Getting Started in Therapy: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get started?
First, send me a secure email using this secure email link or give me a call at 510-338-6655 for a free phone consultation. You'll likely get my voicemail, and I'll call you back within a few hours and usually the same day. Be sure to leave some good times to reach you.
You'll have a chance to tell me about what brings you to therapy and what you'd like me to know about your situation. You'll have an opportunity to ask me any questions about how I work and my experience working with your particular issues.
We'll talk about the logistics in setting up a first appointment, such as fee and schedule. I'll give you a link to my website or ask for your email address so I can get you paperwork to sign in advance.
What is the first appointment like?
During the first session, I'll review the policies and confidentiality and collect your paperwork. You'll have as much time as you'd like to tell me about what's going on that brings you to therapy. I'll have some questions about how you're doing and how you'd like things to be different.
If you're seeing me for individual counseling, we'll get into your history and review your intake questionnaire and other paperwork that provides information on your history. It may take a couple sessions to complete the intake process. Some people prefer to have a longer first session so that we can complete the intake process at one session.
For teenagers, I will meet with you at least once and your caregivers/parents once.
For couples and relationship counseling, I will meet with everyone together at least once and then each individually once to gain an initial understanding and assessment of your concerns. After these intake sessions, we will meet again all together and review your goals and ensure I am a good match.
I ask that you commit to at least three sessions to determine if we'd like to work together. If either of us determine that I'm not the right therapist to address your concerns, I will provide you with referrals or recommendations if you want to discuss finding a different therapist.
Can you tell me if you think my relationship will survive? Or what I should do about my problem?
My passion is helping folks explore strengths, identify patterns and behavior that isn't working, and help find a new way. My years of experience can help you explore your options and identify how you'd like to move forward based on what I've seen over the years.
I won't tell you what I think you should do, and I don't have my own agenda for your outcome. It's my job to offer opportunities to develop insight, ask questions, and teach new skills in a loving, supportive environment so you can make the healthiest choice based on your values and goals.
We do know that getting assistance earlier will help! Most people wait, sometimes for years, before they seek help. Whether you're having trouble in your relationship, struggling with insomnia, or beating yourself up about how you eat, get assistance early before things get more serious.
I've been in therapy before, and I don't know if it helped.
Many people tell me they've been in therapy before and are looking for something different.
Sometimes, they've felt judged or misunderstood in the past. They thought they were spending money and time educating their therapist about their identity, which isn't what you need when you're hurting or wanting your own personal growth. It's important to find an affirming therapist.
Also, I hear from people who have been in therapy in the past and are looking for something more interactive and goal-oriented. They tell me that they developed insight, and even felt better. However, they reverted to old patterns or found that they weren't able to make any sustainable changes to reach their goals.
People appreciate my interactive style that blends evidence-based practices along with approaches that work towards your goals, at your pace. I always include a final session with relapse prevention tools and brainstorm strategies to help you maintain the gains you've made in therapy.
How much does therapy cost?
Therapy is an investment. Together, we're investing in your health, relationships, emotional wellbeing, and your future.
I'll be honest, I'm not the least expensive therapist. I've been licensed for 10+ years, and I've invested in advanced clinical training over the years to develop skills that help people with unique concerns. At the same time, I want you to be able to get the help you need from a trained therapist and to be able to remain in therapy for the length of time you need. Therefore, my fees are a little below industry standard for a licensed therapist in the area.
I don't offer any sliding scale rates because my fee is lower than many licensed therapists, and I keep a few low fee slots for existing clients who need it due to a serious change in their life and might not otherwise be able to continue.
See also my page on Payment for more information about fees and using your insurance for therapy.
If you want very low fee therapy, see my Resources page for low fee services. There are several excellent training programs in the area with well-supervised interns who can provide sliding scale services.
How long will I be in therapy?
Change is definitely a process, not an event.
People are in therapy for a variety of lengths of time, depending on the issue you're seeking help with. I consistently review goals and progress, and we can always discuss your experience in therapy.
Sessions are weekly for 45 minute sessions for individuals or 75 minutes for relationship counseling.
Remember, therapy is a commitment of your time, money, energy, and other resources. If you put your energy into the sessions and some time into working on skills between sessions, you will get more out of your experience. Many people find that even 10 minutes a day of practice helps improve their mood and their relationships, and change feels more sustainable.
What is mindfulness and how is it used in therapy?
