Virtual outpatient care at Blackburn Clinical Services follows a simple path: a first phone call, a full assessment, a customized plan, then weekly one-on-one sessions in the Concierge Outpatient Program by secure video for clients located in California. Most clients spend 3 to 5 hours a week. Our only office is in Los Angeles. Psychiatric care can be arranged. Call (888) 870 7405 or email info@blackburnclinical.com.
Call (888) 870 7405
Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM. The first call is where we figure out together whether video care fits.
This guide covers the practical side: what happens when, what you need at home, and what to expect from week to week. For what the program is and how it compares with a group IOP, see our virtual outpatient program page.
What happens on the first call?
You call (888) 870 7405 during business hours, or email us and we call you back. You can call for yourself or for someone you care about. We ask what is going on, what you have tried before, where in California you are located, and what your weeks look like. You can ask anything you want about how we work, fees and out-of-network benefits, and what video care involves. If outpatient care does not look like the right level of support, we tell you on that call.
What is the assessment?
Every client starts with a comprehensive biopsychosocial assessment. It looks at your history, current symptoms, substance use, health, relationships, work or school, and your goals. It usually happens by video for clients outside Los Angeles. The assessment is what makes a one-on-one plan possible: instead of joining a program already in motion, you get a plan built from what the assessment shows.
How is the plan built?
After the assessment, your care team puts together a customized plan from the services that fit you. By video, that can include individual therapy, family sessions, psychoeducation, and coaching and case management. Psychiatric care can be arranged if it is part of what you need. All services are available individually or can be combined into a customized package, and we go over the plan with you before anything is scheduled.
What does a typical week look like?
There is no fixed template, but many weeks look something like the example below. Most clients take part in 3 to 5 hours of focused one-on-one work a week, and that can go up or down as your needs change.
| Part of the week | What it can involve | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Individual therapy | One or more sessions with your therapist using approaches such as CBT, DBT or ACT | Secure video or the Los Angeles office |
| Psychoeducation | Focused sessions on emotional regulation, relationships, boundaries or relapse prevention | Secure video or the Los Angeles office |
| Coaching and case management | Practical goals: work, school, routines, appointments, next steps | Secure video or the Los Angeles office |
| Family session | Bringing in a partner, parent or other family member, when it helps | Secure video or the Los Angeles office |
| Psychiatric care | Arranged and coordinated with your plan when needed | We explain how when you call |
Sessions are scheduled Monday to Friday between 9 AM and 5 PM, around your work, classes and family. There are no group sessions.
What do you need for a video session?
Use this checklist before your first session:
- A phone, tablet or computer with a camera and microphone.
- A steady internet connection. Wi-Fi is usually more reliable than cellular data.
- A private room with a door, or another space where nobody can overhear you.
- Headphones, if others are home.
- Your secure session link, which we send ahead of time.
- A few minutes before the session to settle in and test your sound.
- Your location: you need to be physically in California for the session.
SAMHSA’s guide on telehealth for mental health and substance use care discusses how video services are set up and delivered, if you want background reading (SAMHSA).
Why do you need to be in California during sessions?
Licensing for therapy follows the client’s location. California’s Board of Behavioral Sciences explains that a clinician needs a current California license to provide therapy to clients located in California, and that a licensee seeing a client in another state must meet that state’s rules (BBS). In practice: if you are in San Francisco, Fresno or Lake Tahoe on the California side, you can join. If you are traveling out of state, tell us before you go so we can plan around it.
When do you need to come to the office?
Most clients outside Los Angeles never need to. A few services are only offered in person: Brainspotting, which is offered in our Los Angeles office only, plus TMS and testing. If one of those would help you, we talk about whether a visit is realistic. Some clients near Los Angeles mix video and office sessions.
How does the plan change over time?
Care adjusts. Services increase or decrease based on clinical need rather than a predetermined level of care. If a hard stretch calls for more support, we add it. As things steady, sessions can taper. If you ever need more support than outpatient care can safely give, we help you think through other options. If you are in crisis at any point, call or text 988 or call 911.
Still comparing options? See questions to ask a virtual outpatient program.
Questions about how it works
How soon can I start?
Call us and we will tell you when the assessment can be scheduled. Timing depends on your availability and ours.
Do I need a referral or diagnosis?
No. You can call us directly. If you are stepping down from residential treatment, we are glad to coordinate with your current team with your written permission.
Can family members join a video session?
Yes. Family sessions can happen by secure video, and each person can join from a different place as long as they are located in California. We share information only with your written permission.
What if my internet drops during a session?
Rejoin with the same link. If that does not work, your therapist will reach out to reconnect.
Can I do some sessions in the office?
Yes. Our office is at 12326 Venice Blvd in Los Angeles, and you can mix video and in-person sessions if you can get there.
How is payment handled?
We are an out-of-network practice and do not take or bill insurance. We provide superbills for all reimbursable services. Call us to go over fees before you begin.
Get started
Call (888) 870 7405
Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM.
Email info@blackburnclinical.com or send us a message. More reading: Concierge Outpatient Program, telehealth therapy across California, online therapy for Northern California and private pay therapy in California.
Crisis support: the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline takes calls and texts at 988, 24 hours a day. Call 911 for an emergency.
Sources
- SAMHSA, Telehealth for the Treatment of Serious Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders (2021)
- California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Telehealth FAQ