Frequently Asked Questions

Have questions about our services? We’ve gathered answers to some of the common questions below. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, don’t hesitate to reach out to us through our contact page HERE!

About Us

  • Practice San Francisco is a family-focused mental health and wellness practice with locations in San Francisco and Mill Valley. We provide evidence-based clinical and assessment services, as well as educational programs, to support the mental health and well-being of children, teens, young adults, and parents.

    Our mission is to help families navigate life’s challenges by fostering resilience through skills, strategies, and community-based support.

  • Our group programs are designed to help kids, teens, and families build lifelong skills in a supportive, engaging environment. Here’s what makes our programs stand out:

    • Research-based skills taught by licensed and experienced therapists, giving your child tools they can rely on for life.

    • Qualified medical expense: our programs are reimbursable through PPO insurance, FSA, or HSA, making care more accessible.

    • Fun, age-appropriate activities that keep kids engaged and learning while feeling supported.

    • Small group sizes with a 1:5 therapist-to-child ratio, ensuring your child gets the personalized attention they deserve.

    • Practical tips and resources for parents—We provide concepts, strategies, and tools taught after every session, empowering parents to confidently support their child in reinforcing these skills at home.

  • Our group programs are led by licensed and highly experienced therapists who specialize in working with children, teens, and parents. Each therapist brings expertise, warmth, and a collaborative approach to create a supportive and engaging environment where every participant feels seen, heard, and understood.

    To learn more about our team, please click here.

Why Group Therapy?

    • Affordable & High-Quality Care: Group therapy provides the same high-quality support as individual therapy but at a fraction of the cost. It’s an accessible way for children to build essential emotional and social skills for long-term success.

    • Life-Long Skills for Children :In group therapy, children acquire essential skills such as emotional regulation, stress management, and effective communication. These skills serve as practical tools they can apply daily, and they benefit from learning alongside their peers, rather than exclusively from adults.

    • Personalized Care from Clinicians: Our therapists collaborate with children, tweens, and teens in group sessions, observing their interactions and integration of the taught skills and concepts. This means that, should your family opt for individual therapy later, we will have already established a solid foundation for personalized support care.

    • Support for Parents Too: We provide group therapy for parents to concentrate on stress management, enhance communication, and develop strategies to support both you and your child’s mental health journey

    Group therapy creates a safe, collaborative environment where families feel supported, children thrive, and everyone learns and integrates skills they can carry into everyday life.

  • Group therapy is a great fit if your child:

    • Is new to therapy and would benefit from a supportive, community-based introduction.

    • Would benefit from building social confidence and practicing skills like emotional regulation among peers.

    • Learns best by connecting with others facing similar challenges.

    Individual therapy may be better if your child:

    • Needs one-on-one attention to focus on specific challenges.

    • Prefers a private, personalized space to work at their own pace.

    It doesn’t have to be either-or. Many families choose group therapy, individual therapy, or a combination of both, depending on what works best for their child’s needs. Group therapy helps build foundational skills and confidence, while individual therapy provides space for focused, personalized support. Together, they can create an integrated, well-rounded approach.

    For more details, click here to learn more. If you’re still deciding, schedule a free consultation call with our intake coordinator or email us at hello@practicesanfrancisco.com. We’re here to help you find the best path for your family!

Types of Group Programs

  • Clinical Programs:

    • Led by licensed therapists as part of mental health treatment.

    • Designed to address specific challenges and support therapeutic growth in a structured, supportive environment.

    • These programs are considered mental health treatment and are eligible for reimbursement through PPO insurance, FSA, or HSA.

    Educational Programs:

    • Designed to be educational in nature, not therapy or treatment.

    • Focus on teaching and practicing life skills that support emotional well-being.

    • May be led by licensed therapists or trained staff who are not licensed mental health professionals.

    • These programs are lower-cost options and not eligible for insurance reimbursement.

  • Clinical group programs are considered mental health treatment and are eligible for reimbursement through PPO insurance, FSA, or HSA.

    Educational group programs are not eligible for insurance reimbursement, as they are educational in nature and not considered therapy or treatment.

Program Details

  • Group sizes are kept small to ensure personalized attention and support, with a maximum of 10 participants per group. Each group is led by at least two facilitators, maintaining a participant-to-facilitator ratio of 5:1.

