The Answers You Seek, In One Place

Below, I have compiled a list of the most frequent questions that clients or potential clients ask about my services and approach. It is normal and encouraged for clients to ask many questions when choosing to work with a psychotherapist. Here are some answers to the questions I receive the most. If you can’t find what you are looking for, please get in touch.

How long does each psychotherapy session take?

Each therapy session is 50 minutes long. For young children sessions are usually 45 minutes long.

How often should I come to therapy?

At the beginning, I prefer that you or your child come every week, this will allow us to get to know each other better and faster. Relationship building at the beginning of therapy is incredibly important for treatment. As our relationship grows and your goals begin to materialize we can discuss what frequency is more appropriate. As we approach termination we will decrease the frequency depending on your needs.

Do you offer sliding scale rates?

I don't offer a sliding scale but I do make accommodations in a case by case basis.

Do you take insurance?

I don't take insurance, but I can provide you with a document called a Superbill (required by insurance) that you can submit to your insurance for out of network reimbursement.

What are your rates?

I charge $190 per hour. Payment is due at the end of each session.

How long does treatment last?

There is really no straight answer to this question.  It will all depend on the client's symptoms, behaviors, their goals, and most importantly how hard the client is willing to work.

What should I expect during treatment?

At the beginning of treatment we will get clear about the issues that brought you or your child in. We will set goals that will allow us to gauge progress and direct us to where you want to be. Keep in mind that therapy is not a straight road but more like a windy, twisty sometimes not so clear path. You guide your treatment deciding what we pay attention to during a session, I follow your lead and sometimes will nudge you to get back on track. Sometimes sessions will be really hard and emotional and you might not feel like doing this again the next session. I will never force you into difficult territories but keep in mind that sometimes you have to push yourself if you want to heal. I will not let you drown, my job is to pace you in the process.

What if I don’t have anything so say during a session?

This is common, just come and let me know this is the case. We will explore this together, there are a million reasons this may happen so right there we have a bunch to talk about. We may also use other means of expression other than “talk” such as drawing, sand tray, books etc. Your internal world is rich beyond comprehension and there will always be something that needs or wants your attention.

Will my child grow out of their symptoms?

Some behaviors and symptoms do come with developmental stages; such as fear of monsters or death. However, when a symptom or behavior is impacting your child in any way, such as school, home, relationships (including with you); or if this symptom or behavior persists beyond the developmental stage; then I suggest you seek consultation. Mental health issues such as anxiety, depression etc. don't just go away, in fact they tend to worsen with time without help.

When should I bring my child to therapy?

I encourage you to seek therapy for your child, anytime he or she is in distress for over a period of time. e.g. if you hear your child complain about school relationships more than once a month, perhaps it's time to seek professional help. As parents we tend to wait for our children to "grow out" of a certain stage or issue. The danger with this is that "issues" change according to the age of children; and what you might have caught early on could turn into a larger, more difficult issue in the future. Anxiety or depression in adolescence can often be traced to elementary school or earlier years. Early Childhood intervention is so important because children respond much faster and more positively the younger they are. So when in doubt, seek consultation. 

What if my child or teen doesn’t want to come to therapy?

This is a complicated question because it depends on their age, why your are seeking help and why they are reluctant. If there is a serious issue at hand, such as suicidality, drug use, abuse issues etc then I suggest you do everything under the sky to help your child, even if that means going against their will. Having said that, I am not the therapist for you if this is the case. There are wonderful therapists, and programs out there that are experts on reluctant youth. I am not one of them. If they don’t want to come because they are not familiar with the process and they need to feel safe and comfortable, I suggest you bring them once or twice letting them know that they have a choice afterwards of continuing or not. As parents we may see the need and the possible benefit therapy can have for our children, but if they don’t see the need themselves what is most likely to happen is that they will waste your time, their time, my time and your money in the process. The desire to change or heal has to come from within, nobody can force that upon us. My suggestion in the case they refuse to continue is that you come for consultation about how to support your child during this difficult period. You have a lot of power and impact on your child regardless of their age. Sometimes minor adjustments at home might be all there needs to be done.

Will I be part of my child’s therapy?

You are paramount to your child’s well being so absolutely yes. The form this takes will depend on your child, the family and what brought them to therapy. This will range from having you in the room with us, to meeting every month or so to discuss progress. You are always welcome to reach out to me and let me know of your concerns or successes along the way. Your child, no matter the age does have a right to confidentiality during treatment, I will honor this as long as they are not in danger or a danger to self. You have a right to collaborate in their treatment by being informed of progress, making suggestions and consulting in regards to parenting or the issues presented.

How does play help my child during therapy?

Aside from children not yet being able to always identify and verbalize what they are feeling and thinking; children can get overwhelmed when things come too directly at them. Play is a way to expose, express and understand their struggles in a safe and manageable way. Rest assured that your child is not wasting time and money by playing in therapy, they are doing hard work in the safest way possible.

Should I ask my child/teen about their session?

I suggest you ask general questions such as “how was therapy today?” or “Do you think therapy is helping you?” as opposed to specific questions. They should be able to choose what they share with you. I also recommend that you let them decide what they do or say in therapy. Stay away from saying things like “talk about such and such in therapy” or “tell your therapist this or that”. Your child has an internal drive towards healing (we all do) so trust that this will unfold naturally during treatment. Children of parents that want to have a lot of input in therapy feel burdened by the process and may end up wanting to quit treatment.

When does therapy end?

You come to therapy with an issue or issues, and we set some goals based on that. When these issues are resolved and your goals are met then it’s a good time to end therapy. Some people decide to continue getting the support therapy offers them and this is fine with me, as long as it’s serving a purpose.