You can feel better again.
Life’s challenges are growth opportunities, but it’s difficult to do it alone.
Talk is not enough. Come discover how your body, your relationships, and your spiritual life can aid you on your path to wellness. Let’s begin this healing journey together.
Schedule a free consultation now.
Phone
(415) 890-3791
Location
201 Spear Street Ste 1100 San Francisco, CA 94105
E-MAIL
care@phuongertley.com
Therapeutic Services Fees
Individual (50 Minute Session) $380.00
Couples and Family (50 Minute Session) $430.00
STANDARD NOTICE
“Right to Receive a Good Faith Estimate of Expected Charges”
Under the No Surprises Act
You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost.
Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.
You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees.
Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least one business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service.
If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.
Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate.
For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call Mindful Living, Inc. at (415) 890-3791.
What clients have to say…
(All names have been changed to protect client confidentiality.)
About Laurie
“Why is a rough tuber called jicama my favorite food?”
–Laurie Phuong Ertley, MA, SEP
Psychotherapist & Spiritual Guide
LMFT #85042
Because it provided the fresh water desperately needed by my mother, cousin, and me while we were adrift in the Indian ocean, searching for a safe haven. I was a boat person, a child refugee of the Vietnam War. The Vietnamese people were slaughtered by the Americans, dominated by the Japanese, enslaved by the French, and ruled by the Chinese. My body has survived sexual, physical, mental, verbal, and emotional abuse. I belong to a whole generation of traumatized people.
The code of survival is in my DNA.
Building on the foundation of my ancestors, my journey has been to move from struggle to freedom. Despite the pain and suffering, I believe love and kindness form the core of who I am. That moral code is what I aspire to embody on a daily basis. I am here to explore the fullness of my heart/mind/body’s capacities. I am here to be alive!
I invite you to join me on this journey.
My healing path thus far includes:
• Walking on two pilgrimages through concentration camps in Germany
• Volunteering at an orphanage in Tanzania, Africa
• Embarking on a Zen Buddhist pilgrimage from Colorado to California
• Practicing yoga for 25 years
• Teaching yoga for 14 years
• Undertaking 4 years of Feldenkrais training
• Providing Esalen massage therapy
• Mastering Reiki energy therapy
• Performing in the theatrical show, “Laughter from the Children of War”
• Meditating at 10-day Vipassana retreats
• Practicing at a Zen monastic temple in Okayama, Japan
• Earning a Bachelor’s degree in East-West Psychology
• Completing a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology
• Training in a 12-year mentorship program in Family Therapy
• Professorship at a graduate school psychology program
• Triage with Kaiser Permanente medical volunteers to aid survivors of Hurricane Katrina
• Facilitating trauma training to survivors of genocide in Cambodia
• Training therapists in family therapy in Mexico
• 23 years of clinical experience.
My explorations have allowed me expansive moments of understanding and a visceral respect for the human capacity to grow and heal – even in the heat of adversity. Because I have suffered, I became a healer. Only those who have known suffering intimately can fully understand and appreciate the value of kindness.
I would be honored to share the love and care that has been given me by so many, and to apply my therapeutic skills to help you heal as well.
FAQ’s
1) What is your rate?
I have 23 years of experience in the field, including senior training positions at family therapy and addiction clinics. My expertise has garnered me speaking and teaching positions at professional psychology conferences, training institutes, and graduate schools. My rate starts at $380 per 50-minute session for individuals and is higher for couples, families, and office settings. Longer session fees are commensurate with time allotted.
2) What is the “No Surprises Act”?
You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost.
Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.
You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees.
Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least one business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service.
If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.
3) Why aren’t you on insurance panels?
Insurance company values and client values conflict. Clients want the best care for their money, while insurance companies want to spend the least amount of money per service. Insurance panels are a viable resource for individuals and families with financial hardship. The old adage applies in mental health as elsewhere in the marketplace: You get what you pay for.
The option that accounts for both quality and value is out-of-network reimbursements. Clients receive the highest quality care, and the insurance makes it affordable. Deductible amounts vary.
Here’s how it works: Clients pay regular fees. I then provide them with a statement to submit to their insurance. Insurance reimburses them a percentage of the cost. With this option, savvy consumers take advantage of their employee benefits and receive the expert care they deserve.
4) What is the frequency of treatment?
In the mental health profession, standard of care is weekly. Studies show that in order for therapy to be effective, clients must engage in it once a week. My 23 years of experience has corroborated this finding. If you're results-driven, weekly counseling is the recommendation.
5) Is online counseling as effective as in-person counseling?
My experience has shown that tele-therapy is a viable and effective form of therapy. It reduces the barriers for couples and individuals with busy schedules. Therapy from home also allows your animal companions to assist you in your healing. Tele-therapy means you’ll be in a safe and secure environment: your home or office. Reducing barriers to therapy supports continuity of care. As stated before, standard of care is weekly at the minimum for best results.
6) How does your training and experience match my issues?
In my 23 years of practice, I’ve helped clients with the following issues:
Relational/marital conflict
Work performance
Anxiety
Sex and intimacy
Trauma recovery
Addiction recovery
Grief
Life transition: new job, new baby, relocation, job loss
Coming out
Chronic pain
Depression
Cultural identity
Race-based stress
Adults with childhood abuse
I didn’t list personal growth, because that’s the outcome of good therapy, no matter the issue.
7) Are you LGBTQ-friendly?
Absolutely. My home is in the San Francisco Bay Area because respect for and celebration of diversity is a core value of mine. I strive to create a safe space for all my clients and am well positioned to address the effects of systemic oppression on mental health.
8) How do you work?
Mindfulness is a cornerstone tool in my practice. I’m an active presence in your therapy, equipping you with new tools for mastery. I've spent 6 years in post graduate studies earning my advanced certification in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy as well as 3 years earning my Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP) certificate. I am also trained in Laurel Parnell’s Attachment-Focused EMDR modality as well as Stephen Terrell’s and Kathy Kain’s Somatic Resilience model. All of these modalities are rooted in neuroscience and attachment theories.
A unique competence is my 25-year background in Zen meditation. In 2017, I completed a month-long training at a Zen monastery in Okayama, Japan. I also embody 15 years of experience teaching yoga and 22 years of practice. In 2015, I completed a 4-year training in the Feldenkrais method.
Continuing education is a core value of mine, and that adds up to more impact, better value, and results for my clients.
*** Your question not listed here?
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