Mental health services in Laguna Hills

Four programs run out of the Laguna Hills office, and they share one intake process. You do not have to know which one you need before you call. Tell us what is going on and we will point you to the right starting place.

Most of our services can be delivered by telehealth. A psychological evaluation cannot. It runs across several appointments: a one- to two-hour testing intake to understand your concerns, decide which tests apply, and obtain insurance pre-authorization; then typically two to three testing sessions of two to four hours each; then a review session about two to three weeks later where we walk through results, diagnostic findings, and referrals, and hand over a detailed written report.

That is a real commitment of time, and it is the single strongest argument for choosing a provider close to home. For Laguna Hills residents, each of those appointments is a short local trip rather than a freeway expedition with a tired child in the back seat. If your evaluation is for a child, a parent or guardian who knows their behavior patterns, health, and developmental history takes part in the intake, and the testing schedule can be adjusted if a child is uneasy with an unfamiliar evaluator.

Before a testing appointment, get a full night of rest, eat an adequate meal, bring any relevant medical records, IEP or 504 Plan, and previous psychoeducational reports, and bring glasses or hearing aids if you use them.

One limit is worth knowing before you book. We do not provide disability assessments, parenting assessments or anything related to divorce, or forensic and court assessments such as custody, risk, or competency evaluations. If that is what was requested of you, we are not the right provider.

Two recurring groups run out of Laguna Hills, and neither one requires you to already be a Shanti client to ask about it. Círculo Latino is free; ask intake about fees for the clinician-led HIV therapy group.

The first appointment is about an hour with a counselor or case manager who listens, asks questions, and helps map next steps. There is no commitment attached to it. Most callers are scheduled within one to two weeks of intake, though timing can vary with demand.

Counseling should be within reach. We work with many insurance plans, including CalOptima (Medi-Cal), for eligible services, and low-cost fees are $65 per session with an unlicensed therapist and $100 with a licensed therapist. Fees may be subsidized for people who are uninsured and living with HIV/AIDS, and HIV case management is free. Plan acceptance can vary by service, so call 949-452-0888 and we will help you check coverage before you commit to anything.