Using Aetna for therapy in Palo Alto.

Verify your particular plan

If you have Aetna, check the exact plan and network shown in your member account. The practice’s billing arrangement, the clinician, the type of service and your current benefits all matter. Shawn accepts Aetna; check your plan’s specific benefits and out-of-pocket costs.

Use Aetna’s official provider search, then contact the practice to confirm the result. Aetna also advises confirming acceptance with the provider’s office in its provider-selection guidance.

Ask before the first session

• Does my exact plan cover this clinician, billing arrangement and service?
• What deductible, copay or coinsurance applies? What will I owe if the claim is not paid?
• Are referrals, authorization or visit limits relevant?
• Do in-person and online benefits differ?
• Which service code actually applies to the session being offered?

Use the member services number on your card and confirm the practice’s information separately. Keep the date and reference number for your own records. A benefits quote does not guarantee payment.

Ask about cost and privacy

Your share of a covered service may involve a deductible, copay or coinsurance. Ask the plan and practice to explain the expected amount, including what happens if coverage changes or a claim is denied. Do not assume that using insurance means paying only a copay.

Ask your plan how claims and explanations of benefits are communicated, especially if you are covered as someone’s dependent. Discuss confidentiality questions with the practice before using benefits. This website cannot guarantee what an employer, policyholder or plan administrator receives in every arrangement.

Couples work and other coverage

Ask specifically about the service you are seeking. Coverage for one person’s mental health care does not automatically mean relationship-focused couples work is covered. The practice and plan should explain the actual arrangement before a claim is made.

If your plan comes through Stanford, use the plan name on your current card; do not assume all Stanford affiliates have Cardinal Care. Read the separate Cardinal Care guide or explore out-of-network questions.

Take the next step

Download the insurance call checklist · Compare payment pathways · Ask about a consultation

Shawn offers adult individual and couples therapy and accepts Stanford Cardinal Care, Aetna and private pay. Ask about current fees, openings and your plan’s benefits.

Source and review

This guide offers questions and care-navigation information, not an assessment or treatment recommendation.

Aetna’s official search and consumer guidance checked September 8, 2026. Practice and billing review pending.