FAQs
Q: How do I know if I need therapy?
A: Therapy can help you with many common struggles, and although these struggles differ in type and duration from person to person, to put it in a nutshell, therapy can help you if you want to make changes in your life, so you feel happier, and more content with your life. Therapy can help you handle emotions from problems or stressors, even if they aren't dramatically life-altering or traumatic. Therapy is a way to establish better emotional wellness in your daily life.
Do you feel happy in your relationships? Do you feel you are living up to your potential in your career? Therapy can help you find answers to many existential questions, such as, ‘How can I find my purpose?’ and ‘What brings meaning to my life?’, it can also be key in helping you find your passion, increase your motivation, set and achieve goals, increase your confidence, and improve time management and productivity.
Q.: How can I tell if I’m ready for therapy?
A: It’s important to know if you’re ready for therapy, as therapy works best when actively engaged in the process. You are ready for therapy if:
You want positive changes to happen in your life but may not be sure how to make them a reality.
You’re ready to prioritize your emotional well-being instead of accommodating unhealthy or toxic situations. Life does get better when you make your health a priority.
Q. Does Counseling Mean I'm Crazy?
A. A common reason some people avoid seeking the help of a therapist is the belief that it will mean they are simply “crazy.” But it goes beyond that. People are often afraid of how they’d feel if others saw them this way—worthless, flawed, or unlovable.
But the idea that people seeking help for normal, common issues are somehow flawed couldn’t be further from the truth. Going to therapy is, in fact, an indication of emotional maturity, an indication that a person can accept that they need the help or guidance of another and is willing to do what is necessary to take care of himself/herself.
The reality is that most people in therapy are ordinary, everyday people dealing with ordinary, everyday problems. Adjusting to major life changes, experiencing grief, processing anger, improving relationships, working on self-esteem, and addressing core beliefs about one’s body image are all examples of common issues which bring people to therapy.
Q. Does Counseling Mean I'm Weak?
- One of the most common reasons why clients resist counseling is because they think that “strong” people shouldn’t need therapy. They feel that it is a sign of weakness to seek help. Many clients fear being labeled as “crazy” or “insane” if the word were to get out that they are coming in for counseling. The sad reality is that there are people around us that judge those who choose to seek professional support for issues related to their mental health, but having the self-awareness and insight to know when you need assistance is a strength. Below are a few of the reasons why seeing a therapist shows strength:
- Your health is important: According to the World Health Organization, “mental health is an integral part of health; indeed, there is no health without mental health”. Prioritizing your mental and emotional health means that you are taking good care of yourself in your entirety, and there is no shame in that. Realizing that in order to care for your body, you must care for your mind as well is an important step towards optimizing your overall health.
- Your self-care is important to you. Somehow, the image of a person practicing self-care makes many pictures of a woman in a manicure seat or a man hanging out at a bar with his friends. And while leisure time and pampering oneself are very important, self-care also comes in other forms. I always remind my clients that they practice self-care by coming in to see me because they are taking the time to prioritize themselves and their mental health. As difficult as it can be to set aside the time for yourself, doing so is helpful to you and others in your life who rely on you. The time spent in a therapy session can be rejuvenating and make it a little easier to move ahead with whatever other responsibilities and tasks.
- You have good insight: Being insightful enough to realize when we need professional support is not easy to achieve. However, as it developed, the ability and self-awareness to do so is strength. It takes courage to look inward and ask yourself how you’re feeling and if you can manage your current struggles on your own. It’s even harder to acknowledge that the answer might be “no” and that you need added support. Having the strength to go through that process and reach out for help takes bravery and is essential to improving your mental health.
- You want to see real changes in your life. One of the biggest concerns clients fear is spending an hour in session “just talking” when they could be crossing things off their to-do lists. There are many therapeutic modalities out there; some are helpful for people in setting achievable goals and taking the steps required to accomplish them. Discussions about realistic goals, self-motivation strategies, prioritizing tasks, organizing ourselves, and managing anxiety related to too many tasks or responsibilities are all issues that can be addressed effectively in therapy.
Often, the clients who initially resisted treatment end up recommending it to their friends and family once they realize how different it is from what they had imagined.
Therapy is flexible and can be whatever you need it to be. Each therapist has a different style and approach, so it’s important for clients to ask questions to ensure that the one they choose is the right fit. Once you find the therapist that best meets your needs, you’re sure to succeed in your therapeutic goals.
Q: How can I reach my goals in therapy most effectively?
A: Therapy is truly an active process, and progress is optimized when you get to implement the tools you learn in therapy sessions in real-life situations. Those tools can be applying the techniques you learned in therapy sessions in your personal life to achieve the treatment goals.
Q: What allows me to make the changes I want to see in my life?
