Frequently Asked Questions About Therapy with Luca Chang in Oakland & Online in California

I work with LGBTQ+ adults, trans, non-binary, genderfluid, and questioning adults, and adult children of immigrants.

Many of my clients identify as high-achievers, people-pleasers, and perfectionists. They learned to cope with experiences of trauma, abuse, neglect, and oppression using these patterns.

My clients often come to me because they’re struggling with unrelenting anxiety and patterns of codependency, which limit their ability to authentically connect with themselves.

Standard fee:

$230 per 50-minute session

Solidarity / Community Distribution fee:

Clients with access to wealth or financial privilege may consider paying more than the standard fee (between $230 and $250). These funds directly support clients who cannot afford to start or continue therapy. If you are interested in this fee structure, please let me know in the intake form or during our consultation. You can refer to Alexis J. Cunningham’s “Green Bottle” sliding scale model.

Lotus Therapy Fund:

If you are low income and identify as AAPI, you can apply to the Lotus Therapy Fund through the Asian Mental Health Collective. You can select me as a therapist and receive up to 8 free sessions.

I currently have two sliding scale slots available starting at $180. When we agree to sliding scale, we negotiate a specific timeframe to honor the fee. For instance, we might start at $180 for 6 months and then revisit the fee at the end of the 6-month period, the idea being that the fee either stays the same or will increase. This is also the case for existing clients.

If there are life circumstances that immediately change your ability to pay the full fee, then we will work together to come up with a fee that makes sense for both of us, for a limited amount of time (e.g., 3 months, 6 months, etc.)

The majority of my practice is virtual. Whether you’re in Oakland, Berkeley, San Francisco, Los Angeles, or beyond, online therapy is available to those who appreciate the ease of taking their sessions from the comfort of their own homes. Online therapy also allows people who have busy schedules to fit in a precious, protected hour of their day that is just for them, without the worry of getting to an office.

I offer in-person sessions in Oakland on Fridays. As a Covid cautious therapist who prioritizes accessibility in my practice, I wear a KN95 mask in our sessions to minimize illness exposure and transmission.

We will meet at least once a week for a 50-minute session, depending on your therapy needs. I do not offer biweekly or monthly sessions. I believe that consistent, weekly sessions are the most effective way to create lasting change. Meeting regularly gives us more time to build trust and engage in deeper level healing work.

The duration of therapy is different for everybody based on their unique needs and goals. Because I do depth work, I tend to meet with people for a minimum of 1 year, and often up to 3-5 years, so long as it feels like a good fit and works for everyone.

Therapy is most effective when there’s consistent attendance. As such, I have a strict cancellation policy of needing at least 7 days notice for cancellations or reschedules. Reschedules are not guaranteed, but I will do my best to accommodate the shifts when I have enough notice. The exceptions to the cancellation policy are if you’re severely ill or there’s an emergency.

I only work with individual adults. I do support clients with codependency, relationship stress, and attachment wounds—just individually.

I’m a relational therapist through and through. In addition, I use a combination of IFS therapy, somatic therapy, and EMDR therapy.

As your therapist, I value your agency and choice about which therapy approaches work for you and your goals.

I do not contract with insurance companies. I can provide a Superbill to submit for out-of-network reimbursement on your online insurance claims portal. Please review this policy with your insurance first to find out what your coverage is.

Some questions you can ask your insurance:

• How much is my annual deductible? How much has been met this year?

• What is the coverage for out-of-network therapy services before and after I have met my deductible?

• Do my expenses with out-of-network providers contribute to my deductible?

• What information do I need to submit for reimbursement?

I receive payment through Zelle. If we are meeting in person, you can choose between Zelle, cash, or check.

“Good Faith Estimate” Notice

Under the No Surprises Act (effective January 1, 2022) , you have the right to request and receive a “Good Faith Estimate” of how much your mental health care will reasonably cost. This is especially for clients who do not have insurance or who are not using insurance to cover the charges for therapy. You can ask for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule your first session. It is NOT a commitment to therapy.

For more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call (800) 985-3059.