What is Well?

Well is an online outpatient mental health clinic offering comprehensive, evidence-based psychosocial support for patients across California. If you are a teen, adult, or older adult experiencing depression, anxiety, grief—or feeling “stuck” or uncertain about your life choices—we are here for you.

At Well, we offer a wide variety of mental health services to match the unique needs of our patients. Our therapy programs work with teens, adults, and older adults in the assessment, treatment, and management of psychological distress and mental health disorders. Our support groups provide meaningful, empowering opportunities for social connection, education, and growth. Our integrated behavioral health care solutions are meant to bring mental health care to patients in primary care settings where they regularly receive health care and discuss issues related to their mental health. This is the future of mental health care, uniting care of the mind and body. Well is mental health care reimagined: convenient, personalized, accessible.

We put people before technology. Our services are online to provide better access to quality, safe, and effective mental health services, and we’re committed first and foremost to your well-being. Through our online sessions, we create bonds of trust and make lasting, positive changes in mood, outlook, and coping skills. At Well, you can expect your mental health care experience to be professional, simple, and enjoyable.

Who can use Well?

Residents of California in the United States are eligible to use Well at this time.

We are committed to providing services that are affordable, accessible, and convenient to meet the unique needs of patients across California.

The two biggest reasons people delay or don’t seek mental health care treatment are cost and stigma. Well will work with every patient to make sure these barriers to treatment don’t prevent you from receiving the care you deserve.

Using telehealth can also be confusing. We’ve made it easy to login for appointments by following the link to the Patient Portal at the top of the page. All messages from the Well team will come through the Patient Portal, which also works to protect your information and ensure you never have to worry about the security of your health care information.

Every Californian deserves this kind of simple access to the best evidence-based mental health care.

Where are Well services available?

Well’s services are only offered to residents of California in the United States at this time.

No matter where you live in California, Well is here for you.

What kinds of care are available through Well and who provides the treatment?

Well provides two types of services directly to our patients: individual care and group programs.

Our individual care services include psychotherapy, assessment, and medication management for teens, adults, and older adults.

Psychotherapy services are conducted by licensed doctors of clinical psychology who work with individuals to address thoughts, behaviors, and emotions contributing to mental health disorders.

Assessment services are conducted by licensed doctors of clinical psychology who specialize in clinical neuropsychology. Neuropsychological assessments involve answering standardized questions related to how your brain functions in day-to-day situations or tasks. The types of assessments you take depend on your unique mental health experiences.

Medication management is completed by a board-certified medical doctor like a psychiatrist. Psychiatrists will review your needs and work with you to develop a treatment plan that matches your individual needs, which may include prescribing new medications or continuing prescriptions for existing medications. Psychiatrists will collaborate with your other Well providers to ensure continuity of care.

Group programs are run by Well therapist with expertise in marriage and family therapy, social work, or counseling psychology. Some group therapists may be interns preparing for licensure who are under the supervision of licensed clinicians at Well.

Integrated behavioral health care, or collaborative care, is a partnership service formed with primary care clinics. Patients at these primary care clinics will be able to receive treatment through the primary care provider or may opt to or be referred to seek additional services through Well’s individual care or group programs.

Is online mental health care different than seeing my provider in person?

Studies over the last decade have indicated that mental health care delivered via telehealth is equivalent to in-person treatment when delivered in the same way. This means that the online environment should provide you and your clinician with the same ability to work through mental health issues in real-time via video and telephone communication. Well is committed to creating a full mental health clinic online to make sure you have the same comprehensive, evidence-based treatments available to you wherever you are whenever you need it.

There are some mental health conditions that may warrant specific referrals to in-person care. We will work with you directly to address these concerns as they arise. Additionally, if you are experiencing a mental health crisis, we will refer you to resources provided by the state of California in order to make sure you receive the help you need immediately.

How much do services cost and can I use my insurance?

Well has partnered with several major health care insurance providers in California, including Medicare, United Healthcare, Tricare, and Humana and we are in the process of credentialing with even more insurance providers in order to provide you with the financial resources to access affordable mental health care online. If individuals do not have insurance or if Well is considered out-of-network, costs have been capped at levels significantly below service rates in California. If you need help understanding your insurance, our team can help! See individual cost breakdowns below.

