Frequently Asked Questions

What sets Align apart is the dual expertise of our providers. Each member of our team is trained as both a clinical therapist and a performance coach. This rare combination lets us care for the whole person, not just the performer. Because of this dual training, we can be hands-on in crafting an individualized journey for every high performer who walks through our door, integrating mental health support and performance strategy into one cohesive plan.

This approach is fueled by the vision of our founder: to create a safe, community-based space rooted in holistic wellness. It is a place where you can perform at your very best while navigating life’s curveballs. We believe excellence and well-being are not at odds; they grow together. This is the foundation Dr. Lauren Lowe, Psy.D., CMPC, M.S. built Align upon.

A common misstep in support is to ask a high performer to step down from the very activity that drives them, an approach generalists often suggest. At Align, we understand that giving up your goals is not an option. Instead, we help you reach the highest heights while feeling your best, equipping you with strategies to obliterate the obstacles in your path. Whether it is a mental block, a life challenge, or a slump, we are here to help you keep climbing.

Therapy (clinical care) supports your mental health and psychological well-being. It is insight-driven, evidence-based treatment for the clinical needs that nearly every high achiever faces at some point: anxiety, depression, trauma, burnout, disordered eating, relational struggles, and performance anxiety. These are normal human experiences, not signs of weakness, and seeking support for them is a strength. Our providers are licensed or associate clinicians trained to diagnose and treat these conditions through the lens of sport and high-pressure performance, walking alongside you as a teammate on your journey to wellness.

Mental skills and performance coaching is a structured, goal-based approach to performing at your best when it matters most. Working with a Certified Mental Performance Coach (CMPC), it is typically short-term and intermittent: focused episodes of support that target a specific high-pressure need in the moment. We start with an assessment, define what winning looks like for you, and build a clear, week-by-week plan to develop trainable skills such as confidence, focus and attention control, emotion regulation, goal setting, visualization, pre-performance routines, and composure under pressure. The goal is simple: turn pressure into focus and consistently access your ideal performance state.

Sports and performance psychology is the field that studies how thoughts, emotions, and behavior affect performance, and how mental skills can be trained to help people perform at their best under pressure. It applies the science of psychology not only to athletes but to any high performer, including executives, founders, performing artists, surgeons, attorneys, and students.

At Align, we practice performance psychology across California, blending clinical mental health care with evidence-based performance training so that well-being and excellence grow together. Our providers serve high performers in person in San Francisco and via telehealth statewide.

Mental skills and performance coaching is a structured, goal-based form of training that builds the psychological skills people need to perform consistently under pressure, such as confidence, focus, emotion regulation, visualization, goal setting, pre-performance routines, and composure. Unlike therapy, it is typically short-term and intermittent and focuses on performance goals rather than treating clinical conditions.

At Align, performance coaching is delivered by a Certified Mental Performance Coach (CMPC) and tailored to athletes, executives, performers, professionals, students, and teams.

A Certified Mental Performance Coach (CMPC) is the certification granted by the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP), the leading credential in the field of sport and performance psychology. Earning it requires graduate education, supervised experience, and a national exam, signaling verified expertise in helping people perform under pressure.

At Align, our providers hold the CMPC credential, which means your performance coaching is guided by a nationally certified professional.

Yes. A unique benefit of working with an Align provider is that, within our care, you can receive both and navigate between them based on what will best meet your needs. Because our providers are dually trained, you do not have to choose one path and stay locked into it.

We are directive in our approach. Many people come in seeking one type of support, and together we uncover what will be most helpful for you, but you remain in control of your care. For many, we shift between types of treatment as presenting needs evolve, always through a collaborative process. This is fully individualized around what you are seeking, the boundaries of support that feel right, and how you wish to engage with your provider.

You do not need to have it figured out before reaching out. Determining the right starting point is part of our work together, and we are here to guide that decision through a thoughtful, personalized process. When you contact us, an available provider will reach out to schedule a brief 10–15 minute introductory call to understand your goals and assess how we can best support you.

From there, we draw on our clinical expertise to help you select the right provider and approach. As your needs become clearer, we take a directive role: if we believe an alternative or adjunct service would serve you better, we will say so and collaborate with you on a support plan moving forward. Grounded in an integrated, team-based philosophy, we make sure every individual and team has a clear, well-matched path toward their goals.

Both. We offer in-person support at our office at 1738 Union St, Suite 200, where Dr. Lauren Lowe, Psy.D., CMPC, M.S. and Emma Bargetto, AMFT see clients locally, while Julie Shiller, ACSW, CMPC provides telehealth services. We also welcome a hybrid approach, coming in for some sessions and switching to telehealth when it is more convenient. We understand the unique demands on high performers and that getting to the office is not always possible. We are here to collaborate with you on whatever feels best for your journey, offering the flexibility to make care easy and approachable.

No. All Align Sports and Performance Psychology, PC providers are out-of-network and do not work directly with insurance companies.

Mental Skills and Performance coaching is a fee for service and is not reimbursable by insurance.

For clinical therapy, some insurance companies will reimburse part of the cost of out-of-network visits; this varies based on your individual insurance plan. Align provides monthly superbills for our appointments for you to submit directly to your insurance company for reimbursement.

• Do I have mental health coverage for “out-of-network” providers?
• What is the rate of reimbursement for various services?
• What is the deductible needed to meet before receiving reimbursement?
• What CPT codes are covered by insurance if they do provide reimbursement?
• Is pre-authorization required and what is needed for this?

Commonly used service codes: 90791; 90832, 90834, 90837; add-on code 95 for telehealth services; 90846 & 90847; 90853; 90865; 90875; 96130 & 96131; 96136 & 96137.

Visiting this website is the first step! Here's what to expect next:

• Submit a request for services.
• Within 1–2 business days, you will receive a direct call and/or email from an available Align provider.
• Schedule a 10–15 minute meet-and-greet call to discuss your needs, ask any questions, and assess if you would like to move forward with services.
• Begin your wellness journey with an initial appointment.