GUIDE · LEVELS OF CARE
Questions to ask any virtual IOP in California
Choosing a virtual intensive outpatient program is a big decision. These are the questions worth asking any program before you start, with how Kin Wellness answers each one.
A clinician should help you decide which level of care fits.
THE CHECKLIST
Questions to ask before you start
Are your clinicians licensed in California?
Ask for license types and numbers you can check on the state license search. Every Kin clinician is licensed or registered in California, and our team page lists each license.
Who is my individual therapist, and when do I meet them?
At Kin, you meet your individual therapist in your first week, then at least once a week.
What are the exact group times?
Ask for clock times in your time zone. Kin groups run Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 12 PM or 5 PM to 8 PM Pacific.
Who is in the groups?
Ask about ages and focus. Kin groups are for adults 18 and over, for mental health only, not substance use.
Will you check my benefits before I start?
Ask what you would pay and how out of network benefits or plan approvals work. Kin checks your benefits and explains your costs before you commit.
How fast can I start?
Kin usually calls back within 15 minutes during office hours, and most people go from first call to first group in 2 to 3 days.
What happens when I finish?
Ask about aftercare. Before you finish at Kin, we build an aftercare plan with you, such as stepping down to weekly therapy.
When a different level of care is safer
IOP is not an emergency service. If you need medical detox, round the clock supervision, or you are in immediate danger, a higher level of care is the right place to start, and we can point you toward it. If you are in crisis now, call or text 988 or call 911.
WHICH ONE FITS
Which one fits
The right level of care depends on how much symptoms are affecting your days, how safe you are at home, and how much support you have around you. A clinician should help you decide.
A higher level of care, like PHP or residential, is the safer place to start if
You are struggling to get through each day.
Things are getting worse quickly.
You have recently been in the hospital.
You are in immediate danger. Call 911, or call or text 988.
If you are not sure
Call us at 949.706.8610. Part of the first conversation is figuring out the right level of care.
If IOP is not the right fit, we will tell you and point you toward what is.
IOP at Kin Wellness
9 to 15 hours a week. Three hour sessions, three to five days a week. We set the number of days with you.
Morning or evening. 9 AM to 12 PM or 5 PM to 8 PM Pacific, Monday through Friday.
By video, anywhere in California. You need a private space and an internet connection. Groups meet by video. Individual sessions, EMDR and medication appointments can also happen in person at our Fountain Valley office.
ALSO WORTH ASKING
A few more things to check
CRISIS SUPPORT
Ask what happens if you are in crisis between sessions. Kin is not an emergency service. If you are in crisis, call or text 988 or call 911.
MISSED SESSIONS
Ask whether you are charged for groups you miss. Kin does not charge for missed groups.
YOUR OUTSIDE THERAPIST
Ask how the program works with your current therapist. Most Kin clients pause outside therapy during the program, then go back to their therapist when they finish.
QUESTIONS
Common questions about choosing a virtual IOP
Is a virtual IOP as structured as an in person one?
It runs on a set schedule of three hour sessions, three to five days a week, with a treatment plan and a team that talks to each other. At Kin, individual sessions, EMDR and medication appointments can also be in person at our Fountain Valley office.
Do I have to be in California during sessions?
Yes. Our clinicians are licensed in California, so you need to be in the state each time you join a session.
Can I do a virtual IOP while working?
Most people do. The evening track runs 5 PM to 8 PM Pacific for people who work during the day.
Does insurance cover a virtual IOP?
Many plans cover intensive outpatient care, including by video. Coverage depends on your plan, so we check yours before you commit. We do not accept Medi-Cal or Medicare.
How soon can I start?
Most people go from first call to first group in 2 to 3 days.
If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) or call 911. Our program is not an emergency service.
Related: What is an IOP · IOP vs PHP · When weekly therapy isn’t enough · Virtual IOP · Team · Insurance and cost
Insurance: Aetna · Anthem · Blue Cross Blue Shield · Cigna · United Healthcare · All plans
Where we serve: Orange County · Los Angeles County · Inland Empire · San Diego County · Bay Area · Sacramento · Central Valley · Ventura and Santa Barbara · North State · All 58 counties
WHO YOU WOULD WORK WITH
A small team you will actually get to know
Kin Wellness is run by its clinicians. The people below are the people in your groups, and the full team is on the Team page.
Cofounder and Clinical Director, LCSW #80761, Ph.D Candidate
Paola Mercado Demeza, AMFT
Cofounder and Lead Clinical Therapist, Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist #15190. Supervised by Angelina DeSanto, LCSW, Ph.D Candidate
Dr. Joe DeSanto, MD
Angelina DeSanto, LCSW
Medical DirectorLET US HELP
Tell us how to reach you
Tell us how to reach you and someone from our team will call you back. The first conversation is short and confidential: what has been going on, what your questions are, whether this is the right level of care for you, and what it would cost with your insurance. There is no obligation to enroll, and if it is a fit you can start right away.
Prefer to call?
949.706.8610
Office hours Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 8 PM Pacific. In person care at 8780 Warner Ave, Ste 11, Fountain Valley CA 92708.