Out-of-Network Fees:

• $150-$180 for individual psychotherapy (based on provider level)

  • Sliding Scale Fees are available with Associate Therapists capped at $60 per session.

• $170-$200 for couple's psychotherapy (based on provider level)

  • Sliding Scale Fees are available with Associate Therapists capped at $60 per session.

• $45 Group therapy sessions (*Some group programs require individuals to commit to 4 weeks in the program.)

• $270 Initial Diagnostic Evaluation with a Well Psychologist

• $300 Initial Diagnostic Evaluation with a Well Psychiatrist

• $75 medication management appointments with a Well Psychiatrist

What’s the difference between a psychiatrist and a psychologist?

A psychiatrist is a physician who has board certification in psychiatry. The psychiatrist focuses on the medical management of prescriptions for individuals with mental health disorders.

A doctor of clinical psychology has a doctorate degree (PhD or PsyD) in clinical psychology, has been licensed by the California psychological association, and can provide psychotherapy, perform psychological assessments, and diagnose mental health disorders. A psychologist cannot prescribe medication in the state of California.

Clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, and licensed professional counselors have received a masters degree and obtained state licensure in order to provide therapy services for individuals and groups. These providers cannot prescribe medication but can perform clinical evaluations and treat mental health disorders related to their specialty and expertise.

How long does therapy last?

Each individual therapy session lasts 1 hour and typically occurs one time per week. Individual therapy programs may last for a few or several weeks to several months depending on each patient’s particular needs and goals. You will work directly with your provider to create a program that works for you. Evidence-based psychotherapy protocols are goal-directed and designed to help you feel better over specific time frames. Our goal at Well is not to keep you in psychotherapy forever — we want you to feel better!

Each group program session will last 90 minutes. The group programs have been intentionally designed to last four-weeks, or be accessible to drop-in to at any time.

The duration of neuropsychology testing sessions will vary depending on your needs and the assessments administered.

How does online therapy work through Well?

Online therapy at Well will work just like in-person therapy. We ask that you find a quiet, comfortable place for privacy so that you can connect with your Well providers.

To get started, you will first fill out the form on the Get Started page to create an account and receive a Welcome Packet to fill out in the patient portal. You will also be able to schedule your initial appointment with our Digital Care Coordinator. Next, you will receive a notification via the patient portal to connect to your video appointment with Well’s Digital Care Coordinator who will help you determine the best next steps for you based on your interests in individual care and/or group programs. Our Digital Care Coordinator will schedule your first visit with your individual care provider or group. Finally, you will receive a message from your provider via the patient portal with your video link to sign in to your first appointment.

If you have any questions about getting started with telehealth, please see the Preparing for Telehealth eBook for more information about accessibility options and preparing for your appointment with your provider through our secure patient portal.

What are “evidence-based treatments”?

Evidence-based treatments for mental health disorders are treatments that have been studied in randomized clinical trials and shown to reduce patient’s mental health disorder symptoms, improve their quality of life, and better manage their mental health in their daily lives. Evidence-based treatments are more likely to be delivered in set time frames (e.g. 10 weekly sessions for 50 minutes) and follow clinical protocols. Well’s providers use evidence-based treatments in order to make sure you receive the best care available and can start feeling better sooner.

How does group therapy work?

Our group programs are brief, focused, and empowering. Our groups run for four weeks and focus on specific skills including coping with challenging thoughts and feelings and learning relaxation techniques like mindfulness. Our groups connect patients with other members of the Well community and provide exposure to important mental health skills that can improve your life and build up your resilience to stress. For those with immediate needs, ongoing, always open “drop-in” groups are available to start and stop anytime.

Participants in groups may also be patients receiving individual care or may feel more comfortable signing up for individual care after getting familiar with mental health care topics in the group settings. Groups also offer a number of specific benefits like opportunities to build connections with others and to practice new skills with others in a safe environment. Community can be a powerful catalyst for change, and our groups are here to bring new opportunities for wellness to you wherever you may be in your care journey.

What if I want to attend a group and receive individual care?

All new patients at Well will complete a Welcome Packet where they will fill out specific surveys and questions that will help the Well clinical team determine which services will best fit their preferences. Some patients will be able to participate in groups, individual care, or both. This decision will be made collaboratively with the Well team to ensure your safety and the safety of our community.

