FAQ

Starting your journey is easy! Research shows that the fit between the therapist and client is an essential component to success. Because of this, we offer a free brief consultation to see if we're the right fit for you. 

You can submit your information on our Contact Us page.

You can reach out to us by phone (657-215-7374) or email at info@safehavenpsychology.com. 

Or you can also book your free brief consultation to see if we're what you're looking for here. 

During your first session, we will focus on getting to know you and understanding your concerns. It’s an opportunity for you to share what’s been going on in your life, what brings you to therapy, and what you hope to achieve. We’ll also talk about our approach to therapy and how we can tailor the process to fit your unique needs. There’s no pressure to dive too deep in the first session — we move at the pace of relational safety - a pace that you set and feels comfortable for you. 

Yes! Our services are available in-person in Orange County and accessible to Los Angeles County as well as via video (telehealth) for clients residing in California or Michigan. Your provider will help you make a decision about which setting is right for you.

Therapy is an investment! You are worth the investment. Your kids are worth the investment. 

Thank you for considering us for your care. We believe it is important to be upfront about our fees so you can make the right choice for yourself and your family. 

Session Fees:

• $275 for 45 minute weekly session.

• $325 for 55-60 minute session, such as for extended EMDR or couples sessions.

• $500 for 85 minute "double" session.

• A lower fee (or "sliding scale") may be available to those who qualify or under certain circumstances. Please reach out if you have questions. For therapists-in-training, a reduced rate is available.

Payment:

• Payment is due at the time of each session. We use a system called IvyPay which is a HIPAA-compliant (private) credit card processing app that sends you a text where you can enter your payment information. We accept credit cards, debit cards, cash, and checks. You can also use your Health Savings Account (HSA).

Insurance:

• Safe Haven Psychology Center is an out-of-network provider and does not bill insurance companies directly. However, depending on your health care plan, certain services may be reimbursed to you in full or in part by your health insurance provider, such as PPO plans. Other health care plans, like HMO's or MediCal, do not reimburse for out-of-network care which means that as the client, you would be responsible for the full amount charged by your therapist.  We can provide you with a superbill (an itemized receipt) upon request, which you can submit to your insurance company for potential reimbursement or you can sign up for Mentaya (see below) for support in that process. Please note that reimbursement rates vary depending on your insurance plan, and we recommend contacting your insurance to confirm your out-of-network benefits.

• Why don't we take insurance directly? For many reasons. Mostly because we value quality care for our clients and we value your privacy. Click the link for more information.

• The good news: We are now partnering with Mentaya, a service that streamlines getting reimbursed for your therapy sessions through out-of-network benefits.

  • Mentaya is perfect if you:

    • Have out-of-network benefits

    • Feel overwhelmed by superbills and insurance

    • Have submitted superbills but failed to get any reimbursement

    • Simply want to skip the hassle of paperwork!

• Here's how it works:

1. Verify your benefits. Mentaya makes it easy: https://www.besttherapists.com/benefits-checker 

2. Let your therapist know you would like to use Mentaya

3. Sign up for Mentaya: https://mentaya.co/inviteclient/FaxkhzRASUaCnTZoKMB3 

4. Our practice will enter your sessions into the platform.

5. Mentaya submits the claim and handles any insurance follow-up.

6. You get reimbursed by insurance! Mentaya charges a 5% fee per claim, which includes handling any paperwork required, dealing with denials, and calling insurance companies. It's risk-free: They guarantee claims are successfully submitted, or a full refund of their fees.

Cancellation Policy:

• We kindly ask for 48 hours' notice if you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment. Your session time is reserved just for you. Cancellations with less than 48 hours' notice will incur a late cancellation fee of the session fee regardless of the circumstance.

If you have any questions about fees or policies, feel free to reach out. We're happy to clarify any details.

Yes! With specialized training in working with children at Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), UCLA TIES for Families including infant mental health and adoption/foster care, and Western Youth Services, we work with individuals of all ages, including infant mental health (0-5 year olds), school-aged children, adolescents, and adults. If your little one (or not so little one) is struggling and you're at the end of your rope or just not sure how to best support them, we've got you!

Whether you or your child are struggling with trauma, anxiety, or attachment difficulties, we are here to help. Our practice is equipped to support young children through approaches like Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), and all ages through Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) as well as older children, teens, and adults dealing with complex trauma and relational challenges. 

