Therapy encourages change by connecting the dots between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Even if you think, “I already know what I’m supposed to do differently, I’m just not doing it. Why do I need to pay someone to tell me that?” The truth is there is no perfect objectivity. Blocks in your life could be longstanding or relatively new. A caring and trained professional is there to point out your blind spots at a pace you can manage. Together, we help figure out what you need to get over the hump. 

This part is like the movies – you come in to an office and have a conversation about what’s going on with you for about an hour every week. The content is based on what’s on your mind and what you’re struggling with. Over time, these conversations with me weave a greater story about what your life looks like now and what relief looks like for you. In couples work, it’s the same principle, but you’re also working toward having meaningful interactions and new ways of communication with your partner.

It can be an unusual and risky experience to open your life to someone unknown to you. It’s common to feel anxious in the early sessions. When you first come in, share only what is comfortable. The quality of our relationship is key to your successful therapy. While getting to know each other, we start observing patterns in one area that are likely playing out in many areas of your life. The therapy becomes richer the more we continue down this path.

There’s probably been one or two things that have happened recently that’s got you wondering if you should seek help. The threshold of who does and doesn’t “need” therapy is not as defined as you think. It’s a self-determined decision to invest in your own life growth. That’s it. The culture at large, families, and gender norms can be the complete opposite of encouraging when you wonder if you need support. You’re not being an overly sensitive snowflake because you’re asking yourself if you need professional guidance. Living with persistent problems can morph into destructive habits.

Common reasons to get started:

• Difficulty maintaining stable moods – becoming anxious, depressed, or angry very easily.
• A vague but haunting discomfort that things aren’t okay.
• Stuck fights with your partner.
• That one life event you can’t quite “get over”, or that one life skill you really want to learn.
• Feedback from others that they’re concerned about you.
• Binging on substances or activities in an unhealthy way.
• The desire to improve and explore skills you’ve worked on.
• Experiencing a crisis. Crises are hard enough to get through on your own, and sometimes it’s sending a message. If you’re not in crisis yet and you had the option, would you rather be overwhelmed and feeling out of control when crisis does occur? Or would you rather have tools to manage because you put in the time to have the resources in advance?

So no, things don’t have to be, like, super fucked up already. Therapy is for you, too.

We all want our pain to lessen or go away as soon as possible. It’s part of our DNA to avoid discomfort – even emotionally. “How long do I have to endure this?” is an age-old question. There’s no hard and fast rule about length of treatment, and so much depends on the complexity of what you’re bringing into therapy. The way I work is to help clients get to the root of what are likely long-standing issues to find new coping skills. I find many clients take at least several months or more of regular sessions to peel back the onion layers and create lasting change.

Discuss with your therapist your expectations of how long you’d like to work with them up front. Once you choose a therapist, take a temperature of how things are going after about 13 sessions – a season of your life – to get a sense of how the process is working. Just like the gym, consistency in attendance and your commitment to the process yields better outcomes.

During the COVID-19 crisis, I see client by telehealth through HIPAA-compliant Zoom only at this time. I see clients during the week during the day and early evening. My office is located in downtown San Francisco at 582 Market St. located right outside the Montgomery Station reachable by BART and Muni. Street parking and paid garage parking is available but often limited. The building is ADA accessible.

If you do not have Anthem Blue Cross, many PPO policies will cover a percentage of out-of-network (OON) mental health treatment as part of their benefit – sometimes up to 70%. I can create a monthly Superbill statement for you to submit a claim to your insurance company. You’ll pay my rate in full, and they’ll send you a partial reimbursement directly. I encourage you to research policy coverage in advance. Here are some important questions to ask your member services:

• Do I have any benefit for out-of-network, outpatient therapy? (If yes, continue.)
• When is the beginning of my plan year? What is the amount of my deductible and has it been met already?
• Do OON mental health costs apply toward my deductible?
• Is there a limit to the number of sessions my plan covers?
• Are there any prior authorizations required?
• What is the benefit (percentage and/or amount) for the following CPT codes?
  -Individual therapy: 90834 and 90837
  -Couples therapy: 90847 and add-on code 99354
• What is the process to file and receive my reimbursement?

It’s an investment into your own emotional and mental well-being which can pay off dividends. With your session fee, the expertise you’re getting is a professional with graduate education, post-grad intensive internships, ongoing peer and senior therapist consultation, and advanced trainings to continue learning current techniques. There are administrative and advocacy responsibilities outside of the session time for every client included in the fee.

Most private practice therapists are independent contractors, and their client face-to-face is less than 40 hours per week for quality control purposes. Their fee rate must include their overhead, professional development, and self-employment expenses. CONTACT me to talk about your budget.

During COVID-19 restrictions, I conduct therapy over HIPAA-compliant Zoom only. For post-COVID-19 restrictions, I like to do therapy with clients in-person at my office. If you have limited mobility or special circumstances and would like to see me, let’s DISCUSS. Must be a permanent resident of California.

Look at you, overachieving already! I’ve got just the thing. See my RESOURCES page.