FAQs
Why do people go to therapy?
People come into therapy for a variety of reasons. Some need to navigate through unexpected changes in their lives, while others seek general self-exploration and personal growth. Some enter therapy with a specific targeted concern; for others, something is going on in all aspects of their life that causes distress.
Some people come into therapy for the general concern of feeling emotional pain and need relief and are unaware of the cause. Others enter therapy, because although their lives are structured in a way that they think should bring fulfillment and joy, they find themselves feeling empty and yearning for more.
The main reason people come into therapy is that they hope to be understood and supported for who they are and they want the pain and discomfort to end.
What can I expect during the therapy session?
A therapy hour is a fifty-minute meeting that is regularly scheduled — a specific time, on a specific day each week. Like any relationship, as you grow more comfortable, you have the opportunity to fully explore your thoughts, to think through possible choices or outcomes, and to feel any associated feelings. As you speak freely, your natural tendencies reveal themselves. This process gives you insight into how you make choices, who you tend to allow into your life, where you find your happiness, how you define your successes and challenges, etc.
The regularity of the sessions provide needed consistency so when you talk about something one week, you will have the chance to talk about it further the next week, until it is worked through to resolution.
There’s no need to prepare in advance. You simply come in and we go from there. You’re not alone in the process; I’ll be your guide.
What benefits can I expect from working with a therapist?
A number of benefits are available from participating in psychotherapy, but like everything, there is no guarantee. The benefits you obtain from therapy depend on how well you use the process and put into practice what you learn.
Therapy can provide a fresh perspective on a difficult problem. Some of the benefits available from therapy include:
- Developing a better understanding of yourself and your personal goals and values
- Refining skills for improving your relationships
- Finding resolution to the issues or concerns that led you to seek therapy
- Increasing your capacity to cope with stress and anxiety
- Managing anger, depression, and other emotions more productively
- Improving communications skills, so you feel heard and have a solid voice
- Freeing yourself from behaviors that create barriers to your goals
- Discovering new ways to solve problems
- Improving your self-esteem and self-confidence
Fees and Good Faith Estimate
You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical and mental health care will cost. Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the expected charges for medical services, including psychotherapy services. You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency healthcare services, including psychotherapy services. You can ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule a service. If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill. Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate. For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises.
Is therapy confidential?
All communications between you and your therapist will be held in strict confidence, unless you provide written permission to release information about your treatment. If you participate in marital or family therapy, your therapist will not disclose confidential information about your treatment unless all person(s) who participated in the treatment with you provide their written authorization to release. (In addition, your therapist will not disclose information communicated privately to him or her by one family member, to any other family member without written permission.)
There are exceptions to confidentiality. For example, therapists are required to report instances of suspected child, dependent adult or elder abuse. Therapists may also be required or permitted to break confidentiality when they have determined that a patient presents a serious danger of physical violence to another person or when a patient is dangerous to him or herself.
How do I file a complaint?
The Board of Behavioral Sciences receives and responds to complaints regarding services provided within the scope of practice of Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists. You may contact the board online at www.bbs.ca.gov or by calling 916-574-7830.