Are there risks to therapy?
Honestly, the biggest risk is encountering emotional pain. Sometimes in therapy, and especially in couples therapy, you might begin to feel more pain before you feel better. Why is this? Because therapy is a safe place to open up, sometimes the information you gain can feel new, or it just impacts you differently after discussing it and that can cause temporary emotional pain. The good thing about that is, you are in therapy and the therapist can help you process those feelings.
How do I choose the right therapist?
Obviously we have to be realistic because you need to take into consideration location and affordability but beyond that what do you do? You can use a website called psychologytoday.com where you can get quite a bit of information about the therapist. No matter how you find your therapist you still need to determine if they are the right fit.
Your first point of contact will likely be over the phone but you can begin to get a feel in that first interaction, Were they nice? Did they seem empathic? Things like that can start to give a feel for the individual.The next time you speak will be in person at their office. When you meet in person you will get a better idea as to wether or not you can work well together.
Did they make you feel at ease?
Did they answer all your questions?
Did they seem like they really listened to you?
All of these things are important. If your needs are not being met then let them know.
Ultimately if you don't feel safe, listened to or comfortable with the therapist, you won't be able to do good work. Sometimes there just isn't the right chemistry, just like any other relationship, and thats ok. You can, and should find a better match.
Follow your instincts, you know that gut feeling you get, and you should be fine.
Your first point of contact will likely be over the phone but you can begin to get a feel in that first interaction, Were they nice? Did they seem empathic? Things like that can start to give a feel for the individual.The next time you speak will be in person at their office. When you meet in person you will get a better idea as to wether or not you can work well together.
Did they make you feel at ease?
Did they answer all your questions?
Did they seem like they really listened to you?
All of these things are important. If your needs are not being met then let them know.
Ultimately if you don't feel safe, listened to or comfortable with the therapist, you won't be able to do good work. Sometimes there just isn't the right chemistry, just like any other relationship, and thats ok. You can, and should find a better match.
Follow your instincts, you know that gut feeling you get, and you should be fine.
Whats the difference between a psychotherapist, a psychologist and a psychiatrist?
Psychotherapists have, at the minimum, a masters degree in psychology or a related field.
As an example I have a Masters degree in "Marriage and Family Therapy" and I am a psychotherapist. We help people with psychological distress and mental illness using talk therapy.
Psychologists have a doctorate degree and has either a PhD or a PsyD in their title. They too treat people with psychological distress and mental illness with talk therapy.
Psychiatrists have both a medical doctorate degree and a doctorate degree in psychology, so they have an MD and a PhD in their title. Psychiatrists also use talk therapy with people who have psychological distress and mental illness but they can prescribe medication as well.
As an example I have a Masters degree in "Marriage and Family Therapy" and I am a psychotherapist. We help people with psychological distress and mental illness using talk therapy.
Psychologists have a doctorate degree and has either a PhD or a PsyD in their title. They too treat people with psychological distress and mental illness with talk therapy.
Psychiatrists have both a medical doctorate degree and a doctorate degree in psychology, so they have an MD and a PhD in their title. Psychiatrists also use talk therapy with people who have psychological distress and mental illness but they can prescribe medication as well.
Do you accept Insurance?
I am an independent therapist that does accept insurance through "Headspace".
Headspace takes care of the insurance information and the billing so I can concentrate on you.
Currently I can accept the following insurances:
I am not able to accept right now BUT will be accepting in the near future:
Headspace takes care of the insurance information and the billing so I can concentrate on you.
Currently I can accept the following insurances:
- Aetna,
- Cigna
- Oscar Health,
- Oxford
- United Healthcare
I am not able to accept right now BUT will be accepting in the near future:
- Anthem Blue Cross of California
- Blue Shield of California
Fees for private pay (no insurance)
A full 50 min session for an individual is $120.00 if you pay without insurance.
There are some advantages of private pay.
There are some advantages of private pay.
- One advantage is being able to work on things not directly tied to a diagnosis. In regular therapy the insurance company needs to know what we do is medically necessary.
- Which brings me to another advantage of private pay: it truly is private. I don't have an insurance company to answer to, so our confidentiality is that much more confidential.
- There are no restrictions as to how many visits you get when doing private pay.
How to SCHEDULE an appointment?
Click Here
Or go to my "Contact" page click on the link there.
Or go to my "Contact" page click on the link there.