DO YOU OFFER A FREE CONSULTATION?
Yes. I offer a brief phone consultation for free, as I understand the importance of finding a therapist you connect with.
DO YOU ACCEPT INSURANCE?
I accept Aetna, United Healthcare, Cigna, and Blue Shield of California. If I am out-of-network, I will provide a superbill you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement. Before beginning therapy, I recommend that you contact your insurance company to discuss your mental health benefits.
Here are some questions that you can ask your insurance provider about coverage for therapy:
• Do I have out-of-network benefits to see a therapist?
• If so, what percentage do you cover?
• What is my deductible, and how much of the deductible have I met?
• What is my co-pay for a session if I see an out-of-network provider?
• How many sessions are covered, and over what period of time?
• How do I access the form needed to submit a request for reimbursement?
HOW MUCH DO YOU CHARGE?
A standard 50-minute session is $200, and I accept cash, check, and credit cards.
DO YOU OFFER A SLIDING SCALE?
Based on financial need and commitment to our work together, I have limited sliding scale appointments available during the week.
ARE VIRTUAL SESSIONS AVAILABLE?
Yes! Online therapy is provided through a secure, HIPAA-compliant website.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT FROM OUR INITIAL SESSION?
An opportunity to get to know one another, discuss your issues, and clarify your goals moving forward. You’ll be able to get a sense of my personality and approach to therapy, see if we’re a good fit, and hopefully feel relieved after sharing your feelings. If it’s not what you’re looking for, I’ll provide several referrals.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD I COME AND FOR HOW LONG?
Sessions should be scheduled weekly, as negative thought patterns and behavior are difficult to address and modify effectively. Specific issues with a brief history can be addressed in as few as 8-12 sessions. In contrast, long-term issues such as chronic anxiety, low self-esteem, or lack of fulfillment will likely need more time and reevaluation.
WHAT IS YOUR CANCELLATION POLICY?
If you can provide 24-hour notice, I can offer your appointment to another client. If not (except for emergencies or the ability to reschedule during the same week), you may be charged for our time in full.
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT SELF-HELP BOOKS, GROUPS, AND SEMINARS?
I believe they can be excellent resources for support, especially groups, as they also provide identification and accountability. However, thousands of books and seminars have been written and created, with more coming every day, because people continue seeking the right answer for their needs. What's missing is what makes therapy unique and valuable: The opportunity to address your needs in-depth and in detail and develop specific and personalized solutions for your life.
CAN’T I TALK TO A CLOSE FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER INSTEAD OF A THERAPIST?
Trusted friends and supportive family members are invaluable resources for support. That said, support and well-intentioned advice are vastly different from listening in-depth, encouraging independent thought, highlighting blind spots, and working to create greater insight and self-awareness. Therapists listen with intensity, experience your life with you, and help guide you through your past and present so that you can reestablish your truth, purpose, and meaning and confidently reclaim your place in the world. They are highly skilled at interpreting what is said and unsaid and seeing in others what they cannot yet see in themselves. This skill is developed through thousands of hours of clinical experience, continuing education, consultation, and personal therapy and is truly invaluable.
More questions and answers related to the therapeutic process can be read here in the article: "What Is Therapy?":