FAQ

A Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) is a licensed mental health professional trained to support individuals, couples, and families through a relational and systemic lens. This means that instead of focusing solely on individual symptoms, MFTs consider how your experiences are shaped by your relationships, community, environment, and intersecting identities.

As a queer-affirming, neurodivergence-affirming, and polyamory-affirming therapist, my work is grounded in the understanding that who you are doesn’t exist in a vacuum. We explore how systems—like family dynamics, culture, oppression, and identity—impact your mental health and relationships.

MFTs are trained to help with a wide range of concerns including anxiety, trauma, identity exploration, communication challenges, attachment wounds, and relational stress. Whether you’re coming in as an individual or part of a relationship system, therapy can be a space to move toward deeper connection, clarity, and self-understanding—without pathologizing who you are.

All therapy sessions are held via telehealth and are available to folx who reside in the state of California. 

Coaching services are available to those in and outside of California.

I am not an in-network provider with insurance panels.  

Some insurance plans provide reimbursement for mental/behavioral health sessions as part of their out-of-network benefits. Some plans may allow the use of your HSA/FSA card to cover therapy expenses. Prior to beginning therapy, I advise contacting your insurance provider to inquire about the specifics of your benefits plan.

If you intend to utilize out-of-network insurance benefits, I can provide you with a "Superbill," which includes all the necessary details that your insurance may require in order to reimburse you for sessions. 

Everyone should have access to high-quality mental health care. To enhance the accessibility of therapy, I provide a limited number of slots at reduced rates for clients. Feel free to reach out and inquire about the current options available for reduced rates.

Yes, a limited number of sliding scale spots are available to support increased accessibility to therapy. These spots are reserved for clients who may need financial accommodation.

If you’re interested in a sliding scale rate, please reach out to inquire about current availability at info@therapywithjenniferpatterson.com

Standard therapy sessions are 50 minutes in length. Longer sessions (75 to 90+ minutes) are available upon request and will be billed at a pro-rated rate based on your standard hourly fee. Extended sessions may be appropriate for relational work, intensive processing, or when additional space is clinically beneficial.

If you're interested in starting therapy, simply reach out to me here, and I will email you back to schedule a time for a brief phone consultation to get to know each other better. This 15-minute call allows us to connect, gather information, answer questions, and see if we might be a good fit. Should you decide to proceed with therapy, I will add you to the client portal and get you scheduling your initial session. 

In the first session, we'll start with introductions and then delve into some essential legal and ethical aspects of therapy. We'll discuss the limits of confidentiality, my role as a mandated reporter, and the need to prioritize your safety and privacy. Once we've addressed any questions or concerns you may have about these topics, we'll move on to confirm information and work together to develop a preliminary treatment plan. This part of the session also allows us to build a deeper understanding of what is bringing you into therapy and what needs your attention most. 

I understand that first sessions can be anxiety inducing and because of this, I prioritize collaboration and warmth. If we need to pivot, then we pivot. 

Therapy sessions are 50 minutes. 

Extended sessions are available upon request, contingent upon schedule availability, and any associated fees will be prorated accordingly.

The duration and frequency of therapy varies and is influenced by several factors, such as:

• Client diagnosis

• Mental health status

• Modality/treatment approach

• Severity of symptoms

• Treatment plan

• Treatment style

Typically, sessions are scheduled on a weekly basis. 

To respect everyone’s time and support the therapeutic process, sessions must be canceled at least 24 hours in advance of the scheduled appointment time.

Sessions that are not canceled within 24 hours will be subject to a late cancellation fee equal to the full cost of the session.

This policy helps maintain consistency, supports access to care, and honors the time set aside for this work. Thank you for understanding. 

Finding a therapist can feel overwhelming, but what matters most is that you find someone you feel comfortable with and truly connect with. A strong therapeutic relationship is the foundation for meaningful growth and healing.

If you’re not sure where to start, I’ve compiled a list of trusted therapists that I personally recommend. These are professionals whose work I deeply respect, and I hope this resource can help you in your search.

Click here to view my list of trusted therapists.

Additionally, Therapy Access Project has a wonderful guide for that here: Guide to Finding a Therapist

Remember, finding the right fit can take time, and it’s okay to explore until you find someone who feels right for you. Therapy is about you, and you deserve a space where you feel safe and seen.