FAQ
What do I do when my child’s other parent is opposed to coming to see you?
If you would like to try parent consulting or family therapy, but your partner is reluctant or unwilling–I encourage you to get in touch with me by yourself. It only takes one person who is willing to change to create positive changes for the whole family. I respect the viewpoints of other family members, even when they are not present, and will work for their benefit as well.
What do I tell my child about coming to see you?
You can tell your child that I am someone who likes kids and I am interested in learning more about him and the problems he is facing. When I first meet with a child, I begin by getting to know him apart from his problems. Our conversation will begin with his strengths and abilities, his unique qualities, and his favorite interests. As we proceed, I’ll consult with the child as the “expert” on his life, including his problems and the effects of his problems. These problems are always viewed as separate and distinct from the child to free him to look at and talk about problems in a new and non-blaming way. ”Does it seem that ‘Anger’ is trying to be the boss of you? Is that okay or not, in your view? If you were able to get “Anger” off your back, what would become possible for you that seems impossible right now?”
How can I persuade my teen to come see you?
I understand that many teens are uncomfortable about seeing a therapist. If your teen has been fighting with you or is in trouble, she may be afraid that I’m going to make her feel worse. Instead, I invite her to consult with me as an “inside expert” on her family, someone with valuable information and insight about the effects of family problems and ideas for positive change and improvements. I offer young people the opportunity to work collaboratively with the goal of removing obstacles between herself, her family, and her goals for the future. I might ask questions such as, “What likeable parts of yourself will grow stronger when the unlikeable parts of the problem grow weaker? What would it say to you about yourself, if you were to become free to be more “genuine” around your friends? Do you suppose your parents might discover new qualities in you to value and respect, when this problem no longer clouds their vision?”
Why don’t you accept insurance?
I believe you should be in control of your therapy (not the insurance company) and should also be able to completely protect your privacy. Therefore, I do not work directly with managed care or Medicare. Most insurance companies will reimburse you for at least a portion of your consulting or therapy fees for seeing me as an out of plan provider.
Why is therapy so expensive?
My fees represent the real costs of private practice, including the many hours I spend outside of the consulting room working on my clients behalf. I understand that therapy and parent consulting is expensive–my family has a budget, too. However, the psychotherapy and consulting services that I provide are economically–as well as emotionally–valuable because they produce lasting effects and prevents future problems.
Will you offer a reduced fee?
I am willing to work with any client to figure out an affordable plan for scheduling sessions within your budget constraints. I also reserve 20% of my practice for free or reduced fee clients as my contribution to our community. There is currently an approximately 6 month waiting list for those slots.
How often should we expect to come see you?
Most clients see me once a week for the quickest results. I am also willing to meet more infrequently, such as every other week or once a month. Occasionally, a client meets with me for just one appointment, and then returns as necessary at a later time.
About how long do you expect it will take before I see improvement?
Many clients report that they feel better–more hopeful and optimistic–after our very first conversation. Others report that they see real evidence of positive change after the second or third appointment.
What is your attitude towards medication?
I have worked with clients who find psychiatric medications helpful and those who wish to resolve their difficulties or face their challenges without medication. Either way, I find that medication can only provide a partial solution to most people’s problems. Research has found that the kind of problem-oriented psychotherapy that I do produces results that are just as good as medication for many issues such as depression, panic disorders and eating disorders.
