Frequently Asked Questions

Are you LGBTQIA friendly?

Yes, we are! We welcome clients from all backgrounds, races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, gender identities, social classes, etc.

Do you prescribe medication?

No, Dr. Sun does not prescribe medication. All psychotherapists and psychologists in California do not prescribe medication. Psychiatrists would be the ones to prescribe medication.

What is your cancellation policy?

You may cancel your appointment 24 hours prior to the time of your session. If you cancel within 24 hours, you will be charged for the full session.

How do I decide between In-Person and Online Therapy?

Whichever works best for you! There are some clients that Dr. Sun only sees online, and some clients that she only sees in-person. It is usually the client’s preference. You can try both, and can switch between different modalities as well.

Sometimes it also has to do with the severity of the presenting concern. If a client is very suicidal, we would prefer to see the client in-person. Thus, when there are special clinical factors to consider, when choosing to meet either in-person or online, Dr. Sun will bring this up and make her clinical suggestions.

What is Online Therapy?

Online Therapy is psychotherapy conducted via a secure video platform called Zoom. This platform meets the privacy and online security standards and regulations of the federal government.

How do online sessions work?

A couple of days before your appointment, you will receive an email from Regroup Connect. This email will contain a link to your secure video session with Dr. Sun on the Zoom platform.

Do I need to create an account in Zoom to do my online sessions?

It is not necessary to create an account in Zoom for an online session.

Can I do my online sessions on my phone?

Dr. Sun prefers not to conduct psychotherapy via phone (audio only). It is important for her to see her clients’ facial expressions, and for her to collect non-verbal messages, too. However, if a client is, for example, stuck in traffic or running late due to errands or chores, the client can choose to have a phone session vs. a late cancellation or a no-show.

Do you recommend doing Individual Therapy or Couple’s Therapy first?

The couple's therapist and your therapist will need to be two different people. This will help your couple's therapist remain objective in your sessions.

There is no set answer to the question regarding whether one should start Individual or Couple’s Therapy first, or have them at the same time. It depends on the situation. If your personal issues are hindering the relationship, it is better to start with individual sessions first and have the therapist evaluate whether Couple’s Therapy is needed. If the issue mainly stems from the relationship, and it is not something an individual can solve on a personal level, it is better to start with Couple’s Therapy first.

Do you recommend doing both Individual and Couple’s therapy?

It is always nice to see both individual and couple’s therapists at the same time. However, this requires much more energy, time, and financial investment. Psychotherapy doesn't happen just in the session. Usually, it requires people to do some "work" outside of the sessions, as well. Some people really enjoy doing both at the same time to maximize progress. Some prefer to take one step at a time.

I don’t have childcare. Can I bring my child to my therapy session?

For in-person sessions, we request that you do not bring your children with you. It can be difficult to focus on discussions when children are in the room.

However, we have found that online sessions work very well for some of our clients who have kids. We usually schedule online sessions when it’s naptime for the kids. And, in case they wake up, there’s lots of entertainment for them to choose from. Children feel safer at home and can easily focus on their own toys when they are awake. Please make sure the kids are sleeping/playing in a safe environment during our sessions.

How does therapy/counseling work?

Each person has different issues and goals for counseling, so it will be different depending on the individual. Dr. Sun will tailor her therapeutic approach to your specific needs.

How long does therapy take?

Everyone’s circumstances are unique to them and the length of time counseling can take to allow you to accomplish your goals depends on your desire for personal development, your commitment, and the factors that are driving you to seek counseling in the first place.

For the majority of our committed clients, significant symptom reduction and increase of awareness is experienced in the first 2-3 months after working with Dr. Sun, with either weekly or ever-other-week appointments. Many of them choose to stay longer to further transform other aspects of their life to be more fulfilling and abundant.

I want to get the most out of therapy. What can I do to help?

We are so glad you are dedicated to getting the most out of your sessions. Your active participation and dedication will be crucial to your success. Please feel free to discuss any other methods you have tried for self-care with Dr. Sun. She can recommend books, resources, or homework for you in-between sessions to expedite the healing process.

How do I know therapy is working?

Dr. Sun will discuss with you about your goals for therapy at the beginning stage. “What kinds of changes you want to see by working with her “ is usually the question she asks when you and her meet for the first time. By setting up clear goals, you can know whether you have achieved them or not.

Another indicator is whether you are feeling better in general. Whether your mood is getting better; whether you are feeling better about yourself and/or the situation you are in; whether you have deeper understanding toward yourself; whether you learn some helpful skills for you to deal with challenges in life.

Dr. Sun is very open-minded. She invites clients to discuss their feedback about therapy with her. What’s working and what’s not working both help her understand a client better. She can thus come up with the best custom-tailored treatment for you.

Can I do my therapy sessions in Mandarin?

Yes, Dr. Sun provides therapy sessions in either/or both English and Mandarin.

Fees and Insurance

How much do you charge for a session?

Please refer to the Investment page.

Will my insurance cover part or all of my session?

You can submit a claim to your insurance company with the superbill we provide or we can do this for you as a courtesy. Peaceful Sunshine is an out-of-network provider for insurance companies and since different insurance companies reimburse at different rates, you'll need to contact your insurance company directly to better understand your out-of-network benefits for mental health services.

Will Lyra cover my individual session?

We take Lyra for adult individual sessions only.

For adults with Lyra benefits, apart from some cases listed on your benefits document, Lyra does cover sessions responsibly. For example, termination of employment, late cancellations, and no shows are not covered under certain companies’ contracts.

Will Lyra cover my Couple’s Therapy session?

No, Dr. Sun does not take Lyra for Couple’s Therapy sessions.