Mindfulness practice is an important part of my work with most clients. Mindfulness is a tool and a set of skills to help you live in the current moment rather than what many of us do instead: spend time dreading the future or re-living the past.
These exercises that you learn in therapy and then practice on your own can help you get in touch with your emotions and the wisdom you have naturally about your situation. This practice helps provide some space between an event and your reaction so you can act thoughtfully, with kindness to yourself and others.
It's a tool we can use to help address emotional eating, stress and anxiety, lack of focus or procrastination, and poor sleep. Mindfulness also helps many folks who are in conflict with others.
How should I choose a new therapist?
People will sometimes ask me: how do I choose the right therapist? Great question! It's important to call around, and even meet a few therapists in person to see who you feel most comfortable with.
There are always a few specific factors to consider as initial criteria, such as fee, location, and availability. For example, if you can never miss work to attend a regular therapy appointment, you need someone willing and able to work after hours.
After you get a list of potential therapists you think might meet your initial criteria, call around and ask about their experience with your issues. For example, if you're struggling with depression and having a hard time accomplishing tasks and finding joy in life, you'll want a therapist who has seen success and can tell you a little about how they might work or tools they might use in therapy. If you recently experienced a major loss or a traumatic event, ask about their comfort with these issues.
It's also great to ask about how interactive the therapist is or whether they provide guidance for practicing outside of therapy. Many therapists aren't trained in and don't provide this type of guidance for a variety of reasons. Therapy with exercises and things to practice in between sessions is often most helpful for people who struggle with insomnia, anxiety, procrastination, depression, and trouble in intimate relationships.
What does LCSW mean? Are you a licensed therapist?
If you've been searching for a therapist, you've noticed there are a lot of initials after our names! What does it all mean? Essentially, there are several different graduate level degrees and licensing processes to become a licensed psychotherapist in California.
Social Workers get a Masters in Social Work (MSW), and we get the LCSW license, which stands for Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Marriage and Family Therapists usually have a masters degree in clinical counseling, and you will see MFT after their name. Psychologists usually have a doctorate in psychology and usually have PsyD or PhD after their name. Occasionally, medical doctors (MD's) or Nurse Practitioners (NP's) who have psychiatric training are also psychotherapists and often prescribe medication and conduct medication management in addition to psychotherapy.
First, send me a secure email using this secure email link or give me a call at 510-338-6655 for a free phone consultation. You'll likely get my voicemail, and I'll call you back within a few hours and usually the same day. Be sure to leave some good times to reach you.
You'll have a chance to tell me about what brings you to therapy and what you'd like me to know about your situation. You'll have an opportunity to ask me any questions about how I work and my experience working with your particular issues.
We'll talk about the logistics in setting up a first appointment, such as fee and schedule. I'll give you a link to my website or ask for your email address so I can get you paperwork to sign in advance.
What is the first appointment like?
During the first session, I'll review the policies and confidentiality and collect your paperwork. You'll have as much time as you'd like to tell me about what's going on that brings you to therapy. I'll have some questions about how you're doing and how you'd like things to be different.
If you're seeing me for individual counseling, we'll get into your history and review your intake questionnaire and other paperwork that provides information on your history. It may take a couple sessions to complete the intake process. Some people prefer to have a longer first session so that we can complete the intake process at one session.
For teenagers, I will meet with you at least once and your caregivers/parents once.
For couples and relationship counseling, I will meet with everyone together at least once and then each individually once to gain an initial understanding and assessment of your concerns. After these intake sessions, we will meet again all together and review your goals and ensure I am a good match.
I ask that you commit to at least three sessions to determine if we'd like to work together. If either of us determine that I'm not the right therapist to address your concerns, I will provide you with referrals or recommendations if you want to discuss finding a different therapist.
Can you tell me if you think my relationship will survive? Or what I should do about my problem?
My passion is helping folks explore strengths, identify patterns and behavior that isn't working, and help find a new way. My years of experience can help you explore your options and identify how you'd like to move forward based on what I've seen over the years.
I won't tell you what I think you should do, and I don't have my own agenda for your outcome. It's my job to offer opportunities to develop insight, ask questions, and teach new skills in a loving, supportive environment so you can make the healthiest choice based on your values and goals.
We do know that getting assistance earlier will help! Most people wait, sometimes for years, before they seek help. Whether you're having trouble in your relationship, struggling with insomnia, or beating yourself up about how you eat, get assistance early before things get more serious.
I've been in therapy before, and I don't know if it helped.
