YOU’VE GOT QUESTIONS –
WE’VE GOT ANSWERS

Where in California are you located?

Currently, we offer therapy online, so you can receive treatment in the comfort of your own home.

Not sure if you have a private place for a therapy session? Cars and closets work very well.

Do you offer therapy outside of California?

Yes, some of our therapists are licensed in Alabama. We also offer coaching in other states. Please contact our practice manager to see if you’d be a good fit for coaching at [email protected].

What hours are you open?

We are open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm. Some of our therapists work on the weekends. Your therapist will find an appointment time that works best for you.

How do I get started?

Call us at (310) 929-5519, send an email to [email protected], or fill out the form here: https://kandstherapy.com/contact/.

How long are sessions?

Our sessions are 50 minutes.  

Do you offer a free consultation?

Yes, our practice manager will connect you with your potential therapist for a free 10- to 15-minute consultation.

How do I log in to sessions?

You’ll receive an email from an app called Simple Practice before each session. It will include a link to join your session. 

What’s your cancellation policy?

Clients are responsible for paying the full fee for sessions that are not canceled 24 hours in advance of their appointment time. Cancellations must be made to the therapist’s email or phone number.

How do I pay?

We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, JCB, Discover, Diners Club, FSA, and HSA cards for client payments. We bill your credit card 24-48 hours after your session.

Do you offer coaching?

Yes, we do offer coaching. Contact our practice manager for details at [email protected].

Who benefits from therapy?

Everyone benefits from working with the right therapist. It helps with mental health issues, as well as everyday challenges like communication problems, relationship issues, increased self-awareness, and conflict resolution.

Are you LGBTQIA+ friendly?

Yes, we absolutely are. We are “super allies” of the LGBTQIA+ community.

I've never talked to anyone; aren't people who go to therapy weak?

K&S Therapeutic Services

No. Nope. Absolutely not! Asking for help takes strength and courage. No man is an island – we all need help. The more help we receive from family, friends, and therapists, the better off we are.

How does therapy work?

Lots of different things happen in therapy.

You’ll do a lot of talking and listening, too – but mostly talking. Therapists have you talk about your feelings because it makes you feel better – and understand your problems. It also helps you feel accepted, understood, and ready to learn.

You’ll also do activities to help you learn about emotions, coping skills, or facing fears. We use activities to change things up a bit, so the sessions are interesting and engaging.

Something else you’ll do in therapy is practice new skills. We teach skills like mindfulness and healthy communication; we also teach ways to lower stress, deal with a divorce, or tough childhood behaviors. Once you learn the skills, we’ll practice them so you can use them with the people in your lives.

Finally, we help you problem solve. Maybe you have the same argument with your partner over and over. Or anxiety gets the best of you and you can’t figure out why. Or as much as you try not to, you lose your temper and yell at your kiddos instead of explaining things calmly. Whatever the problem, therapists work with you to figure it out.

What's the difference between talking to a friend and talking to a therapist?

Don’t get me wrong; friends can be great sounding boards. But what we do is different. We help you understand why you do what you do and identify themes and patterns in your life that trip you up. Then, we teach you how to change them. And… we listen without judgment or criticism. There will be no “I told you so” coming from us. We show you how something that happened in your past could be causing problems now. We help you change how you think – this is important because how you think affects how you feel, and how you feel affects what you do. Change your thinking, and you can change your life – we help you do that.

Does group therapy really work?

Yes, Yes, and Yes! Full disclosure – I am a group therapy fan girl because the best way to improve your relationships is to join a group.

At K&S, we do psychotherapy groups which are a little different than self-help groups, like Alcoholics Anonymous, where everyone is dealing with the exact same issue.

Our groups have 4-8 people who are different ages, have different experiences and backgrounds. The major thing they have in common is the desire to improve their relationships.

They’ve tried to work out relationship problems on their own, but something gets in the way. Usually that thing is something that happened in your first group, which is your family of origin – your mom, dad, and all the folks you lived with when you were a kid.

Most times, you’ll repeat the same behaviors in group that you used to survive the stress of your original family. If you get aggressive in your family or you withdraw and give people the silent treatment, you’ll probably do the same in group.

Someone in group may remind you of people in your life and bring up feelings and challenges that you haven’t resolved yet. You’ll have a safe place and a skilled therapist to help you through it.

The last thing I’m going to say about process groups (for now) is they are one of the most cost-effective ways to take care of your emotional health.

How long until therapy works?

The short answer is it depends on: your goals, what you’re working on, how long your problem has been an issue, and if there are problems you weren’t aware of.

Will I have to take medicine ?

Sometimes, medication is helpful in conjunction with therapy. Most times, it isn’t necessary. Folks have strong opinions about medications. At K&S, we believe if you can live your best life without meds, we are 100% on board. If taking meds gives you relief and helps you live your best life, we’ll support that, too. At the end of the day, it’s up to you.

How will I know if therapy is working?

A good way to tell if therapy is working is when you start responding to situations that used to cause you problems – differently – in a healthy way. Or your behavior changes. So, if you’re struggling with depression and used to stay in bed till 1:00 pm, now you are up at 10 am and going for a walk. Or instead of “going in” on your partner for leaving dishes in the sink for you to wash for the 50th time, you take a break, calm down, and talk about it later in the day when you aren’t triggered.

Am I allowed to ask personal questions?

Some therapists on our team will answer certain personal questions; others may not. It depends on their therapeutic approach. But definitely ask.

What if I have more questions?

If you have more questions, you can call us at (310) 929-5519 or send an email to [email protected].

Will my therapist have a therapist?

Every therapist at K&S is encouraged to be in treatment. Feel free to ask your therapist directly.