Mental Health Continuity Care (MHCC)
Healing doesn’t end when therapy does
MHCC offers continued access to your mental health support. It is designed for guidance, grounding, and steady care between sessions—ensuring that your progress stays on track even when life moves fast.
The Power of Continuity
Healing continues in the small moments
Whether you need to talk something through, check in, or simply find your footing, MHCC provides the mental health support that reminds you:
you aren't doing this alone.
“Therapy should not be theory-driven, but relationship-driven.”
Irvin D. Yalom
Think Direct Primary Care for Therapy
What is Mental Health Continuity Care?
MHCC is a membership-based model designed for people who want continued mental health support without the barriers of traditional therapy. You can reach out, check in, and maintain continuity—whether you are currently in weekly therapy, transitioning between seasons of care, or have completed your primary treatment.
Life doesn’t always follow a therapy schedule. Work changes, families grow, and routines shift. Sometimes you just need a place to check in, reflect, or steady yourself without having to start over.
With MHCC, you have:
Direct Access: Reach out between sessions for guidance or reflection when you need it most—not just when the clock says it's time.
Flexible Pacing: Access support that fits your current season. This model does not require weekly sessions, allowing us to scale your care up or down as life changes.
Ongoing Connectivity: Secure messaging and phone access for brief updates, planning, or a quick "reset" to stay on track.
Proactive Care Coordination: Professional collaboration with your other healthcare providers to ensure your care is seamless and integrated.
Long-Term Stability: A focused partnership dedicated to maintaining your progress so you stay grounded as life evolves.
It’s about maintaining your progress and protecting your peace—ensuring you stay connected and supported not just when things fall apart, but as you build a life you love.
Trusted Across California
“For me, MHCC feels like having a therapist who actually fits into real life. Some months I need more contact, some less — but I never feel like I’ve fallen off the map. It’s made therapy feel more like partnership than appointments.”
— Kim M., Costa Mesa
“I joined MHCC after finishing regular therapy because I didn’t want to lose that sense of connection. I don’t message all the time, but just knowing I can if I need to keeps me grounded. It feels more personal, more real.”
— Suzan R., Modesto
“It’s hard to explain, but this setup has made therapy feel less fragile. Before, when sessions ended, I’d feel like I was on my own again. Now there’s this sense of continuity — like someone’s still paying attention even when life gets busy.”
— Matthew K., Lake Forest
Mental Health Support Designed for You
MHCC is for those who value an ongoing relationship with their trusted therapist. It is for the person who wants a provider who already knows their story, understands their patterns, and stays alongside them as life unfolds.
It’s for those who see mental health care as something to be maintained, not just fixed. This is a long-term connection that provides continuity, reflection, and guidance as your life naturally changes—moving away from the "crisis-only" model of care.
MHCC is ideal for those who seek:
Consistent Access: Stay connected to your therapist without always needing to schedule a full 50-minute session.
Continuity of Care: Ongoing support that remains steady between active seasons of therapy, or even after formal treatment has ended.
A Relational Approach: A depth of connection that allows understanding and growth to deepen over months and years, not just weeks.
Guidance and Accountability: Professional support that helps you maintain your stability and stay grounded during life’s transitions.
With MHCC, you don’t need to reintroduce yourself every time you need support. You already have a trusted place to turn;
a familiar relationship that stays with you through the years.
How It Works
1. We Establish the Connection
If you’re an existing client, MHCC simply deepens the support you already have. It extends your care with someone who already knows your story, your goals, and what helps you stay steady.
If you’re new to the practice, we begin with a 2–3 session assessment period (3–4 for couples). This ensures the fit feels right on both sides, allows you to experience my approach, and helps us decide if MHCC is the right long-term structure for you.
2. We Streamline the Logistics
Everything runs through our secure portal. We’ll complete the necessary forms to transition your care to the membership model and store a card securely on file for your monthly renewal. No checks to write, no invoices to chase.
3. You Reach Out When You Need To
MHCC gives you structured, ongoing access to your therapist. Whether you’re scheduling a session, checking in via message, or asking for guidance between visits, you’ll know exactly how to connect and what to expect in return.
4. We Maintain Flexibility
Your care should move at the pace of your life. You can adjust your level of contact or session frequency as your circumstances change. The goal is continuity—steady, responsive care that moves with you through every season.
Membership Details & Transparency
What’s Included in Your Membership
The monthly membership ($149 individual / $249 couples) provides the infrastructure, continuity, and professional advocacy required for long-term stability.
Direct Therapist Access: Secure messaging and phone access for guidance, reflection, or steadying between sessions.
Priority Scheduling: Members receive first-priority access to available appointment times, even during busy seasons.
Clinical Grounding: Access to brief "check-ins" to maintain your progress and stay focused on your goals.
Secure Digital Connection: Full access to a HIPAA-compliant portal for secure messaging, document sharing
"Check-in" Calls and meetings (Scheduled): Brief, 15–20 minute scheduled phone consultations for times when a full 50-minute session isn't necessary but a text won't suffice.
Professional Consultation: Collaboration with external professionals (legal, educational, or specialized medical) on your behalf.
Community & Education: Free or discounted admission to practice-hosted workshops, therapeutic groups, and special events.
Integrated Care Coordination: A "hub" for your mental health, collaborating with your physicians, psychiatrists, or other specialists to ensure a seamless treatment plan.
Professional "Bridge" Support: If you ever need to transition to a higher level of care (like an IOP or specialist), I manage the referral and "warm hand-off" to ensure your story isn't lost in the move.
Stability Check-ins: Proactive outreach from me if we haven't connected in a while, ensuring you stay "on the map" and grounded.
