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 or book your consultation directly.

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

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. 

Psychotherapy Session Fees:

• $285 for 45 minute weekly sessions.

• $350 for 55 minute initiate therapy intake session.

• $330 for 55 minute session, extended EMDR sessions, couples or family therapy, or for those who just prefer a little extra time.

• $525 for 85 minute "double" session.

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

Psychological Testing Fees can be found here.

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.

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, Washington state, or Michigan. Your provider will help you make a decision about which setting is right for you.

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 is psychodynamic psychologist with specialized training in trauma, attachment, and perinatal mental health. Her approach is relational, depth-oriented, and guided by both the latest research and trauma-informed best practices.

At Safe Haven Psychology Center, therapy is tailored to honor your unique story, cultural background, faith, and relational needs.

Learn more about Dr. Berg-Martinez's background and approach here.

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) 

• Synergetic Play Therapy® 

• SPACE, Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions 

At Safe Haven Psychology Center, we create a safe, non-judgmental space where you can explore trauma without fear of re-traumatization. Our approach emphasizes empowerment, relational safety, and deep respect for your unique experiences.

We help you reclaim control, heal relational wounds, and understand how trauma — including childhood abuse, neglect, sexual violence, systemic oppression, spiritual abuse, and attachment disruptions — impacts your mental health, emotions, and relationships across generations.

We offer multiple trauma-focused therapies to support lasting healing. Learn more here.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) helps reprocess traumatic memories so that your nervous system doesn't keep reacting to something from your past as if it is happening today. 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 the personal information gathered through our website.

Selling or Sharing of Personal Information

We do not sell your personal information.

Types of Information We May Collect

If you contact us through our website, you may be asked to submit personal information — including your name, date of birth, phone number, email address, and other details — so that we can respond to you, provide our services, 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 this information in the following ways:

• To respond to your request for contact in a timely fashion, determine whether we are a good fit for what you are looking for, and 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 by phone or email regarding current and future appointments and other issues that arise.

How We Protect the Information We Receive

Your personal information is stored behind secured networks and is accessible only by a director of Safe Haven Psychology Center who has special access rights to these systems, is trained 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 we use (including Google Workspace and Sessions Health electronic records) operate under signed Business Associate Agreements (BAAs) to help keep your information secure.

Retention of Your Personal Information

We retain your personal information only 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, where retention is required by applicable law), 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 personal information disclose the categories and specific pieces of personal information it has collected about the consumer.

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

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

If you make a request, we have one month to respond. 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. The law protects the relationship between client and psychotherapist, and information cannot be disclosed without your specific written permission. However, there are a few exceptions required by law that you should be aware of:

• Suspected child, dependent adult, or elder abuse, which we are required by law to report promptly 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 themselves, we will make every effort to enlist their cooperation in ensuring their safety. If they do not cooperate, we may take further measures permitted by law to ensure their safety.

Safe Haven Psychology Center — Notice of Privacy Practices

Updated 9-7-2026

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW HEALTH INFORMATION MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.

I. My Pledge Regarding Health Information

Health information about you and your health care is personal, and I am committed to protecting it. I create a record of the care and services you receive from me. I need this record to provide you with quality care and to comply with certain legal requirements. This notice applies to all records of your care generated by this mental health care practice. It explains the ways in which I may use and disclose health information about you, describes your rights to the health information I keep about you, and describes certain obligations I have regarding the use and disclosure of your health information. Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), you have certain rights regarding the use and disclosure of your protected health information. I am required by law to:

• Make sure that protected health information ("PHI") that identifies you is kept private.

• Give you this notice of my legal duties and privacy practices with respect to health information.

• Follow the terms of the notice that is currently in effect.

I can change the terms of this Notice, and such changes will apply to all information I have about you. The new Notice will be available upon request, in my office, and on my website.

Where California law provides greater privacy protections than federal HIPAA regulations, this practice will follow California law, including the California Confidentiality of Medical Information Act (CMIA) and applicable California professional confidentiality laws.

II. How I May Use and Disclose Health Information About You

The following categories describe different ways that I use and disclose health information, with examples. Not every use or disclosure is listed, but all permitted uses and disclosures will fall within one of these categories.

For Treatment, Payment, or Health Care Operations. Federal privacy rules allow health care providers who have a direct treatment relationship with the patient/client to use or disclose the patient's health information without written authorization, in order to carry out the provider's own treatment, payment, or health care operations. I may also disclose your PHI for the treatment activities of any health care provider, which can also be done without your written authorization. For example, if a clinician consults with another licensed health care provider about your condition, we are permitted to use and disclose your otherwise-confidential health information to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of your mental health condition. Disclosures for treatment purposes are not limited by the HIPAA "minimum necessary" standard, because providers may require access to complete clinical information to ensure safe, effective, and coordinated care.

Lawsuits and Disputes. If you are involved in a lawsuit, I may disclose health information in response to a court or administrative order. I may also disclose health information in response to a subpoena, discovery request, or other lawful process by someone else involved in the dispute, but only if efforts have been made to tell you about the request or to obtain an order protecting the information requested. When legally permitted, reasonable efforts will be made to notify you prior to disclosure.

