FAQ

I have appointments available Monday through Thursday during the day and in the evening. The best way to discuss available appointments is to schedule a free 20-minute phone consultation.

Sessions are 50 minutes in length, unless we determine ahead of time that a longer session is necessary.

Individual sessions (50 minutes) are $225. Couple/Family 50-minute sessions are $265.

Payment is accepted in the form of cash, check, credit card or Venmo. At this time, all of my sliding-scale spaces are occupied.

I am an out-of-network provider, which means I do not accept insurance directly.

I am able to supply you with a monthly receipt called a “Superbill,” which you can submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement, depending on your plan and benefits. The best way to find out if you have benefits is to call your insurance provider directly.

Regardless of the outcome of the reimbursement claim, payment in full is due at the time of service.

There are several ways to get in touch with me – either to schedule a free 20-minute consultation (which many clients like to do) or schedule a first appointment:

Call or text me at (805) 410-3193. Please feel free to leave me a voicemail on my confidential messaging system if I am unavailable to answer the phone in person. I will return your call by the end of the day.

Email me at nicolebarkhordari@gmail.com.

Fill out the Contact Form at the bottom of the page, and I will get in touch with you within 24 hours.

If you’re ready to get started, let’s book that consultation now!

I kindly ask that you provide me with at least 24 hours’ notice if you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment.

Any cancellations less than 24-hours or “no-shows” will be charged the full session fee.

No need to fill out an extraneous amount of paperwork! I will have everything ready for you when you come in for your first visit… and it will only take a few minutes – painless, I promise!

We will sit down to a cup of coffee or tea… and maybe even a snack. The first session is an opportunity for me to get a feel for who you are, what some of your concerns might be, and to get an idea of what life has been like for you recently.

It’s also an opportunity for you to get to know me. It’s important that you feel that your therapist is a good fit for you, so there will be plenty of time for you to ask me questions, too!

I work with individuals, couples, and families – both men and women.

Yes, you will have homework… but will you do your homework? That depends on you and how quickly you want to make progress.

Typically, clients start out by coming to therapy once per week… then may gradually reduce the frequency of sessions after discussing progress, symptoms, and remaining goals with the therapist.

Many people enjoy coming to therapy and may wish to continue the process for months or years. Others come with a more specific issue and may feel that a shorter time is appropriate.

I always want my clients to feel comfortable talking about how therapy is progressing!

Thank you! I have been with my husband a long time. We dated for 7 years and have now been married for 7 years!

His mom and brother are psychologists, so I always say he is an honorary therapist. He can talk the talk and “therapize” me just as good as anybody.

Because we are on similar levels of self-awareness, both personally and within our relationship, we have always been very active in making our relationship a priority: improving communication, growing together, and fighting healthy.

My first-hand experience as a wife is just as valuable as my certification. I’m formally certified in Level 1 Gottman Couples Therapy, as a “Bringing Baby Home” educator, and a co-facilitator of an EFT emotionally focused therapy (EFT) couples workshop… and I’ve worked with couples in therapy for several years. With all that, I think my first-hand experience as a wife has been just as valuable!

I am also a mom of two amazing kiddos! Just like any parents, I know that it’s hard – especially trying to be patient with little versions of impatient you. And, as a mom, I REALLY love funny parenting quotes, like these that I’ve seen on T-shirts:

“Motherhood. A story about coffee getting cold.”

“I want my children to be independent, headstrong people. Just not while I’m raising them.”

Bark-hor-dari. It’s Persian. I am just a very light-skinned Persian… just kidding. My husband is Persian and his family is full of rich culture, amazing food, huge families, and epic parties!

Being American, our marriage was definitely the joining of two very different worlds! Ball gowns in a barn sums it up! 

Let’s play the “two truths and a lie” game. Make your guess!

As a baby I was featured in a Pamper’s ad.

I was a dancer in a music video for J.Lo.

I was in a photo shoot with Fabio for “Can’t Believe it’s Not Butter.”