FAQ

No referral is required. You can schedule directly by contacting us through the website, email, or phone. We recommend beginning with a free 15-minute consultation to make sure Big Valley Therapy is a good fit before committing to ongoing sessions.

Your first session focuses on building safety, understanding what brought you here, and clarifying your goals. Your therapist will review informed consent, confidentiality, and what to expect from the process. You will not be pushed to share anything you are not ready to share.

Please complete all intake paperwork before your first appointment — incomplete forms may reduce session time.

You do not need to prepare anything specific. Simply complete your intake paperwork beforehand and come as you are. Some people find it helpful to jot down a few thoughts about what has been difficult lately or what they are hoping to get from therapy — but this is entirely optional. There is no right or wrong way to begin.

Yes. Big Valley Therapy welcomes clients of all faith backgrounds and none. Josh has experience working with LDS and other religious clients — including those navigating faith-related stress, pornography recovery within a religious context, or betrayal trauma in faith communities. Therapy respects your values and never imposes a particular worldview.

Absolutely. Individual therapy is valuable regardless of whether your partner participates. Working on your own emotional patterns, boundaries, and responses often creates meaningful change in your relationship even before couples therapy begins. You do not need your partner's involvement to start healing.

Most sessions are 50 minutes for self-pay and 53 minutes for insurance-billed sessions, in accordance with insurance time-based billing requirements (CPT codes 90837 and 90847).

Most clients begin with weekly sessions to build momentum and consistency. Over time, sessions may shift to biweekly or less frequently depending on progress and goals. Scheduling is always a collaborative decision.

There is no fixed timeline. Some clients reach their goals in 8–12 sessions; others benefit from longer-term support, especially when working through complex trauma or rebuilding a relationship. Progress is reviewed regularly and decisions about pacing are made collaboratively.

Yes. We offer both in-person sessions at our Sandy, Utah office and telehealth therapy for clients anywhere in Utah. Insurance coverage for telehealth varies by plan — we verify this before your first session. Some plans only cover in-state telehealth.

If you feel progress has stalled or something about the approach is not working for you, please say so. Therapy works best when both people can be honest about what is and isn't helping. We regularly check in about this and are happy to adjust the approach, the focus, or the pacing. If Big Valley Therapy is not the right fit, we will help connect you with a referral.

Insurance coverage varies by plan. Before your first session, we verify your benefits to determine whether therapy is covered and what your copay, coinsurance, or deductible may be. See our Rates & Insurance page for a full verification guide.

We are credentialed with Aetna, Cigna/Evernorth, EMI Health, PEHP, Regence BCBS Utah, Select Health, Tricare West, VA CCN, and United Health Care. We do not accept Medicare. HSA/FSA, bishop/clergy pay, and superbills for out-of-network reimbursement are also available.

Self-pay rates are $175 per individual session and $200 per couples session. Intake sessions are $225 (individual) and $250 (couples). See our Rates & Insurance page for full details.

No. Big Valley Therapy does not offer payment plans or a sliding fee scale. Session fees are consistent for all clients.

Yes. Everything you share in therapy is confidential. There are a small number of legally required exceptions — including imminent risk of harm to yourself or others, child abuse, or a court order. Your therapist will explain these clearly before therapy begins. You can also review our Notice of Privacy Practices for full details.

A therapist (like an LMFT) provides talk therapy — helping you work through emotional, relational, and behavioral patterns. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who can diagnose mental health conditions and prescribe medication. Big Valley Therapy provides therapy only. If medication may be helpful, we are happy to assist with a referral.

Cancellations: At least 24 hours' notice is required to cancel or reschedule. Late cancellations or no-shows may be charged the full session fee. Insurance does not cover missed-session fees.

Each client receives one late-cancel / no-show waiver per calendar year. After that, fees apply fairly and consistently.

Late arrivals: Sessions end at the scheduled time if you arrive late — lost time cannot be added to future appointments. Self-pay clients are responsible for the full session fee. Insurance clients are billed for actual time provided.