Absolutely! We offer specialized support for parents, including those dealing with trauma, attachment challenges, or foster/adoption challenges. We help parents navigate the complexities of raising children with behavioral difficulties, anxiety, or trauma histories, offering tools to strengthen the parent-child bond. Parenting is never easy, and we’re here to provide guidance and strategies to help you raise your children, find joy in your connection, while also addressing your own personal growth. 

Read more here. 

Yes! We provide comprehensive psychological testing and assessments for both children and adults, including evaluations for ADHD, autism, and other complex diagnostic concerns. If you suspect that you or your child might have undiagnosed challenges, you've been searching for answers for a long time, or if you’re experiencing symptoms that don’t seem to fit what you've been diagnosed with before, we can help you get a clear understanding. Particularly for adolescent and adult women who might not fit the stereotypes of autism or ADHD, or put a lot of effort into blending in (often called camouflaging or masking), an appropriate assessment can be hard to find. We're here to help you find answers. Each evaluation includes a detailed report with personalized recommendations and resources. 

Read more here.

Dr. Rachael Berg-Martinez's approach is compassionate, depth-oriented, relational, reflective, and evidence-based, with a focus on creating a safe, supportive environment where clients can explore their concerns and work toward healing. Her therapy is tailored to each individual's unique strengths, cultural background, spiritual beliefs, and relational patterns to ensure the best outcomes.

She has over a 15 years of experience working in diverse settings, including community mental health clinics, university counseling centers, and non-profit organizations. She holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, with a foundation in relational and attachment-based psychodynamic therapy, interpersonal neurobiology, and reflective parenting, and is trained in various evidence-based practices, including EMDR, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), and Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). 

Depth-oriented relational and attachment-based psychodynamic therapy (which honors the impact of early relationships and experiences on a person throughout their life) informed with the latest techniques, strategies, and science. Our approach is holistic and tailored to each individual, combining the following methods with a depth understanding to create a personalized treatment plan that respects your cultural background, spiritual beliefs, and relational needs. 

• Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)

• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), certified

• Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT): a parent coaching model for children ages 2 to 8 with trauma and/or difficult behaviors (tantrums, defiance, aggression)

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) 

• The TIES Transition Model including Adoption-Specific Psychotherapy (ADAPT)

• Perinatal Mental Health certified (PMH-C) 

Coming soon! Ever seeking to stay at the forefront of research and practice, Dr. Rachael Berg-Martinez is currently training in the following:

• Synergetic Play Therapy® (2008), a researched-informed model of play therapy blending the therapeutic power of play with nervous system regulation, interpersonal neurobiology, physics, attachment, mindfulness, and therapist authenticity. It grew from personal experience and research in neuroscience, Interpersonal Neurobiology, and attachment theory (see Badenoch, 2008; Porges, 2011; Schore, 1994; Siegel, 1999 for coverage of the ideas behind SPT). Preliminary research suggests that SPT significantly improves emotional tolerance and regulation (Dion & Gray, 2014; Simmons, 2020).

• SPACE, which stands for Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions and is a parent-based treatment program for children and adolescents with anxiety, OCD, and related problems. SPACE was developed by Dr. Eli Lebowitz at the Yale Child Study Center and has been tested and found to be efficacious in randomized controlled clinical trials.

We prioritize creating a safe, non-judgmental environment where you can explore past trauma without fear of re-traumatization. Our approach emphasizes empowerment, relational safety, and sensitivity to your unique experiences. We focus on helping you reclaim control, heal relational wounds, and understand how trauma impacts your mental health and relationships, including intergenerational trauma, childhood abuse and neglect, sexual violence, systemic oppression, spiritual abuse, and attachment issues. 

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a scientifically supported therapy used to help people process traumatic memories and reduce their emotional impact. It involves focusing on specific eye movements or bilateral (across the mid-line of the body) input while reprocessing distressing experiences, which can help rewire how your nervous system (thoughts, emotions, body sensations) holds and experiences these memories, making them less overwhelming. EMDR is particularly effective for those with PTSD, anxiety, and attachment issues, and we tailor this approach to each client's needs, including specialized training in attachment-based EMDR. 

Read more about EMDR here. 

At Safe Haven Psychology Center, we are committed to providing a welcoming, inclusive, and accessible environment for all clients. Our office is located on the second floor of a building without an elevator, which may present challenges for individuals with mobility impairments.

