FAQ

DO I NEED THERAPY?

Therapy is a personal choice and can benefit anyone seeking additional support to manage life stressors. Mental health is vital to physical health, and they share a bidirectional relationship. Whether you are struggling with stress, depression, anxiety, relationships, or other challenges that may feel overwhelming or interfere with your daily functioning, speaking with a licensed psychologist can help you gain greater insight and tools to cope effectively.

Finding the right therapist can feel overwhelming; sometimes, it is a process of trial and error. As such, Dr. Bemis encourages you to make a 15-minute phone consultation to discuss your concerns and whether you may be a good fit. You can contact Dr. Bemis via phone or email.

Dr. Bemis is an independent contractor with Alma, a technology-enabled mental health group that helps clients find therapists who accept insurance. If you booked an appointment via Zocdoc, Dr. Bemis will transfer your desired appointment time to Alma so that your insurance can be billed.

If you are an existing client, you can book a session directly via Zocdoc:
https://www.zocdoc.com/professional/stacy-bemis-psyd-389181

Please view the "Contact" page to check for any updates to office hours. Group therapy sessions are TBD.

Individual therapy sessions are typically held once per week for 45-50 minutes. As sessions continue, the frequency of sessions may change depending on your progress. Dr. Bemis will work collaboratively with you to discuss and determine whether you may benefit from an increase or decrease in the number of therapy sessions.

Clients can cancel by text, phone, or email up to 24 hours before their appointment without being charged. The full fee for the appointment will be charged to the client if cancellation is less than 24 hours prior to the session.

Dr. Bemis is a licensed psychologist based in Orange County, California, and can provide therapy to California residents. She is currently providing services via a HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform only. However, she anticipates resuming in-person therapy sessions soon.

No. A clinical psychologist's scope of practice does not include medication prescriptions. If you are interested in psychiatric medication, Dr. Bemis can refer you to a psychiatrist who can conduct an assessment to determine your medication needs. With your permission, Dr. Bemis is always open to connecting with them to coordinate your care.

Although Dr. Bemis offers skills training in individual therapy wherein clients learn four major modules from dialectical behavior therapy (DBT): mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness, she does not provide DBT treatment. For a program to be considered DBT, it must include four components to treatment: individual therapy, group skills training, in-between session coaching, and a weekly consultation team for the therapists. As such, Dr. Bemis highly recommends comprehensive DBT treatment for individuals with BPD or those struggling with intense emotion dysregulation, impulsivity, self-injury, or suicidal behaviors. Please visit DBT California or call 1-800-624-1475 to inquire about comprehensive DBT services.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) is a federal law that requires the creation of national standards to protect sensitive patient health information (PHI) from being disclosed without the patient's consent or knowledge. As a healthcare provider, Dr. Bemis' private practice is a covered entity subject to HIPAA and the Privacy Rule and Security Rule. While the HIPAA Privacy Rule safeguards PHI, the HIPAA Security Rule ensures that covered entities maintain the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of all electronic PHI by detecting and safeguarding against anticipated threats to the security of PHI. For more about HIPAA, visit https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-individuals/index.html

Dr. Bemis utilizes HIPAA-compliant Google Workspace to communicate via email. She provides telehealth using Zoom's HIPAA-compliant platform under the Business Associate Agreement (BAA) license to conduct live therapy sessions. Her confidential phone number is also BAA-licensed. For more information on HIPAA, visit https://explore.zoom.us/docs/doc/Zoom-hipaa.pdf