therapy (CFT) is a psychotherapeutic approach focused on nurturing compassion in individuals.

Self-Compassion means encouraging individuals to treat themselves with kindness, understanding, and acceptance, countering self-criticism and/or shame.

Mindfulness techniques are also used to heighten awareness of thoughts and emotions, facilitating emotional regulation and self-awareness.

Values clarification is also utilized in assisting individuals in identifying their core values and aligning their actions with these values.