Ginny Estupinian Ph.D.

What is the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist?

A California clinical psychologist with a Ph.D. has completed between 4-7 years of graduate study and 3000 hours of supervised professional experience, with 1500 of those hours at the postdoctoral level. Psychologists in California are licensed through the California Board of Psychology.

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor (M.D.) who has completed four years of medical school and three years of residency training with a specialization in mental health diagnosis.  Therefore, they are trained and licensed to prescribe medications.

Both psychologists and psychiatrists are trained to treat complex and severe mental health issues both in inpatient and outpatient settings.

Click here for more information about Ginny Estupinian Ph.D.

Do you prescribe drugs?

No. Only your physician or treating psychiatrist can prescribe medications.  Dr. Ginny Estupinian is a licensed clinical psychologist who cannot prescribe any medications.

Our office has a panel of psychiatrists we closely work with and refer to when a client has the need for medication. When necessary, the combination of medication and therapy work well together to help clients feel better.

What ages do you work with?

Our staff is experienced and trained to work with individuals 16 years of age and up.  We do not offer child therapy although we do offer Neurofeedback treatments for ADHD and other mental health conditions in children.

What forms of payment do you accept?

We accept cash, checks, debit cards, Google Pay, Apple Pay, and all major credit cards.

Do you take insurance?

No.  However, we will provide you with an itemized invoice after each session that many of our clients then submit to their insurance carriers for reimbursement.  The invoice will contain all the appropriate insurance codes and detailed information most carriers require.

Should you wish to use your insurance plan, it is recommended that you check with your PPO carrier to determine what your “out-of-network provider ” benefits are and plan accordingly. Reimbursement is usually NOT available for HMO insurance policyholders.

You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost click here for more information.

Are there any disadvantages to using my out of network provider benefits?

Although your out-of-pocket expenses will be reduced, so will your privacy.  Information such as diagnosis, dates of service and charge will be sent to the insurance carrier.  Also, some insurers require additional information including the justification for treatment, a treatment plan, your capacity to benefit from treatment, and your ongoing response to treatment.  Having this information included in your medical database is something you should carefully consider before utilizing your benefits.

What is the length of a session?

  1. The standard individual therapy session is 45-50 min.

  2. Neuropsychological assessments sessions vary depending on the type of assessment(s) being conducted and the client’s needs.  We will develop a schedule that is comfortable for each client.

  3. Neurofeedback sessions vary depending on the protocol being implemented. A schedule will be provided in advance of any treatment.

Do you provide couples therapy?

Only by referral, the cost per 50 min session for couples therapy is $250.  Please call the office for more information.

What are your fees?

The fee range for our standard 50 min therapy session is $250 to $275.

The fee range for neuropsychological assessments varies according to the assessment.  Please refer to the “services provided” page for more information

The fee for neurofeedback is on a case-by-case basis depending on the nature of the issues being addressed.  Please call our office for more information.

You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost. (click here for more information)

Is therapy confidential?

There are various state and federal laws that protect the confidentiality of all communications between a client and their psychologist.  No information will be disclosed without prior written permission from the client.

However, if a client submits receipts for services to their insurance provider, in order to obtain reimbursement for paid services, some information about treatment may be required by the insurance carrier.

There are a few special circumstances in which the law requires therapists to break confidentiality.  These situations include:

  • Suspected child abuse

  • Suspected elder abuse

  • A client threating serious bodily harm to another person or group

  • A client endorsing plans to harm themselves

  • A court order

Please refer to our office policies for more detailed information.

How soon can I be seen

Depending on your specific situation, you may be able to be seen as soon as the same day or the next day pending any large or unexpected demand for services.

Why Can't I find testimonials on your site?

My office values and protects our patient’s confidentiality first and foremost. To safeguard that confidentiality, I will never ask for a review, post a review/testimonial, or respond to a review.