How do I know IF therapy is RIGHT for me ?

I’ve been working in the mental health field for over 20 years now so I honestly can say-everyone can benefit from therapy in some way or shape. The research shows this as well- that basically anyone can benefit from unpacking their feelings about past & current traumas and building emotional resilience and emotional empathy towards self and others. This vital relationship can teach us about ourselves, how we interact with others, and how we come accross to others which can be immensely beneficial for pursuing optimal health goals.

The hard part is prioritizing yourself and the therapy space for the true benefit to be unveiled. This takes the cultivation of a safe environment with a safe relationship- unraveling one’s personal thoughts, feelings, and beliefs and seeing if there are other perspectives that can be here at the same time that may allow growth and connection takes space and time to build.

I have found in my professional experience, therapy is an excruciatingly important tool for personal, romantic, and business relationships to be explored consciously, verses reactively. Therapy is so impactful for those who do not feel strong attachments to self, family, or others.

If you still have further questions on whether therapy is right for you, please schedule a free 15 minute consultation and I can further answer your direct questions.

How Do I know What location is best for me? In Person, Virtual or Walk n Talk Sessions?

This is deeply subjective I have found. Everyone engages in therapy differently and can access their parts in different ways at different times of day. I always lean towards the opposite, if you work with people a lot and it would benefit you to access therapy to do virtual- book a virtual session at a convenient time for you to get started today.

If you are working virtually all day - try an in person Mission Valley office visit- grab a coffee, cold water, or snack during your session and get some human connection, mindfulness, and some duality of tasks- on your way home, stop at the gym or grocery store, visit a nature spot and integrate the session, or do some retail therapy after if thats your thing- it’s good for your mental health to be near people!

If you are finding yourself stuck in a physical or mental health therapy office - lack of movement rut like many of us do from time to time, book a “walk n talk” session in beautiful San Diego, California! It is such a beautiful way to incorporate movement, emotions, and reprocessing in a truly beautiful environment with someone you trust walking you and speaking low away from others for increased confidentially. I have seen some amazing therapy milestones achieved in nature both with individuals and couples. Please pack accordingly- shoes, water, sunblock, and be ready to move. However, if you are feeling like not moving, we can also sit in nature and have our session, confidentially away from others.

WHAT WILL MY FIRST SESSION LOOK LIKE ?

I hope for it to be a painless experience, however thats not how therapy works always. Prior to our first session, you will be provided a confidential client portal access where you can fill out your personal information on why you are coming to therapy, payment & insurance, and scheduling and communication ease for the duration of therapy. The portal is where we store all our information confidentially and allows us to have ease with providing ongoing assessments, scheduling, communication, telehealth, and payment and insurance processing. The first session should feel like we are starting a new relationship and I am getting to know you by downloading your history, current factors, and goals for the future. Subsequent sessions should feel like we are more in sync the more the therapeutic rapport is built, which can take varying timelines.

Take a deep breath, we are on this journey together and I am fully committed to assisting you. We begin by discussing your current situation, symptoms, and dig deeper into your bio-psychosocial history based on comfort and relevancy from childhood, to past relationships and jobs, to life tasks and development milestones, we will ebb and flow on the narrative as we converse with the here and now factors. This can take a few sessions to fully gather a better treatment road map, especially when working with couples and intimate personal trauma. Upon mutual collaboration, we develop a treatment plan to address your goals. This process is entirely collaborative; at a safe pace that aligns with your personal motivation, evidence based modalities utilized along the therapeutic process.

How frequently Should we meet for optimal progress results ?

This is a great question and one I frequently get asked at the end of the first intake session. I tend to provide recommendations of weekly or biweekly to get us in an optimal cadence for growth and introspection progress. We check in frequently to ensure that we are understanding the treatment goals and progress being made or not made towards them realistically.

Some people are deeply impacted by the intimacy and questions of therapy and need more time in between sessions and some need less. I am a human who has a lot to balance in life and sometimes our health is top priority and sometimes we are struggling with making it a priority, therefore I am gentle and direct on the goals established together.

