This page gives details of what you can expect from Gifted Matters when there is an emergency situation. We hope none of the information on this page becomes necessary, but in the event it does, we want to be able to streamline support for you as much as possible.

Please note that as a small, private practice, Gifted Matters staff are not available on a 24/7 basis to provide immediate support.

We will, as a practice, do what we can to provide appropriate support when urgent issues arise, however typically if there are ongoing emergency issues there will need to be others on the team to provide the necessary support. Those others can include medical doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists, case managers and programs, and we will provide referrals as we can to assist you in assembling a team. If you are anticipating that a crisis is coming, we recommend that you do not wait until the crisis is upon you to begin forming a team, but that you work with your therapist ahead of time to make a plan and connect with other professionals before they become necessary.

Guidelines for Emergencies

• If you feel this is a life-threatening emergency, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. If you are not sure if the situation warrants an ER visit, we recommend erring on the side of caution and going anyway. Note that depending on your health insurance, going straight to the ER could incur special costs; you might want to check with them before you go.
• If your child or teen is in crisis, and you do not want to wait until the next available office appointment, you can contact the Santa Clara County Mobile Crisis Team here: https://upliftfs.org/service/continuum-of-crisis-care . Their 24-hour number is (408) 379-9085
• If you are in need of immediate support for suicide prevention, the following website https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ can direct you to specific support for your issue. This organization provides support to both suicidal individuals and their loved ones. The 24-hour number is 1-800-273-8255.
• The Crisis Text Line is also available. Go here: https://www.crisistextline.org for information on how to use it.
• If you need to get a response to an urgent matter from someone at Gifted Matters, you can contact Mika Gustavson, Director of Gifted Matters. She can be reached via email at mikag@stanfordalumni.org, or via phone or text at 408-375-9635. A text will get the fastest response, though we can make no guarantee as to how quickly she can reply. Texting Mika does not constitute an adequate plan for an emergency. Mika covers urgent matters for all Gifted Matters staff. Staff therapists have limited work hours and will not be able to respond faster than 24-48 hours, depending on their schedule.
• If you have had an emergency between visits, please inform your therapist before the next session, via phone or email, as to the current status of the situation. Your therapist may suggest an adults-only appointment, either in lieu of or in addition to, a child appointment, to allow for a more thorough conversation.