To support accessibility and client comfort, we offer the following accommodations:

• Telehealth Appointments – Clients who are unable to access our office in person are welcome to schedule virtual therapy sessions.

• Alternative Meeting Arrangements – When possible, we will work with clients to find an accessible meeting location if in-person services are needed.

• Sensory Accommodations – We understand the importance of sensory-friendly environments. We often work with neurodiverse people and are happy to adjust to your sensory needs.  Lighting can be bright or dim and you'll find an office with plenty of fidgets and other items to make your visit more welcoming.  Many people find it helpful to have something to keep their hands or eyes busy during session. Contact us today to discuss your specific sensory or other needs.

• Respect for Communication Preferences – We recognize that some individuals may prefer to limit or avoid eye contact. Our therapists are mindful of this and will adjust their interaction style to ensure a comfortable and supportive therapeutic experience. You can lay down on our cozy couches, wrap yourself in a blanket, or sit on the floor - whatever makes you feel most comfortable.

• Assistance Upon Arrival – If you need additional support when visiting our office, tend to get lost in new spaces and worry about finding the office, please contact us in advance, and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.

If you have any questions or require specific accommodations, please reach out to us today to discuss your specific sensory or other needs. We are committed to making our services as inclusive and accessible as possible.

Your privacy is our priority and part of making the therapeutic relationship a safe one. 

Consumer Privacy Policy: This privacy policy outlines how we collect, use and protect your personal information in accordance with our website. 

Selling or Sharing of Personal Information

We do not sell your personal information. 

Types of information we may collect from the people who visit our website.

You may be asked to submit your personal information via our contact form, including name, date of birth, phone number, email address and other details so we can provide our services to you and set up a private patient portal should you decide to move forward with services. 

Sources of Personal Information

We collect information from you when you fill out and submit a contact form on our website.

How we use your personal information

We may use such information in the following ways:

• To allow us to respond to your request for contact in a timely fashion to determine if we are a good fit for what you are looking for and to schedule your first appointment should you choose to do so.

• To provide information to your Provider to create a private patient portal if you decide to move forward with services.

• With your consent, to allow your Provider to communicate with you via phone or email regarding current and future appointments and other issues that arise. 

How we protect the information we receive

Your personal information is contained behind secured networks and is only accessible by a Safe Haven Psychology Center's director, who has special access rights to such systems, training in HIPAA-compliant practices, and is required to keep the information confidential. In addition, all sensitive information you supply is protected and all technology platforms (google workspace, Sessions Health electronic records) have signed BBA agreements to keep your information secure.

Retention of Your Personal Information

We will only retain your personal information for as long as legally necessary. We will retain and use your information to the extent necessary to comply with our legal obligations (for example, if we are required to retain your data to comply with applicable laws), resolve disputes, and enforce our legal agreements and policies. 

California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)

Under the CCPA, California consumers have the right to:

• Request that a business that collects a consumer's personal data disclose the categories and specific pieces of personal data that a business has collected about consumers.

• Request that a business delete any personal data about the consumer that a business has collected.

• Request that a business that sells a consumer's personal data, not sell the consumer's personal data. (We do not sell your dat

If you make a request, we have one month to respond to you. If you would like to exercise any of these rights, please contact us at info@safehavenpsychology.com

Notice of Clinical Privacy Practices

We take confidentiality and privacy very seriously. Likewise, the law protects the relationship between client and psychotherapist, therefore information cannot be disclosed without your specific written permission. However, there are a few exceptions, by law, that you will need to be aware of:

• Suspected child, dependent adult, or elder abuse, for which we are required by law to report immediately to the appropriate authorities.

• If a client is threatening serious bodily harm to another person or persons, we must notify the police and inform the intended victim(s).

• If a client intends to harm themself, we will make every effort to enlist their cooperation in insuring their safety. If they do not cooperate, we may take further measures without their permission that are provided to us by law in order to ensure their safety.

Under Section 2799B-6 of the Public Health Service Act, you have the right to receive a 'Good Faith Estimate' explaining the cost of your medical care. This estimate outlines the expected charges for psychotherapy services for patients who do not have insurance or are choosing not to use insurance. There are no additional costs beyond the session fees outlined in your consent form, and you can submit a superbill to your insurance for out-of-network reimbursement if applicable. For more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit cms.gov/nosurprises or call (800) 985-3059.