FAQs

Many common questions may be answered by reading the Informed Consent form within the New Client Forms.

Does it mean I’m “crazy” if I come to therapy?

No, it does not mean you are “crazy” if you come to therapy. People come to therapy for all sorts of reasons from sadness to a major life change. If you are coming to therapy, it means you have the self-awareness to know you may need help and would like to either accept something in your life or change it.  You may find that therapy is able to provide long-lasting benefits and much-needed support.  Therapy may also give you the tools needed to respond to triggers, re-direct damaging patterns, and overcome whatever challenges you may face now and in the future.  In short, people who seek therapy are ready to meet the challenges within their lives and are, therefore, ready to accept the changes needed within their lives.  Acknowledging you cannot travel this journey alone is the first step.

Do you prescribe medication?

It is well established that the long-term solution to mental and emotional difficulties and the pain they cause cannot be solved primarily through the use of medication. Instead of just treating the symptom, therapy addresses the root cause of our distress and the behavior patterns that curb our progress. You can best achieve sustainable growth and a greater sense of well-being with an integrative approach to wellness.  Working with your medical doctor you can determine what is best for you, and in some cases a combination of medication and therapy can be the right course of action.  This decision is a deeply individual one that each client gets to decide is (or is not) right for them.

With this, I am not a medical doctor and, therefore, cannot prescribe medication. If medication is determined to be a possible need within treatment and you feel that it is something you could benefit from, I will refer you to a physician. I will make all efforts towards the Coordination of Care and Collaboration with the medical doctor.

Do you accept insurance?

Given my belief in everyone having access to quality mental health services, I offer a variety of options to connect with me.

For clients whose insurance I do not currently take, I may be able to issue a SuperBill for the client to seek reimbursement.

Is what I say within therapy confidential?

What you disclose within therapy is confidential; however, there are a few exceptions:

As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, I am bound to take action to protect identified people from harm, even though that may require revealing minimally necessary information about a client’s treatment.

If the client discloses or reasonably suspects/believes a child, elderly person, or disabled person is being abused or neglected, the therapist must file a report with the appropriate agency. If the therapist believes that a client is in imminent danger from another person, in imminent danger to him or herself or to another, or to the property of others, the therapist is required to take protective actions, which may include notifying authorities, family members, or others who may help provide protection. The therapist will inform the client, if possible, of these actions.  Please see the Informed Consent form for further information regarding other areas of potential exceptions to confidentiality, which may include but is not limited to a client who is seeking treatment through their insurance and associated with documentation required for insurance reimbursement.

What about minors?

For couples that have been married and are either separated or divorced, proof of custody will be verified before the commencement of service for a minor client may be initiated.  Common verification includes court documentation, which illustrates who has the authority to consent for treatment and a Caregiver Affidavit.  Where court documentation is not available, the therapist will require the consent of both biological parents before services may begin.