How would I know if I need therapy?
We therapists are trained to ask questions to help you gain insights and different perspectives. If you are not sure about how therapy can help or not help, please reach out and schedule a session so we can help you figure this out.
How do I start looking for a therapist?
Anyone who has had to look for a therapist knows it can be difficult to find a therapist you can like and feel comfortable with. And after a few sessions or so, you quickly find out that these criteria may not be enough and that you also want a therapist who can actually help and not just be someone that listens.
We suggest looking initially at some of the practical and logistical matters, such as, gender, cost, whether the therapist accepts your insurance, availability, etc. Secondly, we highly recommend taking advantage of a consultation time offered by the therapist, which are usually free, so you get to meet the therapist. Also, more therapists now offer a short video of themselves on their websites which can give you additional information like the type of therapy they offer.
The internet has many resources that can help you in your search, but we highly recommend this article to help you further: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/07/02/1185661348/start-therapy-find-therapist-how-to
How long will I be in therapy?
Each person can have different reasons for seeking out therapy and have different ways of responding to the treatment, so it will very difficult to answer this question. However, we can estimate that treatment can be from 12-18 weeks to 6 months – year. Rest assured, your provider will be periodically checking in with you to get your feedback on where you are with your goals and to ensure you are still on the right track.
How do I know if therapy is helping me?
Therapy can be a very powerful treatment, which will bring with it both risks and benefits. The benefits you get from therapy may not always be about feeling good or getting the outcome you want. Having negative feelings in therapy is very possible and may mean therapy is working. Negative feelings may result from recalling unpleasant memories or sometimes, your situation may worsen after the beginning of treatment. It is also possible that even with our best efforts, therapy may not work out well for you.
This is part of the risk of being in therapy. However, benefits from therapy have been shown in hundreds of scientific studies and therapy as a treatment has been proven to help people much more than if they were just on medication alone. Please remember that working on a problem can be hard but it can also be good.
Benefits of therapy and/or the pros and cons?
Therapy is a powerful treatment that can have risks as well as many benefits. You should think about both the benefits and risks when making any treatment decisions. Therapy can give you different insights and perspectives which can result in you making decisions that can lead to divorce/separation, or a disruption in your life that you may otherwise not have.
However, the benefits of therapy have been proven in research studies to help, e.g. depression improves, anxiety is considerably lessened, others may no longer feel afraid or worried. Because you are able to talk to a trained professional, you feel relieved and are able to solve your problems and you may find your relationships are better and you get more satisfaction from these relationships.
Do you take my insurance?
Our providers take different types of insurance plans and our providers can also provide a “superbill” which you can send in to your insurance plan for reimbursement. Please let us know of your insurance plan prior to starting sessions so we can ensure your eligibility and your coverage.
Please note that each insurance plan may have specific requirements, such as a pre-authorization or referral prior to seeing any provider. Please make sure you let us know of your insurance plan so we can ensure your eligibility and coverage.
Do you offer video appointments?
Yes! Visit our telehealth page
How is your therapy approach different from other therapists?
Each therapist has a different style and their own unique way of doing therapy. While the certain modality, or type of therapy, may be the same (e.g. cognitive behavioral therapy), each therapist will differ in the way they implement it. It’s important to consider which style you might prefer, but recent studies have shown that the relationship you have with the therapist is just as important. So, in addition to learning your therapists training, certifications, and preferred style of therapy, you should also consider the type of relationship you may have with them.
What are the differences between a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and a Psychologist?
It can be confusing to differentiate the many types of licensed practitioners, but it all comes down to the type of training each one goes through and which areas of expertise you want your therapist to have. An LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist) has a master’s or doctoral degree in either psychology or marriage and family therapy. An LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) has a master’s or doctoral degree in either psychology or social work. An LPCC (Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor) has a master’s or doctoral degree in counseling or psychotherapy. LMFTs, LCSWs, and LPCCs are licensed with the BBS (Board of Behavioral Sciences). Licensed Psychologists have a doctoral degree in psychology and are licensed with the BOP (Board of Psychology). Your providers take different types of insurance plans and our providers can also provide a “superbill” which you can send in to your insurance plan for reimbursement. Please let us know of your insurance plan prior to starting sessions so we can ensure your eligibility and your coverage.
What is the California Board of Psychology? – The
California Board of Psychology
What if I have to cancel or miss a scheduled appointment?
We have a standard 24-hour cancellation policy, which means if you must cancel, we ask you do so at least 24 hours before your scheduled session. However, a cancelled appointment can greatly affect your progress, so please try to not miss sessions.
Do you prescribe medication?
No, we cannot prescribe any medication. Only medical doctors can prescribe medication. However, as part of our treatment plan, if we believe medication can help, we can recommend and/or refer you for a medication evaluation to a medical doctor.
What types of therapy do you offer?
We offer individual, couples and family therapy, but if you’re not sure we can help you, contact us here for a for a free 15-minute consultation session.
How long are your therapy sessions?
A regular therapy session is 50 minutes, however the initial intake session may be anywhere from 50-60 minutes while other sessions maybe 30-45 minutes depending on the situation. Talk to your provider if you have any concerns or questions about the length of your sessions.