Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I do a “virtual session” on Zoom with you?
A: I will send you a link that you will click on at the time of our session. That’s pretty much all you need to do. There are some details regarding using the controls in the session for optimal sound and visuals, and some work arounds if you have a slow or no internet connection. For those who like to be fully prepared and who aren’t already using Zoom per the pandemic, here is a link to a one minute video explaining joining a Zoom session: click here, and here is a link to a 10 minute video on details of using the controls within Zoom: click here.
Here are answers to a few Frequently Asked Questions. Feel free to contact me with any additional questions you may have.
I would just add that for our best ability to see and hear one another it’s helpful to have good lighting in front of you to light up your faces, rather than lighting behind you which tends to wash out the visuals. It’s important to have a place where you have some privacy and comfort. If you don’t have high speed internet, then using headphones/microphones that are wired to your computer rather than on Bluetooth often improves the audio quality. If audio quality is especially poor, I find that switching to using our phones for the audio and muting ourselves on Zoom allows us to see one another and hear one another with less audio or video lag.
Q: How long are sessions?
A: Session are usually 50 minutes long, and I also offer the option of longer sessions of 80 or 110 minutes. The longer sessions work particularly well for couples, especially at the start of treatment.
Q: Do you take insurance?
A: I accept direct payment at time of service and do not accept any insurance plans. As a California licensed Ph.D. psychologist, many insurance plans will reimburse you for my services as an out of network provider. You may want to contact your insurance plan to determine if it reimburses for couples or individual therapy, what rate of reimbursement you would obtain, and what limits if any there might be on duration, total payments and copays. At your request I will provide a month-end receipt which you can submit to your insurance for reimbursement to you. Be aware that by going through your insurance I may be required to give you a diagnosis for their records, and they may also request additional information about your treatment. Many of my clients prefer to maintain their privacy by paying out of pocket. If my full fee is a hardship, I’m willing to discuss a fee reduction to make treatment possible for you.
Q: Is what we talk about private and confidential?
A: By law your contact and conversations with me are required to be totally confidential except in some rare circumstances. For example if you reveal that you are at significant risk for self or other harm, or disclose a situation of child or elder abuse, I am required by law to break confidentiality and take action to prevent harm. These events have very rarely occurred in my practice More typically, with your written permission I may collaborate with other health professionals of your choice such as another therapist or a psychiatrist. Also, with your permission, I may consult with other colleagues on how to best help you.
Q: How long does therapy take?
A: Of course there is no “one size fits all” answer to this question as different individuals and couples come to me with very different issues and goals. Generally couples EFT therapy and sex therapy are relatively short term, in which treatment for simpler issues may last only about 3 months of weekly therapy, often transitioning into a step down in frequency to every other week or month when things are going better. I’ve also seen couples for whom more complex issues have meant therapy might last a year or more of weekly therapy. Individual therapy duration is, well, individualized. Sometimes with simple specific issue and goals such as overcoming a sexual dysfunction or dealing with a personal crisis, it takes just a just a few sessions to reach resolution. Other times when patients are working on deep issues of trauma, self-esteem, or personal growth, and goals are more open-ended, sessions might be ongoing for months or longer.
Q: Do you prescribe psychiatric medication?
A: No, as a psychologist in the state of California, I can not prescribe medications. However, if we decide that exploring the benefits of medication makes sense for you, I have some excellent psychiatrists with whom I collaborate who would be able to discuss the pro’s and con’s of mediations and prescribe for you if you so chose.
Q: Is therapy effective?
A: The benefits of therapy have been shown by many studies. If you want to read a detailed review of a Consumer Reports study of the effectiveness of therapy, please click here.
Here is a summary of the findings, which may also give you some ideas about how to make the most of therapy: ▪Psychotherapy produced positive effects in 92% of respondents. ▪The longer people stayed in therapy, the better their results. ▪People that were active in therapy did better than those that were passive. People that actively engaged by being open, asking questions, doing homework between sessions, and following up did better. ▪For most psychological conditions, people in therapy alone did as well as people who had medication plus therapy. ▪Respondents who stayed in therapy only until insurance coverage allowed did worse than those who stayed until their concerns resolved.