I want to share my experience with Couples Therapy and Reunification Counseling in Montebello…read more Despite advertising a structured five-phase therapy approach, we remained stuck in Phase 0--building rapport--for five out of six months. Phase 1 (letters) never occurred. Phase 2 (text messaging) never occurred. Phase 3 (phone calls) consisted of one telephone call at 9:00 p.m. on a Sunday night. Phase 4 (telehealth) and Phase 5 (in-person sessions) were not meaningfully implemented. I only reached in-person meetings because the court ordered them; otherwise, I believe I would have remained in Phase 0 with Elicet.
Their pricing is excessive: $125 for a 25-minute call or interview, $250 for a 50-minute session, and $375 for a 90-minute session--whether it is a phone call, interview, discussion or therapy. They do not accept insurance. Payment is limited to Zelle, cash, or a credit card kept on file so they can charge you immediately after each session. They are extremely prompt when it comes to billing.
Everything feels money-driven. I was hoping to hear at least one successful family reunification story, but none was ever provided. Jessica has a magazine photo with her LMFT credentials displayed in the waiting area, but the professionalism inside does not match the image presented.
Elicet, the associate, remains an AMFT after many years and is not even a licensed LMFT. She frequently uses icebreakers such as Uno and other card games. She screens her phone calls and is very hesitant to respond via email, which limits documentation. She often defers to Jessica due to her own insecurities, even though she claims to manage the Montebello office. In practice, nearly every decision requires Jessica's approval. That does not reflect strong leadership. Calls are often returned late at night, and despite repeated attempts to communicate directly, I frequently had to go through Jessica to obtain responses.
There were also billing discrepancies that required correction. I had to reference their own consent forms to clarify cancellation policies, late fees, and billing responsibility because they appeared unfamiliar with their own written policies. If you decide to proceed with this facility, read the consent forms carefully, keep copies, and refer back to them when necessary.
In my experience, this facility did not deliver meaningful reunification progress at all. My relationship with my children still remains without reunification at all. Do not let the soft presentation and enhanced photos mislead you--what appears therapeutic felt, to me, more like a sales-driven operation than a genuine reunification effort. ***CONSUMER BEWARE**
