FAQ & How to Work With Me

at Sunny Side Up Psychotherapy

FAQ &
How to Work With Me

at Sunny Side Up Psychotherapy

Interested in working together? Great!

You might have questions… Here are the answers to some common ones!

Office Location & Logistics

Yes, I do offer online therapy/telehealth counseling in Texas! In fact, I’m a Board Certified-TeleMental Health (BC-TMH) Provider, so you can feel comfortable that I have the experience and expertise to work with you effectively in a virtual space.

It doesn’t even matter where you live, as long as you’re located within the state, can get some privacy, and have a device with decent internet. Pretty neat, huh?

The Sunny Side Up Psychotherapy office is located in Plano, TX. I’m happy to meet in person with residents of Plano and surrounding areas.

I also work with teens and adults online throughout the state of Texas. If we’re meeting virtually, you just need to be within the state during our sessions together.

Yes! The Sunny Side Up Psychotherapy office is accessible for wheelchair users and those using other mobility aids.

Online therapy is also an option for anyone who might struggle to reach my office for any reason.

clothesline strung across a pink wall with three sticky notes hanging from it. Each note has a black question mark to represent frequently-asked questions for LGBTQIA+ therapists.

What does the name Sunny Side Up Psychotherapy mean?

Thanks for asking! Here’s the story of how Sunny Side Up Psychotherapy came to be.
LGBTQIA+ and AAPI friendly therapist Ba Bunasa in his Plano, TX office

I’ve already mentioned my penchant for singing along (yes, badly) to music that I love. I was doing that one day, mulling over what to name this here therapy practice, when a song called “Sunny Side Up!” by the group Red Velvet started to play. It’s almost entirely in Korean – I didn’t know all of the lyrics. But there I was, bopping along, when I suddenly heard the singer say, “Don’t make my mind all scrambled up!”

💡💡💡

Isn’t that why we’re all here?? Don’t we pursue therapy to help ourselves get clarity and “unscramble” our minds? To pull apart the jumble of thoughts and patterns and habits we’ve accumulated throughout our lives and make sense of them?

It turns out the song is about taking your time… Moving slowly and steadily, at a pace you’re comfortable with. That’s how the singer wanted to approach their relationship – and it’s how I approach therapy with you.

Services & Specialties

Anxiety therapy for adults is absolutely something I provide, as well as therapy for depression, self-esteem, and identity challenges.

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health struggle in the United States. Heck, more than 40 million adults wrestle with an anxiety disorder every single day. And it’s not just adults! Teenagers struggle with anxiety disorders, too.

The good news is these disorders are super manageable, and anxiety therapy for adults is really effective in helping people manage their symptoms. I’ll work with you to uncover the roots of your anxiety, too, so you can gain control over your experience with it.

Yes, I am a therapist for teenagers, as well as adults! Teenagers are right in the middle of their development process, and it’s so important for them to have their feelings affirmed and validated as they begin to question and navigate the world around them.

I work with teens around issues like learning to set boundaries, appropriate communication, and effective conflict resolution. We can also address negative beliefs around and struggles with identity and body image, difficult peer relationships, and how to coexist with parents!

It sure is! Sunny Side Up Psychotherapy is an affirming therapy practice. 🌈

As an LGBTQIA+ -friendly and affirming therapist, I’ve received specialized training and have extensive experience providing LGBTQIA+ counseling in the Dallas area and throughout Texas.

I do specialize in counseling for Asians and the Asian-American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community!

As an Asian therapist, I understand what it can be like to juggle two sometimes competing cultures – and how tough that can be to make sense of during your formative years. It’s very possible to wind up rejecting an entire piece of your identity in an attempt to fit in… And that can bring about struggle and sadness, too.

Many Asian cultures see mental health as taboo – but that doesn’t mean our community can’t benefit from everything therapy has to offer. So if you’re interested in working together, I’d love for you to reach out.

A flat lay of an LGBTQIA+ therapist's brown tabletop, with an open journal and cup of coffee on top.
A flat lay of an LGBTQIA+ therapist's white marble tabletop, with an open journal, cell phone, glasses and laptop visible. Palm fronds cast shadows on the lefthand side.

What to Expect, Insurance & Fees

You can expect a few things from your first therapy appointment. We’ll start by getting to know each other. I’ll ask you about any concerns you have, the challenges you’re facing, any goals you have for therapy, and a little about your history. We’ll go over some policies and procedures so we’re both on the same page, and you’ll have time to ask me any questions you have, too.

Therapy costs can vary by provider. Here’s how the money stuff works with me:

✔️ I charge $150 per session. Each session is about 55 minutes long.

✔️ For insurance, I am in-network with Optum, United Healthcare, Oscar, Aetna, and Cigna through Alma. The exact costs of our work together will depend on what benefits and coverage you have through your insurance plan.

✔️ If you don’t have one of the insurance plans listed above, this doesn’t necessarily mean your insurance won’t cover any portion of our work together. It just means that you would be the one to negotiate any reimbursements with them since I would be considered an out-of-network provider. I am happy to provide you with an invoice – or superbill – with the appropriate information.

✔️ I do offer reduced rates for those with a financial need and do not have health insurance, though these spots are limited in number. I’m happy to chat about their availability during our initial consultation.

Good Faith Estimate Notice

Under Section 2799B-6 of the Public Health Service Act, health care providers and health care facilities are required to inform individuals who are not enrolled in a plan or coverage or a Federal health care program, or not seeking to file a claim with their plan or coverage both orally and in writing of their ability, upon request or at the time of scheduling health care items and services, to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” of expected charges.

  • You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency healthcare services, including psychotherapy services. 
  • Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the expected charges for medical services, including psychotherapy services.  
  • Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least one (1) business day before your medical service or item. You can ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule a service.
  • If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.
  • Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate.

 For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises. 

I know that things come up, and I understand if you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment. With that said, I ask that you do so at least 24 hours in advance to avoid being charged the full session fee.

Certainly, emergencies fall outside of this policy and will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.

Because I don’t want my clients to feel any stress over this cancellation policy, I make it as easy as possible for you to contact me prior to our scheduled appointment. You can email, call, or text me to let me know you won’t make it.

Everyone’s therapy timeline looks different. It can range from a few sessions to a few months, a few years, or more. It really depends on the things you’d like to address, your goals for therapy, and how quickly you progress.

We’ll work together to figure out the best timeline for you – you should never feel disempowered or like the decision is out of your hands.

Each individual therapy session is 50 minutes long. I typically recommend starting with weekly sessions, with adjustments to that schedule as appropriate.

If you’re wondering if therapy is right for you, then it probably is! If you’re feeling burnt out, anxious, depressed, or like you’re carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders, then you can have a reasonable expectation that there’s a therapeutic technique out there that will help you feel a lot better. Even just feeling stressed and needing a safe space to vent is a great reason to come to therapy.

As a therapist, I work with my clients to design a unique approach that fits them really well… One that addresses their personal challenges and gets them closer to the healthy, fulfilling life they deserve to live.

I’d love to talk about how we can do that for you, too.

I think we might be a good fit. How do I know for sure?

I’m glad to hear you think so!

If you’ve read a little more about me and my therapy style and would like to take the next step, please use the contact form on my website to get in touch.

You can usually expect a reply within 24 hours. We’ll schedule an initial consultation call to chat a little bit more.

I can’t wait to hear from you!

Two plants side by side for working together in therapy with Ba Bunansa

Ready to get started?