Below I provide some brief answers to commonly asked questions. I hope that you find them helpful.
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General Questions
What can I expect during my first session?
In the first session I hope that you can get a sense of how you feel sitting with me. Do you feel comfortable and perhaps soothed by our interactions. I will also try to get a sense if my skill set would be helpful in what you are telling me. I will also try to get a general idea of the presenting problem and some relevant history. I will also encourage you to ask me any questions or concerns and I will do my best to clarify them for you.
How long do sessions typically last?
Sessions have a time limit for several reasons. First, there is the practical aspect-we all have busy schedules so keeping to a set time makes scheduling possible. Second, research and clinical experiences indicate that sessions that are too long become overly stressful and for the most part are not helpful past the allotted time. Finally, keeping to the allotted time helps patient and therapist to maintain healthy and appropriate boundaries. Session are usually between 45-60 minutes.
Is my information kept confidential?
Confidentiality is the number one most important aspect of psychotherapy. Without absolute confidentiality the process can not be a safe place and that undoes the very essence of psychotherapy. There are two exclusions to this rule. 1) When is a clear danger to themselves and 2) when one is clearly endangering another. Those are the only two situations that would necessitate breaking confidentiality. And even those two criteria are handled with sensitivity and care rather than the therapist acting as an arm for law-enforcement.
Are the sessions in-person, remote, or both?
“I provide both in-person and remote sessions. Given today’s busy world, I believe psychotherapy must be realistically integrated into your daily life. I truly value meeting in person; there is a unique quality when we share the same physical space. My consulting room serves as a comfortable oasis, providing a gentle break from the typical daily grind. However, the most vital factor is ensuring our sessions offer you consistent support, and sometimes that means a remote format is the better choice. Ultimately, I offer both options, but as with every other part of my practice, my primary standard is what truly works best for you and your specific needs at this time.
What can of therapy do I provide?
In short, my style of psychotherapy is heavily influenced by psychoanalytic ideas. For example, I believe that much of what is happening in our minds may not always be aware to us. I also believe that the relationship that develops between us in of itself becomes one of the most important healing aspects of psychotherapy. I also encourage patients to engage in free-association - a process of sharing whatever comes to mind without filtering. However, more important than any theory or model I strongly believe that together we create our own model and therein lies the most healing aspects of psychotherapy.
How much will I be paying for the sessions.
Money and psychotherapy are probably one of the most challenging aspects of this process to navigate. For many, it feels upsetting that someone is making money by listening to someone's struggles and also making a living doing so. For many, it can even feel hurtful that the care provided feels depending on money. I try to have open conversations about money with my patients so that we can try to understand each ither in this interaction. Individual session are 300.00 and couples and family sessions are 350.00. When possible I try to have a sliding scale for individuals who are having a hard time financially. Finally, I strongly believe that psychotherapy should not be placing so much of a financial burden that one has to decide between being able to afford the necessities of life or going to therapy. In such cases, I try to suggest alternative more affordable options.
What about insurance?
“Unfortunately, most insurances reimburse psychologist services rather poorly. As a result, many therapists do not accept insurance and the cost is out-of-pocket. Though many insurances, especially the more expensive ones, help with covering some of the cost if the patient has good out-of-network benefits. I have been working with insurance companies for many years, and I will help make the process of filing claims and getting reimbursements as seamless as possible. I am in-network with Aetna, which covers the entire cost except for the copays.”
How long should I expect to be in psychotherapy?
This is a perfectly understandable and great question but also very hard to answer. Generally, people come to therapy because they way they have been experiencing and living life is no longer adaptable or working. In fact, much of what has become habituated is the source of a lot of distress. deeply seated patterns that have evolved over many years takes time to undo and even more so takes time for to implement practical changes, We are all primates of habit and habits are hard to change. Additionally, patients frequently seek out psychotherapy when they are experiencing serious life challenges. Sometimes that situation can be along term issues which than requires a more supportive approach in treatment which also prolongs the process. Generally I see psychotherapy as a long-term investment that can be life transformative in very significant ways. In short, the question of how long when to end is an ongoing conversation specific to each patient as the process unfolds.
What if I have more questions?
The more the merrier. Please free to ask anything you like in the inquiry form and when we meet as well.
Insurance and Fees
- My fee for individual therapy is 300.00 per session and couples and family therapy is 350.00 per session. I am in-network with Aetna and out-of-network with all other insurance carries. I will help you with filing insurance claims and getting reimbursement.