The process of therapy is not always easy to explain until you experience it. However, typically people will seek therapy due to some problematic thoughts, feelings, behaviors or due to  difficulty in relationships. The process of talking through these issues often results in the development of new insights and increased self-awareness. Success in therapy is often seen when clients are willing to be open and honest in the therapeutic relationships. Through this process, clients begin to see improvement in their personal feeling, relationships and overall sense of well-being. 

Sessions are 50 minutes long. It has been most beneficial for clients to meet on a weekly basis. However, as treatment progresses, sessions may decrease to every other week when clinically appropriate.

The duration of therapy varies based on the nature of the issues presented and the specific goals of the counseling process. While some issues tend to be very specific or  transitional and resolve in months, some people find that the issues are deeper or more complicated and benefit form the ongoing support for personal growth that is achieved in a longer-term therapeutic process.

It is important to discuss your goals of therapy and when those goals are met this is a success! Ultimately, it is your decision as to when you stop therapy. It is my goal to help you see your goals achieved. Sometimes, therapy can feel hard and that does not mean it's time to quit, but working though it can be the most beneficial part of the process. Transitioning out of therapy is also not a closed door situation, many clients do return to therapy at different points relationship but it is often he beginning of a new kind of a relationship that looks more like a partnership. Some common stages when children are involved are as follows:

• Grieving the loss
• Negotiating new boundaries
• Determining new roles
• Understanding expectations
• Creating a consistency
• Managing frustrations and healthy communication
• Processing the idea of new significant others & their roles

The rate for individual, couples or family therapy is $175 per 50 minute session. Sliding scale may be offered in some circumstances based on monthly family income, before taxes.

No, I do not accept insurance. Payment for session it due at time of session and typically billed through the client portal where payment information is securely stored. I am happy to set up your client portal so that you will have access to your invoices and your super bills. Typically HMO Plans do not cover out of network services. However, there are times, PPO insurance plans will accept super bills for out of network coverage or approve a set number of sessions out of network. I do not bill insurance directly, so this would be your responsibility to explore with your provider and to submit for possible reimbursement. I am currently an out of network provider for Blue Shield of California and United Healthcare, but you should check with your provider for your coverage details if that is important in submitting the super bill.

It may be helpful to ask your PPO provider the following questions:

• What are my mental health benefits?
• What is the coverage amount per therapy session?
• How many therapy sessions does my plan cover?
• How much does my insurance pay for an out-of-network provider?
• If there is a possibility for reimbursement, what is that process?

In general, the law protects the confidentiality of all communications between a client and psychotherapist. No information is disclosed without your signed release of information.  There are some exceptions, related to child/elder abuse reporting, if a client is a danger to self, others or unable to meet their basic needs. One other rare occasion would be if a court issued a subpoena for records or needed the therapist to testify.

Couples counseling takes each individual's emotional state into account, but the primary focus is on the relationship and the dynamic of that relationship. In this sense, the relationship is the actual “client” in couples therapy. Typical areas of focus tend to be improving the effectiveness in communication, decrease arguments or tension, and increasing overall satisfaction in all areas of the relationship.

Telehealth/Teletherapy is therapy but done from the convenience of you home, office or whatever location is most practical for you. For some, this method feels very comfortable and for others it may feel less comfortable than meeting for therapy in person. It is important to always assure, as a client, that you are in a place where you feel free to share openly and are free from distractions. All Telehealth sessions are conducted through a HIPPA compliant secure client portal. Not all clients are appropriate for Telehealth/Teletherapy and this would be discussed with me prior to considering if this would be an option for you.

Seeking therapy does not mean you are “crazy” or “damaged.” This is absolutely not true! The majority of people who seek  therapy are very normal people who may simply be suffering from everyday human problems, such as depression, anxiety, relationship issues, trauma, life transitions, self-esteem issues, identity or purpose issues or difficulty managing everyday stress. Seeking support in these times in not only brave, but a huge step in being a healthy person.