A: The simple answer is ‘You’. You are the changemaker, and with the support of your therapist, you can decide when or how to implement those changes you seek. Unlike the expectation that we have from our medical doctors, psychologists offer support & tools for the client to make those changes happen.Realizing that you, the client, are the ‘change-maker’ in your life can be very empowering. Therapy is temporary, so you can learn the tools you need to make the changes you want in your life.
Q: How can I help my child in this therapy process?
A: Make sure your child arrives at the session having had some downtime, so they have a chance to eat and go to the bathroom before their session.
Q: How can I know about my child’s progress in therapy?
A: I understand and support that parents need to know their child’s progress toward tx goals. Trust between the therapist and client is an absolute must for therapy to work. That is the reason I work closely with parents via parent sessions. I’d strongly advise against asking your child what happened in therapy sessions or telling them what they ‘should’ bring up in session. When kids feel the pressure to ‘report’ back to their parents, they’re not likely to open up in sessions which will impede progress.
Q: How do I prepare my child for the first session?
A: Parents who seek therapy for their child often wonder how to explain therapy to their child. Here are some ways to prepare your child for the first therapy session. You may choose one of the following that you see fit:
Our family has been through some big changes lately. We are going to see Violet. She is a therapist who can help our family through these changes. I’ve met her, and she is very nice. She has toys and art activities in her playroom, and you can play or talk to her about anything.
We’re going to visit Violet and her Play Room. She is a therapist who can help kids with their feelings. She has different toys, games, and art activities you can do, and it’s a safe place where you can talk about your feelings.
Q: WHAT IS YOUR FEE?
A: My fee for Individual Therapy is $190 for a 50-minute session, which is the same if the session is for a parent consultation or parent & child session. The only fee that differs is the one for the initial evaluation, which is $220/hour and prorated.
Q: DO YOU OFFER A SLIDING SCALE?
A: I believe that therapy should be accessible to everyone; for this reason, I reserve a limited number of reduced-fee weekly appointments (based on financial hardship). Please contact me to discuss this further.
Q:DO YOU TAKE COMMERCIAL INSURANCE?
A: Like many other therapists in private practice, I do not bill commercial insurance directly. Suppose you have an insurance plan that includes coverage for out-of-network providers. In that case, I am happy to supply you with monthly invoices (superbills) that you can submit for reimbursement (typically, this covers a good percentage of my fee). Check with your plan directly to verify your coverage. You may be asked for the CPT code in order to verify the reimbursement rate; the CPT code for 50-minute individual sessions is 90834, and the CPT code for 60-minute individual sessions is 90837. You can also inquire if they cover: CPT code 90791 Initial Evaluation, 90846 Family psychotherapy, without client present, 90847 Family psychotherapy, with the client present.
Q: HOW WILL I KNOW IF YOU'RE THE RIGHT THERAPIST FOR ME?
A: This is a very important question. You are dedicating time and resources and want to ensure you pick the right person. It would help if you considered logistical factors (office location, availability) as well as personal factors (my training and expertise, personality, and 'the feel' you get). An initial phone conversation should be the abilityto answer some of these questions - I suggest you think about the questions that will inform your decision. Sometimes you have to be in a room with someone before truly feeling for the person. The first couple of face-to-face sessions can continue to inform your decision, and we can discuss any ongoing reservations or concerns you might have.
Q: WHAT IS YOUR CANCELLATION POLICY?
A: If you cannot keep a scheduled therapy appointment, please notify your therapist at least 24 hours in advance through phone or email. Without notification, we will charge you the full session fee.
Q. Is what I say to my Psychologist kept confidential?
A. Therapy is confidential, and therapists are bound by both laws and ethics to maintain client confidentiality to the best of their ability. There are exceptions that I will cover in detail during the first appointment session.
Q: HOW OFTEN WILL I SEE YOU?
A: I typically see individual clients once weekly, and seeing each other weekly allows the work to move along at a good pace.
Q. What is Professional Counseling?
A. Counseling is a collaborative effort between the counselor and client. Professional counselors help clients identify goals and potential solutions to problems that cause emotional turmoil; seek to improve communication and coping skills; strengthen self-esteem; and promote behavior change and optimal mental health.
Types of Counseling
INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING
Individual counseling is a personal opportunity to receive support and experience growth during challenging times in life. Individual counseling can help one deal with many personal topics such as anger, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, marriage and relationship challenges, parenting problems, school difficulties, career changes, etc.
FAMILY COUNSELING
Family counseling is often sought due to a life change or stress negatively affecting one or all areas of family closeness, family structure (rules and roles) or communication style. This mode of counseling can take a variety of forms. Sometimes it is best to see an entire family together for several sessions. Common issues addressed in family counseling are concerns around parenting, sibling conflict, loss of family members, new members entering the family, dealing with a major move or a general change affecting the family system.
Q: Where do I start when seeking therapy?
