FAQS

Are you considering seeking therapy, but are unsure whether it’s necessary or the right choice for you? If certain issues have been causing tension or difficulty in your life, and you aren’t sure what to do or how to make the necessary changes, therapy can help. If you have been feeling dissatisfied, down, depressed, worry a lot, or are not caring for yourself, therapy can be beneficial.
Dealing with your problems with the help of a professional can get you out of that rut, and into a more productive pattern. Almost anyone who is struggling in any area of his or her life can benefit from seeking professional help from the right therapist.

The benefits of therapy really depend on the difficulties you or your family are experiencing. For individuals, there a number of different ways by helping you understand your emotional difficulties, change disruptive or damaging behaviors, modify long-standing patterns in life, or develop specific skills for dealing with problems, coping, anger expression, among others.
Many individuals experience anxiety, depression, or misuse substances. These issues very common and therapy can help you learn new ways to manage your thinking and your behavior that will help you handle these problems. In addition, there are a wide variety of other challenges that can be very difficult, including chronic disorders and personality disorders. Therapy with the right professional can help diagnose and treat those as well.
Family therapy involves having all the members living in the home participate in and attend the sessions. While each situation is different, a typical first step involves assessing the strengths in the family and building on areas that may need strengthening. Families can struggle with a wide variety of issues including dealing with developing children that are having problems with grades, behavior problems, substance abuse by a teenager or an adult in the family, relocating, or starting a new phase of school life.
I believe in empowering parents to be in charge of the family and helping couples acquire new tools to do so. New communication skills are taught to help each member of a family express their needs and learn how to listen to the other members within the family. If necessary, I can provide individualized assessment and testing to determine if there are learning disabilities or attention difficulties. The overall goal is to help you and your family achieve improved functioning and a more satisfying life.

The length of time can vary greatly based on several factors, including client motivation, the therapist’s skill and experience, and whether you are addressing more short-term reduction of symptoms or longer-term personal growth issues.

The cost of therapy can vary greatly depending on whether you go to a public or private agency, the provider you choose to work with, their level of experience, and their licensing level and status.
Most insurance companies provide mental health benefits. I am not a network provider for any insurance company (except medicare – at the time of this writing). HMO insurance will only cover services with a network provider. They will pay nothing to cover our work together. However, PPO insurance typically offers some benefits. In my experience, some are minimal, and others are quite good, covering most or all of my charges.
In order for us to set realistic treatment goals and priorities, it is important to evaluate what resources you have available to pay for your treatment. I will fill out forms and provide you with whatever assistance they can in helping you receive the benefits to which you are entitled; however, you (not your insurance company) are responsible for full payment of all fees incurred. It is very important that you find out exactly what mental health services your insurance policy covers. If you have questions about the coverage, call your plan administrator. Of course, I will try to help you in understanding the information you receive from your insurance company.
My fees are within the upper range of fees for psychologists in my area. Since each insurance situation is different, please call to discuss. Ultimately, you often get what you pay for, and investing in yourself may be the most important thing you can do for yourself, your family, and friends.

Yes, except for specific situations that involve health and safety concerns. I will review these exceptions with you. Also insurance companies require a diagnosis to process claims. Further, some require your provider to report symptoms, and certain content to process claims. With the changing healthcare landscape, more and more people are expressing concerns including privacy of healthcare information, involvement of insurance companies, and diagnosis that can later cause problems. Many clients choose not to involve insurance companies in their counseling treatment. I accept cash, checks, and major credit cards.

In general, meetings are scheduled for 50 to 60 minutes (one appointment hour) per week at a time that is mutually agreed upon. Depending on the situation, meetings may be longer or more frequent.

Just send an email or give me a call at 805.279.7007 and leave your name, phone number and best time to call. I return calls as promptly as possible, often in the evening hours. At that time, please any questions you wish and give a brief description of your situation. We can also schedule a mutually convenient appointment if you would like to proceed further.

Following your initial phone call or email, I will respond promptly to answer any questions you may have or schedule an initial appointment. Before the appointment, you will need to fill out several forms and review our confidentiality and privacy practices. The purpose of the initial appointment will be to gather information so I can try to understand as much as possible about the concerns that bring you into therapy. I will ask many questions about you, your life, and your personal history in a respectful and non-judgmental way. As always, I welcome any questions you may have during any part of the process.
Our first few sessions will involve an evaluation of your needs. By the end of the evaluation, I will offer you some first impressions of what your work will include and a treatment plan to follow, if you decide to continue with therapy. You should evaluate this information along with your own opinions of whether you feel comfortable working together. Therapy involves a large commitment of time, money, and energy, so you should be very careful about the therapist you select. If you have questions about any procedures, please mention them whenever they arise.

Having a good “fit” is essential to the success of the therapeutic experience. You are more likely to benefit from therapy if you feel that you can talk openly and honestly with your therapist and that he/she can understand you. The therapist should maintain a friendly and professional demeanor at all times. Perhaps the most important factor in a good outcome is your therapist’s personality and your comfort level with him or her. Pay attention to how attentively they respond to your requests and your individual progress. Sometimes it is necessary to interview more than one therapist until you feel you are comfortable and safe.
If you would like to come by for 5-10 minutes to “say hello” and meet me, I am happy to do so. This is not a therapeutic meeting, rather, it is a chance to have a brief conversation in person. Since I typically have one hour appointments, I often schedule these meetings at the beginning or end of my schedule.

This is very common, please give me a call. A client may be very happy with the resolution of their initial concerns and move on. Sometime later they may decide to look a little further at the patterns or repetitive behaviors that are the underlying root of their initial concerns. There is no “right” way to grow and learn about yourself. In addition, life can take many twists and turns and present new challenges, some of which may require additional help.

Once an appointment hour is scheduled, it is reserved for you. You will be expected to pay for that session unless you provide 24 hours advance notice of cancellation. If we agree that you were unable to attend due to circumstances beyond your control, I will often waive the fee. If it is possible, we will try to find another time that same week to reschedule the appointment.