Therapy can be helpful in a wide range of situations and for almost everyone. Working with a therapist that you are comfortable with can alleviate suffering in your life and address important areas you wish to change. The therapist/client relationship is almost always the most important aspect of therapy.
Because of the importance of the relationship, I offer free consultation calls for new clients. During these brief calls we will discuss what you hope to achieve through therapy, and I will share some of my experience and approach. If we agree your situation is a good fit, the next step is an intake appointment to begin the process of working together.
I recommend meeting for at least 2-3 sessions. If, in the end we are not a good match I will assist you in finding another provider who is better suited to your needs.
I will speak to my approach alone here, as there are many different therapist stances on how therapy works (and volumes have been written about this topic alone). My belief is that therapy is designed to establish an environment where it is safe to be openly and deeply curious about yourself, your life, and meaningful relationships. When successful, therapy allows us to explore, identify, and make conscious, purposeful decisions about personal direction, spiritual journeys, and living with authenticity.
A common concern in therapy is what information to bring in to session and is it "therapeutic" enough to bring up. I'm confident that if we turn a focused and curious ear to your inner world we will always have something important to discuss. Some clients opt to journal or take notes about topics, others are more comfortable with organically observing what comes up in-session. In this sense, there is no right or wrong way, just what works best for you.
My practice does not accept insurance for therapy and I'm considered an out-of-network provider. However, I will provide you with documentation that you can use to file yourself with your insurance company.
Some questions to ask your insurance company to determine your out-of-pocket costs:
1) Do I have out-of-network medical and behavioral health benefits?
2) Is pre-authorization (or pre-certification) required to use out-of-network benefits? (If this is a “yes”, you will need to obtain this directly from your insurance provider)
3) Is a referral from [the patient]’s primary care provider required?
(If this is a “yes”, you will need to obtain this directly from the primary care provider)
4) What is my deductible, has it been met, and do out-of-network expenses count towards my deductible?
7) What percentage of the allowable charge will the insurance provider pay and what percentage of the allowable charge should I expect to pay?
