STARTING THERAPY
STARTING THERAPY
Starting therapy is an important step, and it's natural to feel a mix of emotions. You may feel hopeful, uncertain, nervous, or all of the above. I offer a free 20-minute phone consultation to answer your questions, and learn more about what brings you to therapy.
Finding a therapist who feels like a good fit is one of the most important parts of beginning therapy. Feeling safe and understood creates the foundation for meaningful work together. As trust develops, it becomes easier to process difficult experiences, explore long-standing patterns, and move toward the changes you hope to make. Many clients begin to experience this sense of fit within the first few sessions.
“Inviting our thoughts and feelings into awareness allows us to learn from them rather than be driven by them.”
SESSIONS
Sessions are typically 50 minutes in length, occurring once a week. Weekly sessions are optimal for therapy particularly in the beginning, providing a baseline level of consistency that is essential for the kind of depth of psychological work necessary for therapeutic change to take place. If a different frequency is needed, please don’t hesitate to reach out and discuss.
FEE
My session fees are within the range for experienced, licensed professionals practicing in California. I offer a portion of my therapy work at a sliding-scale based on availability and financial need. It is essential that financial issues do not prevent you from obtaining the assistance you need and deserve. If you are unable to afford the fee, I would be glad to provide appropriate referrals to providers who can better meet your needs.
I am not on insurance panels. Some health plans (typically a PPO or POS plan) allow you to choose an out-of-network provider for therapy services. If you would like to seek partial reimbursement from your insurance, I would be glad to provide a monthly statement of services.
CANCELLATIONS
A consistent therapy schedule involves the reservation of time specifically for clients. Thus, a minimum of 48-hours notice is required for canceling appointments. For rescheduling an appointment within the same week, a minimum of 24-hours notice would be appreciated.