III. Certain Uses and Disclosures Require Your Authorization

Psychotherapy Notes. I keep "psychotherapy notes" as that term is defined in 45 CFR § 164.501. Any use or disclosure of such notes requires your Authorization unless the use or disclosure is:

a. For my use in treating you.
b. For my use in training or supervising mental health practitioners to help them improve their skills in group, joint, family, or individual counseling or therapy.
c. For my use in defending myself in legal proceedings instituted by you.
d. For use by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to investigate my compliance with HIPAA.
e. Required by law and limited to the requirements of such law.
f. Required by law for certain health oversight activities pertaining to the originator of the psychotherapy notes.
g. Required by a coroner who is performing duties authorized by law.
h. Required to help avert a serious threat to the health and safety of others.

The content of psychotherapy notes is not entered into any external artificial intelligence (AI) clinical decision-support tool. See Section V.

Specially Protected Information. Certain categories of information receive heightened protection and are not disclosed except with your specific written authorization or as otherwise permitted by law:

• HIV/AIDS-related information, which receives additional protection under the CMIA, is not entered into any external AI clinical decision-support tool.

• Substance use disorder (SUD) treatment records protected under federal law (42 CFR Part 2) are disclosed only pursuant to a separate, dedicated Part 2 written consent that meets the requirements of 42 CFR § 2.31. See Section V and the Part 2 redisclosure notice below.

Marketing Purposes. As a psychotherapist, I will not use or disclose your PHI for marketing purposes.

Sale of PHI. As a psychotherapist, I will not sell your PHI in the regular course of my business.

IV. Electronic Communications

The practice may communicate with clients through secure electronic systems, including secure client portals, email, electronic scheduling systems, telehealth platforms, and electronic billing services (IvyPay). While the practice takes reasonable steps to protect confidentiality and uses HIPAA-compliant platforms where appropriate, electronic communications may carry some privacy risks. Clients are encouraged to protect access to their own devices, accounts, voicemail, and email systems. Electronic communications should not be used for emergencies or urgent mental health situations.

V. Clinical Tools and Healthcare Operations Technology

The practice may use clinically appropriate, HIPAA-compliant tools and technologies to support the delivery of mental health services, psychological assessment, documentation, billing, scheduling, and healthcare operations. These tools may include, but are not limited to:

• Electronic health record (EHR) systems

• Secure client portals

• Telehealth platforms

• Scheduling and practice management systems

• Billing and payment processing systems

• Clinical decision-support tools used for evidence-based care and treatment planning

• Secure document storage and communication systems

All such tools are used to support treatment, payment, and healthcare operations and are selected based on reasonable safeguards for confidentiality, security, and compliance with HIPAA and the CMIA.

AI Clinical Decision-Support Tools and Your Authorization. Where a specific tool involves the disclosure of your PHI to an external AI clinical decision-support platform (OpenEvidence), the practice obtains your separate written authorization before entering your PHI, consistent with the CMIA (Cal. Civ. Code § 56.11) and HIPAA (45 CFR § 164.508). You may decline to have your PHI entered — and may decline use of the tool altogether — without affecting the quality of your care or your treatment relationship. When PHI is entered, the practice limits it to the minimum necessary to accomplish the clinical purpose. Psychotherapy notes and HIV/AIDS-related information are not entered into such tools, and substance use disorder records protected under 42 CFR Part 2 are entered only pursuant to a separate, dedicated Part 2 consent.

The practice does not use clinical technology to make autonomous clinical decisions. All clinical judgment, diagnosis, treatment planning, and interpretation of assessment data are made solely by the licensed provider. Technology is used only as an adjunct to professional clinical judgment.

Business Associate Agreements. Where required, the practice maintains Business Associate Agreements (BAAs) with vendors who create, receive, maintain, or transmit PHI on behalf of the practice. This includes a signed BAA with OpenEvidence governing the use, safeguarding, and protection of any PHI entered into that platform.

Use of these systems will always comply with applicable federal and California privacy laws and any additional informed-consent requirements that may apply to specific tools or services.

42 CFR Part 2 Redisclosure Notice. To the extent this practice creates, receives, maintains, or discloses substance use disorder treatment records protected under 42 CFR Part 2, such records are protected by federal confidentiality rules. The federal rules prohibit any further disclosure of information that would identify a patient as having or having had a substance use disorder — directly, by reference to publicly available information, or through verification by another person — unless further disclosure is expressly permitted by the written consent of the individual whose information is being disclosed or as otherwise permitted by 42 CFR Part 2. A general authorization for the release of medical or other information is NOT sufficient for this purpose. The federal rules restrict any use of the information to investigate or prosecute any patient with a substance use disorder in connection with a crime, except as provided at 42 CFR §§ 2.12(c)(5) and 2.65. You have the right to revoke a Part 2 consent in writing at any time, effective prospectively.

VI. Certain Uses and Disclosures Do Not Require Your Authorization

Subject to certain limitations in the law, I can use and disclose your PHI without your Authorization for the following reasons:

• When disclosure is required by state or federal law, and the use or disclosure complies with and is limited to the relevant requirements of that law.