Many people tell me they've been in therapy before and are looking for something different.
Sometimes, they've felt judged or misunderstood in the past. They thought they were spending money and time educating their therapist about their identity, which isn't what you need when you're hurting or wanting your own personal growth. It's important to find an affirming therapist.
Also, I hear from people who have been in therapy in the past and are looking for something more interactive and goal-oriented. They tell me that they developed insight, and even felt better. However, they reverted to old patterns or found that they weren't able to make any sustainable changes to reach their goals.
People appreciate my interactive style that blends evidence-based practices along with approaches that work towards your goals, at your pace. I always include a final session with relapse prevention tools and brainstorm strategies to help you maintain the gains you've made in therapy.
How much does therapy cost?
Therapy is an investment. Together, we're investing in your health, relationships, emotional wellbeing, and your future.
I'll be honest, I'm not the least expensive therapist. I've been licensed for 10+ years, and I've invested in advanced clinical training over the years to develop skills that help people with unique concerns. At the same time, I want you to be able to get the help you need from a trained therapist and to be able to remain in therapy for the length of time you need. Therefore, my fees are a little below industry standard for a licensed therapist in the area.
I don't offer any sliding scale rates because my fee is lower than many licensed therapists, and I keep a few low fee slots for existing clients who need it due to a serious change in their life and might not otherwise be able to continue.
See also my page on Payment for more information about fees and using your insurance for therapy.
If you want very low fee therapy, see my Resources page for low fee services. There are several excellent training programs in the area with well-supervised interns who can provide sliding scale services.
How long will I be in therapy?
Change is definitely a process, not an event.
People are in therapy for a variety of lengths of time, depending on the issue you're seeking help with. I consistently review goals and progress, and we can always discuss your experience in therapy.
Sessions are weekly for 45 minute sessions for individuals or 75 minutes for relationship counseling.
Remember, therapy is a commitment of your time, money, energy, and other resources. If you put your energy into the sessions and some time into working on skills between sessions, you will get more out of your experience. Many people find that even 10 minutes a day of practice helps improve their mood and their relationships, and change feels more sustainable.
What is mindfulness and how is it used in therapy?
Mindfulness practice is an important part of my work with most clients. Mindfulness is a tool and a set of skills to help you live in the current moment rather than what many of us do instead: spend time dreading the future or re-living the past.
These exercises that you learn in therapy and then practice on your own can help you get in touch with your emotions and the wisdom you have naturally about your situation. This practice helps provide some space between an event and your reaction so you can act thoughtfully, with kindness to yourself and others.
It's a tool we can use to help address emotional eating, stress and anxiety, lack of focus or procrastination, and poor sleep. Mindfulness also helps many folks who are in conflict with others.
How should I choose a new therapist?
People will sometimes ask me: how do I choose the right therapist? Great question! It's important to call around, and even meet a few therapists in person to see who you feel most comfortable with.
There are always a few specific factors to consider as initial criteria, such as fee, location, and availability. For example, if you can never miss work to attend a regular therapy appointment, you need someone willing and able to work after hours.
After you get a list of potential therapists you think might meet your initial criteria, call around and ask about their experience with your issues. For example, if you're struggling with depression and having a hard time accomplishing tasks and finding joy in life, you'll want a therapist who has seen success and can tell you a little about how they might work or tools they might use in therapy. If you recently experienced a major loss or a traumatic event, ask about their comfort with these issues.
It's also great to ask about how interactive the therapist is or whether they provide guidance for practicing outside of therapy. Many therapists aren't trained in and don't provide this type of guidance for a variety of reasons. Therapy with exercises and things to practice in between sessions is often most helpful for people who struggle with insomnia, anxiety, procrastination, depression, and trouble in intimate relationships.
What does LCSW mean? Are you a licensed therapist?
If you've been searching for a therapist, you've noticed there are a lot of initials after our names! What does it all mean? Essentially, there are several different graduate level degrees and licensing processes to become a licensed psychotherapist in California.
Social Workers get a Masters in Social Work (MSW), and we get the LCSW license, which stands for Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Marriage and Family Therapists usually have a masters degree in clinical counseling, and you will see MFT after their name. Psychologists usually have a doctorate in psychology and usually have PsyD or PhD after their name. Occasionally, medical doctors (MD's) or Nurse Practitioners (NP's) who have psychiatric training are also psychotherapists and often prescribe medication and conduct medication management in addition to psychotherapy.
