10620 Treena Street Ste 230, San Diego, California 92131, United States
FAQs About Therapy
Q: How will I know if you are the right therapist for me?
A: The only way to know for sure is to come in for a session. Most people have a good sense of whether I am the right professional to help them within the first two sessions. If after 1 or 2 sessions, you do not feel a connection with your therapist, you have every right to terminate services and ask for referrals to other therapists that might be a better fit for you.
Q: Who do you work with?
A: I provide counseling for adults, children, teens, young adults, and families in my San Diego, CA office. My expertise is in depression and anxiety, stress, adjustment issues, emotional dysregulation, behavioral issues, and communication. I can also provide parent coaching sessions as well as consultation for IEPs and ERMHS.
Q: What can I expect from therapy?
A: Once you have made a decision to see a therapist, you still might be apprehensive about the process. Many people feel nervous before the first appointment. Therapy is a shared journey, in this case between the client, their family, and the therapist. Although we may travel on that journey together, it is ultimately your journey and you will make your own decisions. I do not have answers for all your concerns, but I do have the ability to listen carefully and ask thoughtful questions. Your answers to these questions will help shape the direction of our work. You can expect to be respected. You can expect that I will offer opinions and suggestions from time to time but I will not tell you what to do.
Q: What happens during the first session?
A: The initial session is the time for you to start to share your story, to talk about your goals and what you would like to change. Another important aspect of the first session is deciding if we are a good fit. Do I seem like someone you can trust? We are establishing a relationship that will become the foundation for working together. You will begin to figure out some goals; I will begin to figure out how to help you get there.
Q: How long do appointments last?
A: Appointments are 50 minutes. This is the standard length of a counseling session. I do offer 60-minute family sessions.
Q: How often will we meet?
A: To begin, we will meet once a week. This is important to gain some momentum in the beginning by meeting weekly in order to start making progress. Once some or all of your goals are met, meeting less often will make sense.
Q: Can we meet virtually? Do you provide online counseling?
A: Because of my work with youth and families, I find that the best therapy happens with face-to-face sessions. Parent coaching sessions may be able to be conducted via phone or secure video platform to help meet your needs when traveling out of town, inclement weather, home with a sick child, etc. However, all individual sessions will be face-to-face at this time.
Q: How much do you charge?
A: I charge $140 per individual session and $150 for family sessions for 50- or 60-minute sessions. Additional information on fees can be found on the Fees & Insurance page on this website. Payment will be collected at the time of service.
Q: Do you accept insurance?
A: I am currently an In-Network provider for Optum insurances. I will collect payment from you at the time of service for any co-pay or collect the full fee if you still need to meet a deductible. If you have a PPO type plan, I am considered an out of network provider and I am able to provide you with a monthly superbill that you can submit to your provider for reimbursement. It will be your responsibility as the client to seek reimbursement from your provider. Please note that submitting an insurance claim means I will need to make a mental health diagnosis.
Q: What is your cancellation policy?
A: I require 24 hours notice of cancellation or you will need to pay a $50 fee for the late cancellation. If you fail to show up for your scheduled appointment, you will be charged a $75 No Show fee. An occasional exception may be made in the case of an emergency. It’s important that we meet consistently in order to make progress.
Q: What theoretical approach do you use?
A: I pull from a variety of theories and techniques. I find Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Positive Psychology, Motivational Interviewing, Client-Centered Therapy, and Mindfulness techniques are often helpful for my clients.
Q: Do you prescribe medication?
A: No, I am not a medical doctor. Many of my clients find medication is helpful, but many of them also progress well in therapy without medication. If you want to be evaluated for psychiatric medication, either contact your primary care physician or a psychiatrist. If you are already taking medication, I can coordinate care with your doctor.
Q: Are there any issues or types of client that you DON’T work with?
A: Due to state licensing laws, I can only provide therapy and counseling to individuals residing in California. I do not conduct child custody evaluations nor do I provide custody recommendations. I also don’t provide treatment for eating disorders, psychotic disorders (schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, etc), or personality disorders.