Frequently Asked Questions

I offer a free 20-minute consultation via phone or Zoom to allow us a chance to chat and see if we are a good fit for each other. In this call, I will ask you what you are hoping to get out of therapy or what you want to be different in your life. You will also have a chance to ask me any questions you may have. There is no charge for the consultation.

Yes! I love working with people of all genders! Although my marketing has focused on women’s issues (and yes, this includes trans women, femmes and other gender diverse people), my career has focused more broadly on the ways gender intersects with mental health. For example, considering how the ways we were socialized in terms of gender roles or the experiences we have now related to patriarchy affect our emotional well-being and contribute to strengths and challenges. I am affirming of all gender expressions and identities. I have extensive experience working with men, non-binary and trans folks and have also served on a committee to bring gender-affirming and inclusive care to the Veterans Affairs Healthcare Systems nationally. I chose my practice name to reflect my area of specialization, and, realize the language isn’t inclusive, and I apologize for any harm this may cause.

I am licensed as a psychologist in the states of California (25870), Colorado (0006436), Illinois (071010844), New York (023838), and Washington (61317450). I can work with clients who are residents of these states only.

Please note that all my business documents and licenses are under my legal name, Linda Magua. I will continue to go by Dr. Linda Baggett professionally, as this is the name that my professional accomplishments are under and the name that clients know me by.

Therapy is an investment of time, energy, and, of course, money. The fee is $325 per 50-minute therapy session. Longer or shorter sessions are prorated accordingly. Sessions can be scheduled weekly or every other week, depending on your needs.

Any sessions cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice will be charged the full fee, unless it can be rescheduled in the same week.

I reserve your therapy time just for you, and last-minute cancellations do not allow me enough time to schedule someone else in that slot. Additionally, limiting the number of clients that I see on a weekly basis allows me to show up as my best therapist self for my clients (i.e. not burned out because I’m seeing a ton of clients). It also gives me the time to do significant work between sessions for my clients, such as preparing, gathering resources, reading, and learning.

I am not in-network with any insurance providers. However, if your insurance includes coverage for out-of-network providers, you may be able to receive reimbursement for a percentage of the cost of sessions. This is done by submitting an invoice called a “superbill” that I will provide. In order to learn if you can submit a superbill and receive reimbursement, you will need to call your insurance company and ask them the following:

1. Are out-of-network providers covered?

2. Is telehealth included?

3. Does therapy have to be preauthorized in order for it to be reimbursed?

4. How much will be reimbursed (code for the therapy sessions is 90834-95 in case the insurance company asks)? This is important because this varies by individual plan.

5. Is there a deductible or other coinsurance I have to meet first?

This is a great question. There are several reasons.

1. Insurance companies will often only cover a certain number of sessions, certain issues, and sometimes certain treatment approaches. I want the client and me to be in control of care, not insurance companies.

2. Insurance companies require a mental health diagnosis and will not cover therapy if there isn’t one.

3. I am the best therapist I can be when I am able to spend my time pursuing training and education, preparing for your sessions, and practicing self-care. This allows me to show up to sessions ready and focused. I would not be able to do this if I was forced to see 2-3x as many clients due to the low pay insurance companies offer for therapy services.

4. Insurance rates are simply not a livable wage in Los Angeles, unfortunately (which is why therapists who accept insurance are often really overbooked and burned out), and I need to support myself and my family.

As soon as healthcare in the US is reformed to be less intrusive to client care (i.e. patients and providers are in charge of healthcare decisions) and less burdensome and better paying for clinicians, I will absolutely take insurance. In the meantime, I offer limited sliding scale slots and will also be starting therapy groups in the future in order to make therapy more accessible. I will also do my best to refer you to an in-network provider if that is what you need to be able to access care.

Our first few sessions together will be the two of us getting to know each other. I will ask you a bunch of questions to get to know your various identities, where you are struggling, where your strengths are, who the players in your life are, and what you want to change. From there, we will shift into goal setting, when we choose together where we want to start and prioritize your goals. We will also make a plan for how to achieve those goals. The plan could include learning coping skills or interpersonal skills like boundary setting, exploration to understand yourself better, disentangling the past from the present, problem solving, increasing behaviors you want to increase, and the list goes on.

The next phase is really the meat and potatoes of therapy—getting down to business and acting on our plan. Depending on the goals and the plan, this may take just a few weeks, or it could take a few years. It really depends on what you want to achieve. We will regularly revisit and update the plan, especially as you achieve goals and develop new ones. Once you are no longer actively working on goals and feel ready to spread your wings, we will process what it was like to be in therapy and say our goodbyes. You are always welcome to come back should you have a need down the road or think of a new goal. Throughout all the steps, I will be soliciting input from you, as we are a team. I am the expert on psychology, but you are the expert on you, and together we will partner to achieve your goals.

First off, sex therapy (and all therapy, actually) NEVER involves any sexual interaction between therapist and client. But let me tell you a secret…sex therapy is exactly like regular therapy, it just focuses on concerns of a sexual nature. We will use the same strategies, just tailored toward your sexual goals. For example, if negative thoughts about your body or shame about past trauma are getting in the way of sex for you, we will tackle these thoughts and feelings. We may also try problem-solving what is getting in the way and working on developing skills in mindfulness or communication—whatever we need to do.

In regular therapy, you will be asked to work on things between sessions, and sex therapy is the same. The things you practice may be of a sexual nature, but they are always something that is in alignment with your values and goals, and that we decide together will be helpful. And trust me, I have heard it all. It is all normal. As long as what you’re doing is not hurting anyone (you included) and is consensual, I am in full support of you doing it.