Frequently Asked Questions:

How long does a session last?
Fifty minutes.  Occasionally, it is beneficial to have a session and a half (1 hour 15 minutes) or a double session (1 hour 40 minutes).
Do you do sessions over the phone?
Generally, no; I find that it's not as helpful to you.   However, I am available for brief phone conversations (5-10 minutes) and for emergency management by phone.

How often do I need to see you?
I usually suggest weekly appointments and I am open to meeting biweekly.  Meeting less frequently than that, I have found, can be counterproductive: sessions tend to be taken up with catching up rather than moving forward.
It can also be in your best interest to meet twice a week.

How long before I feel better?
People usually find that talking and being listened to is profoundly helpful.  And often it's a great relief to have taken the first step to getting the support you need.  So you might feel better right away.
Many people benefit from therapy, but it's not everyone's "cup of tea"; you are the one who does the work.  For lasting results, it takes commitment and readiness.

What can I expect in a therapy session?
First, there is an opportunity to check-in and identify anything specific you would like to work on that day.  Typically, the first part of the session is lighter, settling in.  Then there is a period of potentially intense work (activities, discussion), followed by summary and sometimes a discussion of exercises or behaviors to practice before the next session.

What if I don't know what my goals are for therapy?
This is more common than not.  People can easily identify the pain but not always what to fix.  It can take more than one conversation to name goals.  And it is important that they are your  goals and not mine.

What is the overall process like?
The first session is typically a review of paperwork and an opportunity for you to ask questions and tell me what you would like me to know about you.  The next step is to identify goals and ways to work toward them.  This is followed by the bulk of the work. which may shift as circumstances - and you - change.  Once goals are met, we mutually agree to end therapy, which is an equally important part of the process.

How long does the process typically take?
That varies depends on your degree of motivation and the challenge at hand.  If a presenting challenge is situational and temporary, for instance getting past a relationship break-up, it may only take a few sessions to achieve short-term goals like learning self-care and accessing support.  If you choose to change underlying patterns of behavior, completing these long-term goals will take longer.

Let's get started.
Call me today at 650-367-8389
Counseling for Women in Redwood City
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You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical and mental health care will cost. 
Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the expected charges for medical services, including psychotherapy services.  
You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency healthcare services, including psychotherapy services. 
You can ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule a service. 
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