Many modalities & issues require more frequent contacts, such as more intimate and vulnerable types of trauma work which requires EMDR & Gottman Method Couples Sessions that often require 90 minute sessions. As I guide my clients through their journey of self- acceptance and love- I always encourage finding one’s own autonomy for schedule and resources. I also adjust for realistic expectations and meet people often in crisis and life transitions requiring less and more support therefore I am compassionate.

What if I can’t come in or afford to come in as often as We would like?

Most of my clients are busy working professionals, many are parents and therefore, are the most historically low resourced population to date we are seeing. I have tons of supplemental resources that I love to recommend to all my clients to use in between our sessions if there are financial or time restraints in meeting. Reach out to me, let me know and I can also share more in session or post therapy with permission. If finances are an issue, I would recommend changing to a PPO with great OON benefits so you can get compensation from your insurance. Also, I am happy to discuss a reduced rate if you are struggling. There are so many great free resources in our local communities for you to tap into for group support services to help build connection and communication. Journaling, free association audio messages, and bullet journaling all are helpful supplementals for psychotherapy when not feasible. Please do not minimize the importance of these tools even with regular therapy services as this is the integration tools that will allow you to feel connected to self wherever you go, no matter what! When in doubt, move, talk, cry, write, let it out, let it be, let it go!

What is your no show/late cancellation policy?

If you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment, please let Amy know 48 hours before your upcoming appointment time as that she reserves this time especially for you. The client portal is available 24/7 to jump on & cancel, reschedule, or communicate with Amy directly if you have any scheduling or clinical matters that need to be discussed to ensure ease with avoiding this unnecessary cost for all. Under 48 hours, please communicate immediately with Amy as she is aware of clients who could fill the spot without the charge. In any case of a missed appointment or late cancellation, the full appointment fee will be charged due to the sacredness of the time held. All intake appointments must have a credit card on file in order to reserve your first appointment or the appointment will be cancelled. We appreciate your understanding with this aspect of our clinical practice. Your card will be charged day of service for all appointments, unless otherwise agreed upon prior to session. 

Will my session rate always stay the same ?

Depending on the length of the session, number of individuals involved, and the modalities utilized the fee will differ. Some couples and individuals prefer to have longer & less frequent sessions due to their schedule & commute, and treatment goals, which impacts the fee. Fees also increase annually for existing clients due to inflation.

What insurance do you accept?

To ensure you maintain complete control over your privacy and therapeutic needs, I am not affiliated with and do not bill insurance plans. Cost per session is payable via credit, debit, HSA or FSA directly through my confidential portal. You will have complete control over how often we meet and how many sessions you schedule. You will also have the ability to schedule and reschedule sessions via an online portal. Some insurance companies do reimburse. Please check directly with your insurance provider to determine what coverage is available. I am able to provide an invoice (superbill) if you choose to submit to your insurance for reimbursement as an out-of-network provider. Keeping in mind that I will need to include a diagnosis on that paperwork.

Please contact me if you have special circumstances, I do hold some sessions for sliding scale spots.

If You would like to utilize “Out of Network” Insurance Benefits

If you have an HMO/PPO, as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I may be able to be an “out of network” provider. I still request full payment at the time of service, but provide you with a monthly, detailed record of payment (or “super bill”) that you can submit for reimbursement. How much different insurance providers cover varies widely. Many of my clients confirm they are reimbursed 30-80% of their session costs when they submit. If you are interested in using Out of Network benefits for PPO plans, I recommend calling them, and asking:

1. “Do I have Out of Network coverage for therapy?”

2. “How much of a $210-260 fee would you cover?”

3. “Do I have to meet a deductible before you start covering for Out of Network?”

4. “Is my issue an allowable diagnosis/reason for therapy?”

I’m happy to discuss any questions associated with my fees in our consultation call.