About Psychotherapy — Frequently asked questions

WHAT DOES IT COST? My fee is in the mid-range for private practice psychotherapy in the Bay Area. It is my policy to disclose my fee during our first contact, before you make your first appointment.

WILL MY INSURANCE PAY FOR MY SESSIONS? Some plans will reimburse for my services, so you may want to check with yours to see if they will cover individual psychotherapy with a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist of your choice. I request payment at each session, but I am happy to prepare a monthly statement for you to submit to your insurance company. I do not belong to any managed care provider panels, however, because I find them too restrictive and not compatible with most people's real needs. Also, managed care usually requires sharing private information with several people, which goes against my ethical standards for protecting your confidentiality. (For more information, click on the About Insurance link.)

WHAT CAN I EXPECT DURING THE INITIAL APPOINTMENT? When we meet for the first time, I conduct an intake interview. This is the beginning of my information-gathering process. I will ask some factual questions (name, address, etc.), some questions about your physical health and about your family history. You will have ample opportunity to begin talking about why you decided to seek therapy, and we will begin to formulate some goals. This is also an opportunity for us to get a sense of what it's like for us to work together. If, at the end of the first session, we decide for any reason that your needs would be better served by someone else, I will do my best to provide more appropriate referrals.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE? It is not possible to answer this question accurately, since the length of treatment depends on your individual needs. After I learn more about the issues you want to work on, I might be able to provide you with some idea of how long we might be working together.

HOW LONG ARE THE SESSIONS? Sessions are 50 minutes long. We will schedule regular sessions once or twice a week, at set times, depending on your needs.

WHAT ABOUT MEDICATIONS? Only psychiatrists and other MDs are licensed to prescribe medication. I do, however, maintain a close working relationship with a psychiatrist who is knowledgeable, ethical, and caring. I don't recommend that all my clients get on medication, but I have seen some very positive results for non-situational depression and/or anxiety. If at any point you or I feel that medications might be helpful, I would recommend that you make an appointment for an evaluation, however the final choice is always yours.

WHAT DOES MFT STAND FOR? MFT stands for licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, a bit of a misnomer in my case, since I specialize in individual psychotherapy. I do not work with couples or families. MFTs are required to obtain a Master's level degree, complete 3000 of training, and pass rigorous testing prior to becoming licensed. They are qualified to conduct all types of counseling and psychotherapy.

HOW CAN I CHECK LICENSE STATUS? To check the license status of any LMFT, you can go to http://www.bbs.ca.gov/, the website for the Board of Behavioral Sciences, a California consumer protection agency governing several types of licensed mental health professionals.