• For public health activities, including reporting suspected child, elder, or dependent adult abuse, or preventing or reducing a serious threat to anyone's health or safety.

• For health oversight activities, including audits and investigations.

• For judicial and administrative proceedings, including responding to a court or administrative order, although my preference is to obtain an Authorization from you first.

• For law enforcement purposes, including reporting crimes occurring on my premises.

• To coroners or medical examiners performing duties authorized by law.

• For research purposes, including studying and comparing the mental health of patients who received different forms of therapy for the same condition.

• For specialized government functions, including ensuring the proper execution of military missions; protecting the President of the United States; conducting intelligence or counter-intelligence operations; or helping to ensure the safety of those working within or housed in correctional institutions.

• For workers' compensation purposes. Although my preference is to obtain an Authorization from you, I may provide your PHI in order to comply with workers' compensation laws.

• Appointment reminders and health-related benefits or services. I may use and disclose your PHI to remind you of appointments (including by voicemail, email, or secure messaging) and to tell you about treatment alternatives or other health care services or benefits that I offer.

Note: The categories above do not authorize entry of your PHI into an external AI clinical decision-support tool. As described in Section V, that disclosure is made only pursuant to your separate written authorization.

VII. Certain Uses and Disclosures Require You to Have the Opportunity to Object

Disclosures to family, friends, or others. I may provide your PHI to a family member, friend, or other person you indicate is involved in your care or the payment for your care, unless you object in whole or in part. The opportunity to consent may be obtained retroactively in emergency situations.

VIII. Couples and Family Therapy Records

Couples and family therapy records may be considered a joint clinical record.

IX. Your Rights With Respect to Your PHI

The Right to Request Limits on Uses and Disclosures. You may ask me not to use or disclose certain PHI for treatment, payment, or health care operations. I am not required to agree, and I may decline if I believe it would affect your health care.

The Right to Request Restrictions for Out-of-Pocket Expenses Paid in Full. You may request restrictions on disclosures of your PHI to health plans for payment or health care operations if the PHI pertains solely to a health care item or service you have paid for out-of-pocket in full.

The Right to Choose How I Send PHI to You. You may request confidential communications and that I contact you in a specific manner or at a specific location (for example, only at a certain phone number, mailing address, or secure method). I will accommodate all reasonable requests.

The Right to Decline or Limit Use of AI Clinical Decision-Support Tools. You may request that AI tools not be used in your care, or that your PHI not be entered into any AI tool. If you make this request, I will rely on traditional methods of clinical research and decision-making, or will limit queries to de-identified information. Declining will not affect the quality of your care or your treatment relationship.

The Right to Receive Notice of a Breach. You have the right to be notified if your unsecured PHI is breached in a manner requiring notification under HIPAA, the CMIA, or applicable California law.

The Right to File a Complaint. If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with Safe Haven Psychology Center, Inc. or with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights. Filing a complaint will not result in retaliation or affect your care in any way. Complaints to the practice may be directed in writing to: Safe Haven Psychology Center, 12395 Lewis Street, Suite 204, Garden Grove, CA 92840.

The Right to See and Get Copies of Your PHI. Other than "psychotherapy notes," you have the right to get an electronic or paper copy of your medical record and other information I have about you. I will provide a copy of your record, or a summary if you agree to receive one, within 30 days of receiving your written request, and I may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee. Both California law and professional standards require your provider to maintain clinical records for at least seven (7) years after the end of treatment for adults, and for minors, for at least seven (7) years after the minor reaches age eighteen (18), but in no event less than until age twenty-five (25), unless a longer retention period is required by law. If you have concerns regarding your records, please discuss them with your Provider. You have the right to review or receive a summary of your records at any time, except in limited legal or emergency circumstances or when your Provider assesses that release might compromise your physical safety. Your Provider will release information to any appropriate agency or person you specify. When more than one client is involved in treatment (such as in couples therapy), your Provider will release records only with signed authorizations from all adults involved. You have the right to inspect your treatment record. If you believe any statement is in error, you may request that the person who made the entry correct it; your request and the action taken will be noted in the record. If the professional stands by a statement with which you disagree, you may add a written amendment stating why you believe the entry is in error, and that amendment will be included any time that section of the record is released.

The Right to Get a List of the Disclosures I Have Made. You may request a list of instances in which I disclosed your PHI for purposes other than treatment, payment, or health care operations, or for which you provided an Authorization. I will respond within 60 days. The list will include disclosures made in the last six years unless you request a shorter period. The first list each year is free; additional requests in the same year may incur a reasonable, cost-based fee.

The Right to Correct or Update Your PHI. If you believe there is a mistake in your PHI, or that important information is missing, you may request that I correct or add the information. I may decline, but I will tell you why in writing within 60 days.

The Right to Get a Paper or Electronic Copy of This Notice. You have the right to a paper copy of this Notice and to a copy by email. Even if you have agreed to receive this Notice by email, you may still request a paper copy.

Effective Date

This notice went into effect on 09/24/2024. Revised/updated on 9/07/2026.

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.