FAQ
Are you accepting new clients?
I currently have a waiting list for new clients, as of August 12, 2024.
Are you seeing clients in person?
Yes, I am seeing clients in person.
Do you take insurance?
I am not contracted with any insurance companies, so I am considered an “out of network provider” for all insurance plans.
If you have a plan that provides benefits for services with out of network providers (most plans aside from HMO plans, Medicare, and Medicare supplemental plans do), you may be able to be reimbursed by your insurance for all or a portion of your session fees.
If you would like to seek reimbursement, please let me know and I will be happy to explain the process of how to do so.
If you would like to check your benefits before contacting me, call your insurance company and ask if you have out of network benefits for outpatient mental health office visits. You can also ask if you have an out of network deductible you would need to meet before your benefits kick in.
What is your fee?
50 minute sessions are $250.
90 minute EMDR sessions are $450.
How do I make an appointment?
You can schedule your free phone consultation with me here: https://keriann-long.clientsecure.me/request/service
If you do not see any appointments available, you are welcome to send me a message to see if I am taking new clients or have a waiting list.
In our call, I will make sure I would be a good fit to help you. If so, we will schedule your first appointment at the end of our call.
Where is your office located?
My office is in downtown Santa Barbara, on the corner of State Street and Ortega Street. There are entrances on State Street and on Ortega Street.
629 State Street, Suite 228
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Where should I park?
The easiest place to park is in City Lot 10, on the corner of Ortega Street and Anacapa Street. It can be accessed from either street.
The Paseo Nuevo parking lot on Chapala Street is another option, as well as street parking.
How long is a typical session?
Talk therapy sessions are 50 minutes.
EMDR typically starts with at least three 50-minute sessions, then transitions to 90-minute sessions.
How often do I need to see you?
I encourage my clients to meet with me weekly at the start of therapy. This helps us build a solid working relationship, creates positive momentum for you, and helps make therapy more effective.
If you find weekly therapy no longer feels necessary, but you are still finding therapy to be helpful and supportive overall, I am open to reducing the frequency of your sessions to something that meets your needs (typically every other week, monthly, or on an as-needed basis). I find that my clients and I tend to be on the same page about this. When clients want to make this change, I am usually in support of it.
Many people drop down in frequency to every other week or once a month as they are preparing for therapy to come to an end, or when they are in “maintenance” mode.
What can I expect in the first session?
At the start of your first session, we will briefly discuss my policies and my approach to your care. You will have a chance to ask any questions you have. Then, you will have the rest of the session to share more about what is bringing to you to therapy and help me get to know you. If you need direction on what to talk about, I will guide you. Otherwise, you will be welcome to share freely.
Then what?
If you are coming to see me for EMDR, we will spend the first few sessions discussing your history and identifying some supportive resources for you (like an imagined peaceful place, nurturing figures, protective figures, and wise figures). This will help us prepare for working directly on your upsetting memories.
If you are coming to see me for talk therapy, once I get a good idea of what you are experiencing, we will start working together on new ways of thinking about and approaching the things that are bothering you. Therapy will also be a safe space for you to notice and feel through the emotions that go with what you are experiencing in a way that doesn’t feel overwhelming.
How do I pay?
You can pay by credit, debit, HSA or FSA card. You will enter your information in my secure client portal and automatically be charged after each session. If you meet with me in person, you are also welcome to pay by check.
What is the best way to get in touch with you?
I like to have a phone conversation before scheduling an initial session, because it’s easiest to have a dialogue that way. After our initial phone call, text is best for appointment changes. Email also works, but I check it less frequently. If you have something therapy-related you would like to discuss, phone is best.
Who do you work with?
I primarily work with adults in their 20s-40s.
Do you work with people from diverse backgrounds, ethnicities, and religions?
Yes, I welcome people from all backgrounds, ethnicities, and religions to my practice. I recognize that there are cultural or religious factors that may influence your decisions and how you live your life. While I generally have a good idea of these factors, I encourage you to share how they show up in your life and in your family specifically.
I am particularly familiar with the cultural values and traditions of Latine families and Indian families.
Do you work with LGBTQIA+ folks?
Yes. My practice is LGBTQIA+ affirming.
How long will I be in therapy?
That really depends on your goals, your life experiences, and whether or not you have been in therapy before.
Some people who come to see me for EMDR, especially those who have experienced just a few traumatic events, find relief quickly.
Others who have a more complex history of trauma find that EMDR takes more time.
Some folks who come to me for talk therapy find they can resolve what has been bothering them fairly quickly.
Others find that they benefit from the ongoing personal growth of therapy over the long-term and choose to stay in therapy for multiple years.
You will always get to decide when it is the right time for you to end therapy.
Many people choose to leave when their goals are met and come back if new issues arise, which you are welcome to do as well.
Do I have to talk about things I don’t want to talk about?
I will never force you to talk about something you don’t want to talk about. I might gently encourage you, if I think talking about a certain topic is important to your well-being. But I am patient, and I can wait until you feel more comfortable.
Above all, you decide what you share and don’t share.
Will you make me take medication?
Whether or not you take medication will always be your choice. If you would like to try medication, I can provide referrals to local psychiatrists. If I think medication will be helpful for you, I may suggest that you have a medication evaluation.
If you are already on medication and I have your permission, I am happy to communicate with your psychiatrist to help coordinate your care across providers and make your therapy more effective.
What is your educational and training background?
I have a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology degree, and I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.
I have had diverse training and experience that have exposed me to many ways to approach therapy.
I have synthesized all of that and primarily operate from a client-centered and strengths-based perspective, using techniques from Attachment-Focused EMDR, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Family Systems Theory, Psychodynamic Theory, Buddhist Psychology, Mindfulness Meditation, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to help with specific challenges.
I completed Attachment-Focused EMDR Training through the Parnell Institute, which is an EMDRIA approved EMDR Basic Training. I am also certified in EMDR by the EMDR International Association.
How long have you been in practice?
I began practicing therapy as a trainee in 2008, and have been licensed since 2013.
Do you offer video or phone sessions?
Yes, I offer both.
I find that video calls are a great alternative when meeting in person isn’t possible.
How do I make the most out of therapy?
Show up consistently.
Be as open and honest as possible, even when it’s uncomfortable.
Allow me to support you.
Try new things that we discuss.
Share your real experience of how that goes.
Be open to feedback and alternative ways of thinking about things.
Have you ever been in therapy?
I have, and it absolutely changed my life for the better. I highly recommend it.