A: Because therapy is an investment of your time and money, it’s wise to seek out information to help you in decision-making. I have to admit that navigating through the landscape of ‘finding the right therapist’ can be confusing. To begin with, therapists have different titles, such as Psychologist, Psychiatrist, Psychotherapist, etc. Here’s a chart below to bring some much-needed clarity at a glance:
Q: What is the difference between a Psychologist and a Psychiatrist?
Psychiatrists
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor with specific training in mental health. Psychiatrists are focused on the medical treatment of mental disorders, which occurs primarily through the use of medication. Patient visits with psychiatrists are typically fast (often just 15 minutes), and focused on ensuring that patients are taking the right medications in the right dosages to achieve their desired effects. While some psychiatrists do psychotherapy, the overwhelming majority do not, choosing to refer patients to outside therapists when it appears that talk therapy would be helpful.
Psychologists
A psychologist also has a doctorate and goes by “Dr.” But psychologists are trained specifically in psychotherapy and mental health assessment, and in CA and most other states, they do not prescribe medication. (There are a handful of states where psychologists with additional medication training can earn limited prescribing privileges.) Psychologists often do talk therapy in 45 to 50-minute weekly visits, focused on coping skills, recovering from trauma, and any other specific symptoms or concerns you may bring in. Psychologists can also do mental health assessments for court systems.
Q: What is the difference between a Life Coach and a Psychologist?
A: The short answer is education and regulation.
Education:
Psychologists spend an average of 7.2 years, in addition to their undergraduate college degree, in education and training, roughly 11-12 years of undergraduate and graduate education & training. In California, psychologists use psychological testing to evaluate and treat various emotional and psychological challenges. They coordinate the care of their clients in both outpatient and hospital settings. Psychologists also conduct research and teach in academic settings.
Unlike licensed psychologists or psychotherapists, life coaches don’t have to back up their titles with degrees.
Regulation:
States heavily regulate therapy. Therapists typically must be licensed or working under supervision, and licensure requires a graduate degree and significant additional clinical training and experience.
You do not have to be certified or have a degree to work as a life coach. Life coaches are not (currently) regulated by any government organization in the United States, and life coaches are not authorized to diagnose or treat mental health conditions. As long as a life coach does not pretend to treat mental health conditions, they are free to coach without licensing or oversight.
While coaching is a legitimate field with a growing research base and a code of ethics, adherence to that code of ethics is entirely voluntary.
Q. How Long Can I Expect to Be In Counseling?
A.This depends on your individual/family needs and what will be most beneficial to you. Generally, children and adolescents need to start with a minimum of once-a-week sessions. As therapy progresses, we will discuss reducing your sessions to every other week, once a month, or as needed to reinforce the growth, they have made.
Some people feel they have reached a desired understanding and change in their lives after several sessions. It is almost comparable to seeing your doctor for a check-up and learning that your body is running fine and you don’t need to do anything more.
Other people may attend therapy for a longer time. Your goals and expectations of therapy play an important role in determining how long you stay in therapy. It also depends on how much you bring to sessions, what you choose to share with your therapist, and how open you are to working on issues.
There is no right or wrong length of time to be in therapy. Since you can always learn more about yourself, you may want to continue with therapy until you feel you have reached a point where you have gained all that you can. At some point during your therapy, you may decide to stop therapy. If you are not sure if you should continue or stop, talking with your therapist about your concerns is helpful.
Q: HOW CAN THERAPY HELP MY FAMILY?
A: We all need a little help to solve problems that overwhelm us or cause emotional stress. Psychologists provide congruence, unconditional positive regard, and empathic understanding for you during these times. The therapeutic relationship enables you to explore deeply and assists you in finding constructive ways to cope with a situation that may be beyond your control. We believe that our clients are experts in themselves, and our job is to assist them in finding the answers they are seeking inside of them. The emphasis moves away from a therapist telling a client what to do and instead empowers the client to become more self-aware through the playing out of their inner world. The client dictates the pace and nature of our work, which in turn protects the client’s autonomy in the role of the session engineer. The relationship between the client and therapist becomes the technique for fostering change and understanding. In order to enhance our sessions, active involvement from caregivers is vital to see the whole child and situational concerns that might arise.
Q: I made an appointment. Do I need to prepare anything for our first meeting?
A: Just like an initial doctor’s appointment, there will be a good amount of paperwork to complete prior to the first session. When you make your first appointment, you will be able to access the Intake paperwork via the Confidential Client Portal ahead of time to allow you to arrive with everything filled out. If you prefer to complete the paperwork in the office, please arrive 15-20 minutes before your appointment.
You can also bring in any information to help the therapist learn more about your child.
Documents like IEPs, report cards, special testing results, teacher or coach feedback, and any information that will help the therapist get a complete picture of your child are extremely helpful.
Feel free to write down any questions for the therapist before going in so you can leave with all your questions answered.