    After each session, participants receive handouts and practice materials to reinforce the skills learned and encourage continued practice at home. Parents will also receive a follow-up email with notes from group leaders, along with tips and resources to help them support their child’s progress outside of the group.

  • At the start of each group session, leaders establish clear boundaries and expectations for behavior and participation. They ensure that these expectations are consistent and applied equally to all participants.

    Leaders also foster positive relationships by encouraging respectful communication, teamwork, and collaboration, while creating opportunities for participants to build trust and friendships in a supportive environment.

    Additionally, they make certain that all participants, regardless of background, ability, or identity, feel included and respected.

  • The 5:1 participant-to-facilitator ratio enables group leaders to actively engage with participants, showing care and attentiveness to their needs and well-being. Group leaders can adapt activities or offer extra support to participants as needed.

    Moreover, our groups provide opportunities for participants and parents to voice concerns and ask questions throughout the sessions.

    At the conclusion of each group, we gather feedback via our survey to enhance the overall experience for families.

  • Families seeking extra support beyond the parent follow-up emails and parent toolkits who wish to understand their child's involvement in the session or have questions on how to help their child further develop skills from the group can schedule a 45-minute one-on-one session with one of the group leaders. *Please be aware that this session incurs an additional fee.

  • Your child is welcome to arrive 15 minutes early for the next session to review what was covered previously. Parents will still receive a follow-up email for the missed session, including a copy of the handouts provided, allowing them to review the materials at home.

  • Group participants are dropped off at the beginning and picked up at the end of the session, and parents do not stay with the group for the duration of the session. If parents expect their child to feel anxious on the first day, they are welcome to arrive 15 minutes early. This allows the participant to get comfortable with the group space and the group leaders before the other participants arrive.

Registration & Scheduling

  • Yes, registration for our groups closes one week and one business day before the group starts. While we may consider late enrollments on a case-by-case basis, we highly recommend enrolling by the deadline to secure a spot. Our groups have limited spaces, and enrolling on time helps ensure your child’s participation and allows us to best prepare for the group’s success.

  • We offer a variety of evidence-based group programs tailored for children, tweens, teens, and parents. These programs are designed to address specific developmental needs and challenges, providing participants with valuable skills and support. Our group offerings rotate throughout the year, with new sessions typically starting each season. The frequency and timing of each group can vary based on demand and scheduling.

    For the most current information on our available groups and their schedules, we encourage you to visit our website's group programs page.

  • The start dates for our group sessions vary depending on the specific program. We regularly offer new sessions throughout the year, typically aligning with seasonal schedules. For the most accurate and up-to-date information about upcoming groups and their start dates, please visit our website.

Payments, Refunds, and Insurance

  • We do not accept any insurance directly.  However, our clinical services and programs are eligible for reimbursement through PPO health insurance plans, FSA, or HSA.  We’re happy to offer the documentation you need to submit for reimbursement through any of these platforms (although please be aware that insurance requires documentation of attendance, so these claims must be submitted after your child’s participation in the program).

    • At the time of registration, you can choose to pay for the program in full or pay a non-refundable deposit to hold your child's spot. The deposit amount varies by group, so please refer to the specific group page for details.

    • If you opt to pay only the deposit at registration, the remaining balance will be billed to your card on file one week before the start of the program. Please note that all payments, including the deposit, are non-refundable and non-transferable to future groups.

    • If you need to cancel within seven or fewer business days before the first group session, you may be eligible for a transfer or refund only if we can fill your spot with a student from our waitlist. Otherwise, the payment remains non-refundable and non-transferable.

    • Additionally, group fees are not prorated for any missed sessions, whether planned or unplanned. No refunds will be issued for absences due to the limited number of students and families participating in the group.

How to Prepare Your Child for Group

    • It’s completely normal for children to feel shy or nervous about starting a new group! Our facilitators are experienced in creating a warm, welcoming, and supportive environment where participants can feel safe and comfortable.

    • We encourage parents to talk to their child about what to expect and share any concerns with us before the group begins. We’re happy to provide tips and suggestions to help ease the transition. Many children find that their initial nerves fade quickly once they start engaging in the group activities and connecting with peers.

    • If your child continues to feel hesitant, we’re here to support them and will work with you to find the best way to help them feel at ease.

  • We encourage you to talk with your kids in advance about why you are signing them up for the group and what you hope they will get out of it..

    For Mighty Minds group: We created a Tip Sheet to support you in having this conversation with your kids.

