FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions About Therapy, Coaching, and Getting Started with Praxis
Questions Are Normal
Reaching out for therapy or coaching often comes with uncertainty.
Many people are interested in support but still have practical questions, hesitations, or concerns before taking the first step.
We’ve gathered answers to the questions we hear most often.
If you don’t see your question here, feel free to reach out.
Getting Started
How do I get started?
If you’re not sure who you want to work with, you can book a free 20-minute Matching Call and we’ll help you identify the therapist or coach who may be the best fit.
If you already know who you’d like to meet with, you can request an initial consultation directly through the Get Started page.
What happens after I reach out?
If you book a Matching Call, our intake coordinator will speak with you briefly about what you’re looking for, answer questions, and help identify a therapist or coach who may be a good fit.
If you request an initial consultation with a specific clinician, we’ll review your request, confirm fit and availability, and follow up with next steps.
Is the initial consultation free?
Praxis offers a free 20-minute Matching Call if you want help deciding who to work with.
An initial consultation with a clinician is a full therapy or coaching session. If you and the clinician decide to continue working together, the consultation is billed along with your second session. If either of you determines that the fit is not right, we waive the consultation fee and, when possible, help connect you with a better-fit referral.
We believe you should be able to determine whether a therapeutic relationship feels right without paying for a poor fit.
How soon can I start?
Availability varies by clinician. If you’re ready to begin, we’ll help you identify the soonest appropriate opening based on fit, schedule, and whether you prefer in-person or telehealth care.
Therapy Questions
How do I know if therapy is right for me?
Therapy may be helpful when anxiety, relationship strain, emotional pain, past experiences, or recurring patterns are making it harder to live or relate the way you want to.
You do not need to be in crisis. Sometimes therapy begins simply because something in your life no longer seems to be working—and you want to understand why.
What if I’ve never done therapy before?
That’s completely normal. Many clients begin therapy unsure what to expect. You do not need to know exactly what to say or have everything figured out before starting.
What happens in the first therapy session?
The first session is a chance for you and your therapist to understand what brings you in, explore what you hope might change, and begin getting a sense of whether the relationship feels like a good fit.
Do I need to be struggling severely for therapy to be worthwhile?
No. Many people who appear capable and successful still find themselves anxious, disconnected, stuck in relationships, uncertain about who they are becoming, or carrying more than they know how to manage.
Therapy can be valuable not only for reducing distress, but for understanding yourself more deeply and developing greater capacity for the life and relationships you are carrying.
Men’s Therapy Questions
What does therapy for men look like at Praxis?
Therapy at Praxis is honest, practical, and depth-oriented. We help men understand what is happening beneath anxiety, anger, disconnection, relationship strain, or a loss of direction and then work to translate that understanding into meaningful change.
What if I’m not good at talking about feelings?
You do not need to arrive emotionally articulate. Part of the work can be learning to recognize, understand, and put language to experiences that you may have carried for a long time without knowing how to name.
What do men come to therapy for?
Men come to Praxis for many reasons. Much of what we work with includes anxiety, anger, relationship difficulties, fatherhood stress, identity and purpose related concerns, major life transitions, or the pressure of carrying responsibilities that few other people see.
Couple’s Therapy Questions
What if one of us is more motivated than the other?
That is common. Couples do not need to begin with equal enthusiasm, but the work requires both partners to be willing to participate honestly and take some responsibility for the relationship.
Can couples therapy help if we keep having the same fight?
Yes. Repetitive conflict is often less about the specific issue and more about the pattern the couple keeps getting pulled into. Therapy helps slow that pattern down, understand what is driving it, and develop different ways of reaching one another.
Can couples therapy help after trust has been damaged?
Often, yes. Rebuilding trust requires honesty, accountability, and sustained effort from both partners. Therapy can help couples understand what happened, determine what repair requires, and discover whether trust can be rebuilt.
Coaching Questions
What is the difference between therapy and coaching?
Therapy often begins when something hurts, feels stuck, or continues to shape your life in ways you want to understand and change. It may involve anxiety, trauma, relationship difficulties, emotional pain, or longstanding patterns.
Coaching is better suited to people who want greater clarity, direction, accountability, or intentional movement around purpose, leadership, fatherhood, identity, or a major life transition.
Can I choose coaching instead of therapy?
Sometimes. The right fit depends less on the topic itself and more on what kind of work is needed. If significant emotional distress, trauma, or mental health concerns are central to what you are experiencing, therapy is usually the more appropriate place to begin.
Is coaching private?
Praxis treats coaching conversations with care and discretion. Coaching, however, is not psychotherapy and does not carry all of the same legal protections, clinical requirements, or confidentiality rules that apply to therapy.
Logistics
Do you offer online sessions?
Yes. Praxis offers virtual services where appropriate and permitted.
Do you offer in-person sessions?
Yes. Praxis offers in-person sessions in Sierra Madre, California.
Where can I learn about insurance or rates?
Please visit our Insurance & Rates page for current information.
For Clinicians
Do you offer consultation for therapists?
Yes. Praxis offers facilitated consultation groups for clinicians seeking continued growth, sharper thinking, and collegial support.
What is the Clinical Formation Fellowship?
The Clinical Formation Fellowship is a 12-month developmental program for emerging therapists seeking mentorship, community, and deeper formation.
Are you hiring?
Visit our Careers at Praxis page for current opportunities or to express interest.
Where is Praxis located?
Sierra Madre, CA
71 W Sierra Madre Blvd, Sierra Madre, CA 91024
Hours
Monday–Saturday
7:00 am – 9:00 pm
Phone
(626) 578-5803