Annual Wellbeing Reviews: A dedicated "big picture" check-in once a year to look at long-term patterns and celebrate progress, moving beyond just "solving the problem of the week."
Relational Continuity: You maintain an active relationship with a therapist who knows your story—no "starting over" or re-explaining your history.
Additional Services & Costs
To keep membership costs accessible, specialized clinical sessions are billed only when you need them.
Dedicated Weekly Care: If we determine that a more consistent weekly rhythm is necessary. $225 per 50-minute session.
Dedicated Weekly Care: If we determine a consistent weekly rhythm is necessary for your progress, sessions are billed at the Member Session Rate of $225 per 50 minutes.
Intensive Clinical Sessions (75 mins – 4 hours): Starting at $325. Designed for deep-dive trauma processing, complex couples' breakthroughs, or intensive processing.
In-Home or Site Visits: Billed at the Member Session Rate plus travel time. Ideal for specific trauma exposures or family dynamics.
One-Time Enrollment & Assessment: $395 Individual / $495 Couples. This covers your first 2–4 comprehensive sessions to ensure a proper clinical fit and establish your long-term care plan.
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No. MHCC doesn’t replace traditional therapy.
Think of it as the "home base" for your mental health.
It’s designed to provide ongoing access and support between or beyond regular sessions. While it may include therapeutic work, its focus is maintaining connection, reflection, and support over time, not intensive weekly treatment. If a higher level of care is needed, I’ll recommend standard therapy or appropriate referrals.
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I am an out-of-network provider and I do not do any billing or interact with insurance companies. This keeps your care simple, confidential, and relationship-driven.
Superbills can be provided for your MHCC membership. Your insurance company likely will not reimburse for this. However, I recommend checking with your provider regarding "Direct Care" or "Concierge" models.
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Most HSA and FSA accounts can be used to pay for clinical sessions. Whether they cover the monthly membership fee depends on your specific plan’s rules.
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Yes. I love new clients! New clients complete a 2–4 session assessment period first so we can both confirm fit and build a plan that works.
There is an enrollment fee for new clients. Your 2-4 assessment sessions are included in that fee.
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Absolutely. While MHCC is built for long-term continuity, you are not locked into a contract. You can cancel your membership at any time You can make changes prior to your next billing date and you won’t be charged.
Just a heads up. If you decide to cancel and then choose to reenroll at a later date the enrollment fee will apply.
Understanding the MHCC Model
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Yes! You can reach out to your therapist anytime. The goal is to respond within 24 hours or the next business day. Usually sooner. You’ll receive a clear outline of when and how to use this access effectively.
Note: This is not a crisis service. If you are in crisis call 911.
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The goal is to respond within 24 hours or the next business day if it is after hours. However, every effort is made to respond within a few hours if possible.
MHCC is not for crisis response. If you are in need of immediate help please go to your nearest emergency room or call 911.
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Yes. One of the core benefits of MHCC is Integrated Care.
With your consent, I can collaborate with your primary care doctor, psychiatrist, or other specialists to ensure your mental health support is aligned with your overall healthcare. Prior to releasing any information we will discuss what is best for you and your situation.
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That’s the goal! The membership isn't just for "crisis"; it's for continuity. Even in "well" seasons, I am monitoring your progress, available for check-ins, and holding your spot so you never have to "start over."
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The model is designed to be flexible. If you enter a season of life that requires more support, we can incorporate Dedicated Weekly Care at the Member Session Rate.
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It is important to note that MHCC is not a crisis or emergency response service. It is not a 24/7 "on-call" text line, nor is it a substitute for higher levels of care (like ongoing weekly therapy, inpatient or intensive outpatient programs) if those are clinically indicated.
MHCC is not…
Crisis or emergency care. If you’re in danger or need immediate help, call 911 or go to the nearest ER.
Insurance-billed care. MHCC does not bill insurance or communicate with your insurance provider.
Medical or psychiatric services. No prescriptions or medication can be prescribed or managed.
Documentation for legal, disability, or court-mandated purposes.
Unlimited availability. There is no guarantee or promise of minimum amount of contact, phone calls, messaging, meetings or care.
Coaching. MHCC is designed specifically for mental health care and support.
“We’ve built a mental health system that runs on schedules and insurance codes instead of human need. And then we wonder why people give up trying to find help. It’s not a failure of motivation; it’s a failure of design. We desperately need a model of care that stays close, connected, and meets people where life actually happens.”
— Karl Stenske
Why I Created MHCC
I’ve always believed that healing doesn’t happen in fifty-minute boxes; it unfolds in the quiet spaces between them. For too long, the mental health system has focused on "episodes of care" rather than the actual human need for connection. When clients told me how hard it was to access support when they needed it most, or how disconnected they felt waiting for their next session, I knew the design had to change.
I believe the answer isn’t more distance—it’s more relationship. As someone who has always sought depth and authenticity, I understand the importance of truly being known. Not only by friends and family, but by the care providers who walk alongside us. MHCC was built from that belief: that being seen, remembered, and understood over time changes everything.
MHCC is the model I’ve always wished existed—one that honors the relationship, allows for real accessibility, and treats mental health care as something living, human, and continuous.
Ready to change the way you experience care?
Based in Irvine, Serving All of California
My office in the heart of Orange County serves as the home base for my practice. From this clinical hub, I provide continuous, secure care to clients throughout California, bridging the gap between local presence and statewide accessibility.
Karl Stenske Therapy 15615 Alton Pkwy, Suite 450 Irvine, CA 92618
Phone & Text: (949) 922-0734