Starting therapy and finding a good therapeutic fit can feel like a daunting task, especially when you have a lot of questions or are unsure of what to ask. Below are some common questions and responses to give you a better idea of what to expect.
What are your business hours?
Therapy sessions and consultations are available Monday through Thursday 5:30pm to 7:30pm. Voicemails, emails, and text messages are returned within 24 hours Monday through Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm.
Do you only work with residents of California?
I am licensed in California and may legally provide therapy services to residents in California only. You must be physically present in California during all therapy sessions. Coaching is available in all 50 US states.
How often do I attend therapy?
Therapy sessions are scheduled weekly for a minimum of 6-10 consecutive weeks or until clinically appropriate to decrease to every other week. Additional sessions per week may be available.
What is the process for Couples Therapy?
Couples Therapy requires a one time separate individual session with each partner prior to beginning couples work. Predicting the length of any form of treatment is impossible, however most couples are in therapy for 6-12 months depending on their challenges. First, we will meet together to discuss "why therapy and why now". The second and third session, will consist of me meeting with each of you individually to discuss your background and how you arrived at this point in your relationship. After that, we'll all meet and I'll let you know my ideas and how I can help; and we will continue to all meet together.
What
is Sex Therapy?
Sex Therapy is a form of talk therapy intended to help resolve sexual health concerns and develop a healthy sexual relationship. Sex Therapy helps with a variety of physical and emotional problems that interfere with sexual satisfaction, such as erectile issues, low libido, and pain. Sex Therapy may also be recommended for personal conflict issues related to sexuality and sexual trauma, relationship conflict, navigating ethical non-monogamy and polyamory, recovery from infidelity; and out of control sexual behaviors associated with sexual activities and pornography. A Sex Therapist may assign activities, such as physical touch, use of dilators and enhancers, and engaging in open communication to discuss relationship stress and sexual and intimate needs.
Is there sexual activity involved Sex Therapy?
No, professional therapy never includes sexual behavior. Sexual contact of any kind between a therapist and a patient is unethical and illegal in the State of California. Additional information may be found here at The Sate of California Department of Consumer Affairs.
What
can I expect during the therapy process?
Your therapist will contact you via video or the telephone number provided for a 15-minute consultation to ensure the best therapeutic fit. All intake documentation can be completed electronically and is required within 24 hours of scheduling the intake assessment. Treatment starts with an assessment, after which you and your therapist collaborate to create a treatment plan and work together efficiently to meet your goals. The therapy sessions are scheduled weekly until therapeutically appropriate to decrease to every other week.
Each person expresses different concerns and goals for therapy, therefore therapy will be tailored to meet your specific needs. In general, you can expect to discuss the current events happening in your life, your personal history relevant to your issue, and report progress (or any new insights gained) from the previous therapy session. Depending on your specific needs, therapy can be short-term, for a specific issue, or longer-term, to deal with more difficult patterns or your desire for more personal development.
It is important to understand that you will get more results from therapy if you actively participate in the process. The ultimate purpose of therapy is to help you bring what you learn in session back into your life. Therefore, beyond the work you do in therapy sessions, suggested tools may be provided for you to use outside of therapy to support your process, such as, reading a pertinent book, journaling on specific topics, listening to a podcast, engaging in intimate activities with your partner, logging behaviors, or acting on your goals. People seeking psychotherapy are ready to make positive changes, are open to new perspectives, and take responsibility for their lives.
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