Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Everything discussed in our sessions is private and protected by law under California confidentiality statutes and HIPAA.

There are a small number of legal exceptions to confidentiality that I am required to disclose. These include situations involving imminent risk of harm to yourself or others, suspected abuse of a child or dependent adult, or a court order. Outside of these specific circumstances, nothing you share leaves the room.

For executives and professionals who are concerned about privacy, I want to be direct: your name, your attendance, and anything you discuss with me will not be shared with your employer, your colleagues, or anyone else without your explicit written consent.

I do not bill insurance directly and am considered an out-of-network provider. That said, many clients are able to get 40-80% of session costs reimbursed through their plan.

This guide walks you through how to find out what your insurance covers and what to do with that information.

At the end of each month I will email you a superbill, an itemized receipt documenting the previous month's sessions.

You submit that directly to your insurer and they send reimbursement to you.

Before you call your insurance company

Set aside 15 to 30 minutes. Have a pen and paper ready. You will need your:

• Insurance card

• Personal information including name, date of birth, address and phone number.

• If the policy is under someone else's name such as a spouse or parent, have their information ready as well.

What to ask when you call

• Does my plan include out-of-network mental health benefits?

• What is my co-insurance rate and what percentage of services is covered?

• Do I have an out-of-network deductible? If so, how much has been met and when does the deductible period reset?

• Are there any requirements to access out-of-network benefits such as prior authorization or a referral from my primary care physician?

Please check the usual and customary fee and percentage covered for the following CPT codes:

90791 — Intake session

90837 — Ongoing sessions

• Is there a session limit per year and if so how many sessions do I have remaining?

Write down before you hang up

The date and time of your call, the name of the representative you spoke with, and the reference number for the call. You may need these if a reimbursement claim is questioned later.

What your monthly superbill will include

Your superbill will have everything your insurer needs to process your claim:

• Provider name: Vineel Maharaj

• License: California LMFT 123091

• NPI: 1205280575

• Federal Tax ID number

• Diagnosis codes (DSM-5 and ICD-10)

• CPT procedure codes

The first step is a free 15 minute consultation call. This is a conversation, not a commitment. We use it to get a sense of what you are dealing with and whether we are a good fit to work together.

If it feels right on both sides, we schedule your first session from there.

You can book the consultation directly using the link below.

Schedule Your Free Consultation

If we move forward after the consult call, the second session is a deeper assessment. We look at what is actually going on and begin mapping out what you want to be different.

From there, sessions are 50 minutes and build on each other. I get to know you and how you move through the world.

As we work together you develop a clearer understanding of what is driving your patterns and what changing them actually looks like in practice.

The first session is a conversation, not a performance. You do not need to arrive with everything figured out or know exactly what to say. Most people find it easier than they expected.

Progress is not linear. There will be sessions that feel productive and sessions that feel frustrating. Both are part of the process.

If something is not working, say it. That conversation is often more useful than anything else we could do that hour.

That depends on what you bring in and whether you are willing to look at the harder stuff underneath.

A colleague of mine put it well:

"If I could give you advice that would solve all your problems, you probably could have gotten it from the internet, AI chatbot, or a friend. I am here to collaborate with you to explore your options. You are in the driver seat. I do not have the answers but I can help you find them within yourself."

When you begin to understand what is actually driving your patterns, things that once felt overwhelming become workable. That is not a promise of an easier life. It is a different relationship with the one you have.

There is no standard timeline. Therapy ends when the work is done and that looks different for everyone.

Some people come in with one specific thing to work through and reach their goals within a few months. Others find that once they start, they want to go deeper and continue building on what they have learned.

As long as progress is happening and there is something meaningful to focus on, we can keep working together.

Most clients start weekly. Some shift to biweekly once they gain stability and have more to process between sessions.

We figure out what makes sense based on what you are working through and what your schedule allows. This is something we can revisit and adjust as we go.

When we agree on a regular time, that hour is reserved exclusively for you.

I ask that cancellations be rescheduled within one week, either the week before, the week of, or the week after the missed appointment. This keeps your progress consistent and ensures your time slot stays protected.

I currently offer weekend sessions by appointment, Saturday and Sunday from 8am to 2pm. This works well for professionals who prefer not to step away from work during the week.

Weekday availability is limited and considered on a case-by-case basis. Reach out and we can find what works.

My practice is focused exclusively on individual adults. I do not offer couples therapy, family therapy, or group sessions.

If you are looking for couples therapy, I am happy to point you toward a referral.

I do not offer sliding scale pricing.

If cost is a concern, I encourage you to look into your out-of-network benefits as many clients receive significant reimbursement through their insurance plan.

The full guide is available on this page under the insurance question above.