Reaching out for mental health or HIV support can feel like a big step. At Shanti Orange County, we designed intake to be human, clear, and low-pressure.
Step 1: You Call or Email
During Mon–Fri, 9 am – 5 pm PT, call (949) 452-0888 or email [email protected]. A staff member answers, not a phone tree. You can describe what you are going through in your own words. There is no quiz and no obligation to enroll on the spot.
If you prefer writing, use our Contact form. The same intake team reads every message.
Step 2: We Listen, Then Match You
Intake asks about your situation: mental health concerns, HIV status, language needs, schedule, and whether you prefer in person or telehealth. Based on that conversation, we may connect you to:
- Mental health counseling (individual, couples, teens)
- HIV case management (navigation, benefits, medical coordination)
- Support groups (open meetings or clinician-led HIV therapy group)
- Psychological testing and evaluation (multi-session evaluation with written report)
- Community education or external referrals when Shanti is not the right fit
You do not contact clinical teams directly. Intake handles routing so you land in the right place the first time.
Step 3: You Start at Your Own Pace
Most people are scheduled within one to two weeks of completing enrollment paperwork, though timing can vary with demand. After an inquiry, you will often receive Simple Practice forms within 24 hours. Once those are submitted, we reach out again to book your first session.
Your first appointment is typically about an hour. A counselor listens, asks clarifying questions, and helps map realistic next steps. You can ask anything about confidentiality, fees, or language access before you commit to ongoing care.
Where Visits Happen
In person: at Shanti Orange County's office in Laguna Hills — 23461 South Pointe Dr., Suite 100, Laguna Hills, CA 92653, with free parking on site.
Telehealth: Available for counseling across all of California, not only Orange County.
Support groups have their own schedules; see Support groups for Círculo Latino and the HIV therapy group.
Insurance and Cost
You do not need insurance to call. We accept many insurance plans, including CalOptima, for eligible services; intake verifies your specific coverage before your first session. If you are uninsured, low-cost counseling fees are $65 (unlicensed therapists) or $100 (licensed therapists). Open support groups like Círculo Latino are free. Intake will explain costs for your specific program before you begin.
Confidentiality
Conversations with Shanti staff are confidential and protected. You can ask intake how records are handled for your situation, especially if you are concerned about disclosure at work or home.
Ready to Begin?
Visit First visit for a short overview, or call (949) 452-0888 today. However you start, you will not be asked to navigate the system alone.
The Paperwork Step, Specifically
The part people are least prepared for is the middle step, so here it is in detail.
After your first conversation, our intake team typically emails enrollment paperwork through Simple Practice within about a business day. Once you complete those forms, we usually reach back out within another day or two to schedule your sessions. Most callers are seen within one to two weeks of intake, though timing can vary.
Two practical consequences. First, check spam if nothing arrives, since the forms come from a platform rather than a person. Second, the paperwork is where insurance details go, which means you are not reciting a member ID over the phone and nobody is transcribing it by hand.
What to Bring
- Insurance card, if you have one. Member ID, plan name, and date of birth are the useful fields.
- Any existing paperwork from a school, physician, or previous provider, particularly if you are asking about psychological testing and evaluation.
- Questions about cost. Ask them before session one, not after.
You do not need a referral, a diagnosis, or a clear description of the problem. "I don't know where to start" is a complete sentence at intake.
Practical Logistics
The office is at 23461 South Pointe Dr., Suite 100, Laguna Hills, CA 92653, with free parking on site. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm PT.
If getting to Laguna Hills is the obstacle, telehealth counseling is available throughout California and follows the same intake path and the same fees.
Language
Our team works in English, Spanish, Farsi, and Hindi. Spanish-language services include Círculo Latino, a free monthly circle that meets the first Tuesday of each month from 5:30 to 7 pm, open to anyone in the Spanish-speaking community whether or not they are a Shanti client.
If you need to be seen in a language other than English, say so on the first call so intake can match you correctly rather than reassigning you later.
Which Program You Land In
Shanti runs four programs, and the first conversation is partly about sorting which one fits: mental health counseling, psychological testing and evaluation, HIV case management, and community education. There are also two recurring support groups.
You do not have to pick. Intake listens first, then routes. If the right answer turns out to be another organization, we will say so and point you at our Orange County resource directory.
If You Are in Crisis Now
Intake runs during business hours. If you need help immediately, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, which is free, confidential, and staffed 24 hours a day. Reach Shanti afterward for ongoing support.
Otherwise: 949-452-0888 or [email protected]. There is no commitment attached to the first call.
