Commonly Asked Questions

How much does therapy cost?
The cost of therapy varies depending on if you are using your health insurance or not. For instance, most insurance companies will not pay for couples counseling. Some will not pay for counseling at all depending on the type of policy you have. Many health insurance companies will have a deductible for you to pay first and then they will pay a percentage of  "usual and customary fees". I accept cash and/or checks at the time of service. Please call me to discuss the fees for your specific situation.

How long, on average, does therapy last?
The period of time that an individual, couple, child or family remains in therapy tends to vary with the seriousness of the problem. Many times a short-term problem-solving approach is indicated and will only last 10-15 sessions. The average length of therapy for most problems is 1 to 1 & 1/2 years. (This is based on a client seeing a therapist approximately 1 hour per week for 45 weeks of a year) When you think about it that way, the average length of therapy is about 60 hours total but again this is very individual for every person and varies depending on the issues.

Is there a difference between a therapist and a counselor?
No, there is really not a difference. In general, the terms are used interchangeably.

How often are sessions scheduled?
One session per week is very common in the beginning of therapy. As you learn new skills, the sessions tend to decrease in frequency. Once you have integrated new skills and are actively using them, therapy can be provided on an as needed basis. However, in some situations, sessions are scheduled more frequently then once per week; and in others cases, less frequently.

How long does each individual session last?
Typically, an initial session tends to be about 1 to 1 1/2 hour/s. Most therapy sessions last approximately 50 minutes, after the initial session.

When during the day can I see you?
I have morning, afternoon and evening appointments available.

What if my spouse or family member/s won't participate?
Your spouse or other family members do not always need to participate in therapy. However, uninterested family members often do get involved in the therapy later, if there is at least one motivated person in therapy.

Who knows that I am in therapy and who do you talk to?
Everything that you say in session is confidential by law. Even the actual fact that you are in therapy is confidential. The only exceptions to confidentiality are if you sign a release of information because you want me to talk to someone. Additionally, in suspected cases of child abuse or elder and/or dependant adult abuse, the law demands that I make an abuse report. Additionally if you are a danger to yourself or others, then your confidentiality can be broken so that you will be safe.

What do I do if I have an emergency?
You can call me and leave a message for me anytime. If for some reason, I am unable to call you back, you can call the crisis hotline of San Diego at 1-800-479-3339 or hang up and dial 911 for emergencies.