What is integrated behavioral health or collaborative care?

Integrated behavioral health (or collaborative care) is the integration of mental and physical health care delivery in the primary care setting. With Well’s integrated behavioral health partnerships, our clinicians partner with primary care physicians to receive direct referrals, provide brief services immediately after your primary care visits, or some combination of these options. When your primary care doctor is working within an integrated care partnership with Well, our team will communicate with your doctor regularly about your mental health, and your Well clinicians will be considered team members with your primary care doctors.

Can anyone use the integrated/collaborative care services?

Integrated/collaborative care services are only available for patients whose primary care physicians have partnered with Well specifically. Patients from integrated/collaborative care partner clinics will be able to access all of Well’s services, however.

How do you protect my personal information?

Well is first and foremost a mental health clinic designed to deliver the same quality care you would expect in-person. Therefore, Well treats your personal information the same as any health care provider and follows the same federal regulations outlined by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) as well as guidelines and practices outlined by the American Psychological Association and the American Psychiatric Association. All of our computer systems and partners must also protect your personal information and be compliant with HIPAA as well.

For more information about how personal data is protected through our patient portal, please read the Privacy Policy from Kareo.

Can I see my records from any treatment I receive through Well?

Under HIPAA, you can access most but not all of your medical records. You can obtain a record of any treatment that you receive from a psychiatrist through Well. You can not obtain your therapist’s notes from your online therapy sessions. However, your therapist and Well will work with you to provide any documentation you may need about your treatment.

How do I know if online mental health care is right for me?

Well’s services are comprehensive yet personalized. Perhaps you have previous experience with mental health care and would like to try a new telehealth provider. Perhaps this is your first time reaching out for mental health care treatment because providers committed to evidence-based treatments are not available in your area. No matter where you are in your care journey, Well is here for you. Well’s clinical team can assist with feelings of sadness or depression, worry, feeling unsettled or uncertain about your life, struggling with new life circumstances or changes in your life, and many other feelings or concerns. Well is for everyone, and we are here to help. If you’re unsure of where to begin, please schedule a free 15-minute consultation to speak with a Well expert and figure out your next steps! You can schedule this call by following the same steps to get started.

What are the benefits of mental health care?

Mental health and physical health go hand in hand in helping you feel well. By participating in Well’s services, we will guide you through your mental health care journey helping you to manage your thoughts and feelings, and work through any issues that may be reducing your quality of life and causing you distress. Your treatment will be provided by California-licensed mental health care experts and will be utilizing the most up-to-date evidence-based treatments that match your needs. We also are committed to providing you with empowering tools to continue to build mental health into your everyday life and encourage you to take advantage of our unique tools or engage in our brief, focused groups. While your treatment for specific mental health problems will be time-limited, Well will always provide ongoing resources for support, coping, and maintenance of your mental health. Achieving wellness is a journey, and we are ready for you to join us!

What technology do I need in order to use Well?

We understand that access to certain technology may be a barrier to your use and ability to attend online appointments. For this reason, Well will offer services via videoconferencing as a default with the option to complete some therapy sessions by phone if needed. In order to log in for your video appointments at Well, you will need a reliable internet connection and a compatible device (smartphone, tablet, or computer) in order to ensure your data protection and privacy. For any client that needs assistance reviewing their technology, we are happy to support you and will review this information with our team. Our Digital Care Coordinators are trained as technology navigators to assist you in connecting with your appointments. Telehealth is for everyone, and Well is making good on that promise.

How do I get started using Well?

Here are three easy steps to get started with Well:

First, visit the Get Started page and provide the information needed to set up an account with our patient portal. The Well team will send you your login credentials and the Welcome Packet in your email. Finally, you will also be able to schedule your initial appointment with one of our Digital Care Coordinators.

Second, you’ll meet with our Digital Care Coordinator to get set-up with a provider or connected with a group. During this appointment, you will review your information and schedule your first appointment with one of our providers or your group depending on your preferences and needs.

Third, you’re ready to go! Your provider will send you a link to sign on for your appointments via the patient portal.

Have other questions? Feel free to send us a message at hello@wellonline.com!