How can therapy help me and does it actually work?
Great question! Therapy (or talk therapy) is an engaging, dynamic process where the client and therapist collaborate to address client concerns, create goals, identify "stuck" patterns (i.e., solutions that aren't working), gain perspective, find solutions, and help a person build on pre-existing strengths with the aim of the client living the best version of his/her life. This process will look different client to client as each person will present with unique needs, challenges, inherent strengths, and unique abilities. The best predictor of a successful therapy outcome is the strength of the client and therapist's relationship - meaning, does the client trust that the therapist has the utmost regard for the client welfare and believe that that therapist can help him or her.
Is therapy really private?
Yes! What a client discloses in therapy is protected by HIPAA law. Well, mostly. I can’t break confidentiality unless - you disclose that you’re the victim of and/or are perpetrating the following: sexual or physical abuse of a child, an elderly person, or a person with cognitive or physical disabilities; exploitation (i.e., forcing someone to perform an act against their will for some form of gain) of a child, an elderly person, or a person with cognitive or physical disabilities; endangerment (e.g., placing a person in danger - such as driving while intoxicated with a child in the car, etc.) of a child, an elderly person, or a person with cognitive or physical disabilities. I’m legally bound to report all suspicions - confirmed or unconfirmed - to the proper authority albeit the Department of Social Services or local law enforcement for further investigation. I may break confidentiality if summoned to testify in a court of law.
*Note: I participate in peer supervision and EFT supervision to further my clinical skills. The therapists with whom I staff cases are bound by HIPAA and other confidentiality standards and thus cannot divulge details that I share outside of supervision. I DO NOT use identifying information in these situations.
How is a marriage and family therapist (MFT) different than other therapists or counselors?
Marriage and family therapists receive extensive education and supervision during their Master's and/or PhD programs in systemic therapy, or "systems therapy". Systems therapy focuses on the impact of relationships (family, friendship, romantic, etc.) on people's well-being. As a part of accredited MFT programs, students must undergo specialized courses, supervision, and internships whereby they learn and practice how to counsel families and couples. This may not be true for other types of counseling or psychology programs. MFTs are able to assess, diagnose, and treat a variety of client concerns and mental health disorders with high client satisfaction and excellent clinical results.
What does a typical session look like?
Clients start therapy with a comprehensive clinical assessment (CCA) during which the client and I review all necessary forms, permissions, pre-assessments (short questionnaires), and billing information. They share their strengths as well as concerns they feel I should know to best serve them. This lasts 1.5 hours. Each follow up session thereafter is 50 - 60 minutes for individuals and/or couples. During these sessions, clients will share information they feel is relevant to goals they co-create with me. I may assign "homework" such as a mindfulness exercise or a communication skill to practice between sessions.
How long will a client be in therapy?
Therapy length varies client to client, based on the nature of what is important to the client. Some clients attend therapy for short-term goals, around three to six months, while others may have more complex needs that require more time (six months or greater). According to research, many individual clients indicate that they begin to feel better around their eighth session; for couples, this varies more. Research indicates that around sessions 15 - 20, couples begin to notice a positive change in how they interact at home. A client is free to end therapy when they feel ready and some clients may even return to therapy for "tune-ups".
Do you accept insurance?
No, I don’t. I use a fee-for-service only. Assessments are a flat-rate of $285 due to the amount of time I use before, during, and after an assessment to prepare for a client's needs and open the chart. Follow-up appointments are a flat rate of $160 (individuals) or $185 (couples) per session. I reserve a limited number of spaces with a reduced rate for clients who qualify based on proof of low-income.
Ok, that’s great but why don’t you accept any insurance?
GREAT QUESTION! My primary specialty is couples and marriage counseling (therapy). Insurance companies require that all clients seen by a therapist be diagnosed with a mental health disorder (as specified per the latest version of the DSM-V; or “The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders, Fifth Ed.”). This means that even if you or your partner do not have a mental health diagnosis (e.g., major depressive disorder – “depression”; generalized anxiety disorder – “anxiety”; etc.), I would have to create a diagnosis in order for your insurance company to allow you to pay me the agreed upon copay and then reimburse me when I submit my billing claim. This is problematic to me for a few reasons.
a) What if you or your partner – whoever I diagnose as the “identified patient” and use for billing purposes – don’t actually have a mental health disorder? I’m not willing to risk my practice or license for a lie. You don’t want a therapist who is willing to do that.
b) Your insurance company now holds the power in determining how long and potentially how often you can see me. Insurance companies often offer a contractual number of sessions. If you need additional sessions once you finish that initial amount, but your insurance company denies my request, you’re left having to decide what to do with your therapy. Overall, entering, continuing, and ending therapy are choices that I believe are best left up to YOU, the client, not a person who reviews your claim and is NOT A THERAPIST.
c) If the primary concern for you and your partner is a relational issue, why would I stretch the truth to create a diagnosis just to serve a reimbursement purpose? Again, like point A, this becomes a slippery slope. Ultimately, I am responsible for anything I sign my name to and I want to make sure that my actions are above reproach – for you, my other clients, and my license.
d) Your information is your information. I don’t believe you seeking therapy should depend on any other decision than the one you make for yourself – it should never boil down to you and Maria, or Jerry, or Jenn from ABC Health Insurance Company as to whether or not you get the services you need.
e) I am deeply invested in my work as a couples, marriage, and family therapist. As such, I have gone on to receive certification from ICEEFT as an EFT-therapist (for more information about EFT, click here to visit their international website, review outcome studies about the incredible effects of this therapy, and why EFT is like no other therapy in existence). The training and on-going supervision make me a better therapist and person. It’s also a significant time and financial commitment that extends beyond what I’ve already completed through my graduate school program. If I accept insurance, I agree to work at a contractual rate that does not value or reflect my worth as a therapist or promote my pursuit of this huge goal!
Why is there a different charge for your couple sessions vs. those of individual or family therapy sessions?
So glad you asked this! I am an EFT-certified therapist. This means I completed rigorous requirements on top of my graduate program in marriage and family all to earn an additional certification in couples therapy. Moreover, I continue to regularly engage in individual supervision with an EFT certified supervisor based in Mexico City (the EFT community is amazing and far-reaching!); peer consultation with local, trained EFT therapists in the Upstate area; and group supervision with a certified EFT supervisor and trainer. I do all of this to help me accelerate and grow my skills as a couple’s therapist adhering exclusively to the EFT model. In addition to all of that, I record couples sessions (with written permission) to review these for things that I miss, parts I could improve, etc., all with the aim to promote progress in a more efficient manner that would potentially not occur otherwise. IT’S A LOT OF OUTSIDE WORK. As such, the differences in session charges reflect this undertaking.
If I'm receiving therapy services, do I have to take medication?
Not at all! While medication may be beneficial if a client and therapist feel this could address underlying biological concerns impacting a person's mental and/or physical health, not all clients who attend therapy, take medication. I may refer a client to their primary care doctor and/or a psychiatrist, but I will always discuss this with the client first. I cannot prescribe medication.
Can I bring my partner/wife/husband/family member/friend/ etc., to therapy?
Absolutely! I believe that our support systems are one of the biggest and best ways to make progress in therapy. As a systemically (relationally) trained therapist, I often works with 2 or more people at a time in session.
What is your minimum age requirement for a client?
Due to my training and experience, I only work with persons 18 years old and up. If a parent has concerns about a younger child who they believe need services, I may make an exception, on a case-by-case basis only. Since younger children typically require play therapy and this is not part of my scope of practice, I may refer that family onto another therapist OR work with the parent(s) exclusively to offer support, perspective, and/or ideas to benefit the family.