  • If your child is worried about meeting new people in a group, it’s important to approach their feelings with understanding and support. Here are several strategies to help your child feel more comfortable and confident:

    1. Acknowledge Their Feelings

    -Validate their emotions: Let your child know that it’s normal to feel nervous or shy when meeting new people. Saying something like, “I understand that you’re feeling a little worried about meeting new kids. That’s completely okay,” helps them feel heard and supported.

    -Normalize the experience: Reassure them that many people, both kids and adults, feel nervous in new social situations, and it’s part of the process of growing and making new friends.

    2. Talk About What to Expect

    -Prepare them: Discuss what the group will be like. Knowing what to expect can ease some of their anxiety. You might say, “You’ll get to play some games, and there will be a chance to talk and have fun with other kids. I’ll be nearby if you need me.”

    3. Practice Social Skills Together

    Role-play scenarios: You can role-play simple introductions or how to start a conversation with others. Practice greetings, asking questions, and showing interest in others.

    4. Encourage Positive Thinking

    Shift focus to positive outcomes: Help your child focus on what could go well, rather than what could go wrong. For instance, you could say, “Maybe you’ll meet someone who likes the same games you do, or you might have fun talking about your favorite books.”

    Promote confidence: Remind them of past experiences when they successfully met new people or handled a new situation. For example, “Remember how you felt nervous before your last playdate, but then you had such a great time?”

    5. Offer Reassurance and Support

    Stay calm and supportive: Children often take cues from their parents’ reactions. By staying calm and positive, you can model a healthy attitude toward new experiences.

    By showing empathy, offering reassurance, and helping your child take small steps toward socializing, you can help them feel more comfortable and confident when meeting new people in a group. Over time, as they practice these social interactions, their confidence and comfort level will grow.

Mighty Minds

  • No, Mighty Minds is not the only group program we offer for K-5 students. We have a variety of other group programs tailored to meet the unique needs of children in this age range. We encourage you to explore all of our offerings on our website to find the program that best fits your child's needs. If you have any questions or need guidance, feel free to reach out to us!

  • No, Mighty Minds is specifically designed for children in kindergarten through 5th grade. However, we offer other group programs tailored to different age groups, so we encourage you to explore our website to find a program that aligns with your child’s unique needs.

  • If you believe your child could benefit from learning about and developing skills in emotion regulation, cognitive awareness, impulse control, perspective taking, and adopting a growth mindset in order to improve their overall functioning, then our group is a great fit for them. Mighty Minds welcomes participants who are proactively building coping skills and resilience, as well as those who are already experiencing anxiety, stress, or difficulty with emotion regulation. Please note that all participants must be able to function cooperatively in a group setting.*

    *Mighty Minds is a coed group and inclusive, welcoming individuals of all genders to participate.

    Still not sure if Mighty Minds is a good fit? Click here to learn more.

  • Each session covers new topics that build on the previous ones. The topics and skills taught throughout the sessions include emotion regulation, cognitive awareness, understanding the relationship between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, impulse control, perspective taking, and utilizing a growth mindset when facing challenges or making mistakes. Parents receive a follow up email after each session which outlines what was discussed and best practices for reinforcing these skills at home.

  • Group programs, especially those focused on teaching emotional awareness and resilience while supporting children in group settings with peer interactions, can be incredibly helpful for children dealing with school-related anxiety or frustration.

  • This is not a social skills group. While the skills learned in Mighty Minds—such as emotion regulation, cognitive awareness, impulse control, perspective-taking, and having a growth mindset—can be applied to social situations and interactions, it is not specifically designed for managing social dynamics.

    If you’re interested in a social skills-focused group, we offer a program for 3rd–5th grade girls that specifically addresses building friendships and navigating social interactions. Visit our website to learn more.

  • We absolutely encourage you to talk with your child in advance about why you are signing them up for Mighty Minds. We created a Tip Sheet to support you in having this conversation with your kids.

Mighty Minds 2.0

  • Mighty Minds 2.0 is designed for graduates of the Mighty Minds program, building on the foundational skills of emotion regulation and mindfulness. It introduces new strategies and activities to deepen self-awareness, resilience, and self-compassion. While the original Mighty Minds focuses on introducing these skills, Mighty Minds 2.0 offers advanced practice in a group of alumni peers, allowing kids to refine and expand what they’ve already learned.