How do I know therapy is for me ?

I’ve been working in the mental health field for over 20 years now so I honestly can say-every single human being can benefit from therapy. 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. The hard part is prioritizing self and the therapy space for the true benefit- unraveling one’s personal initial 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?

I have found in my professional experience, therapy is an excruciatingly important container for those who were impacted by “childhood also known as developmental trauma” as there are aspects of psychological abuse and/or emotional neglect that have been shown to have detrimental impacts on adulthood mental health.

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 if I should do 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. 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.

If you are working virtually all day - try an in person Mission Valley in person office visit- grab a coffee, cold water, or snack during your session and get some human connection on your way home, stop at the gym or grocery store, 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. 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 ?

Prior to our first session, you will be provided a confidential client portal access where you can fill out your confidential information, payment and critical information on why you are coming to therapy today. This allows me to be prepared for our first session with questions and treatment modalities prepared to hit the ground running on our treatment goals when we first begin!

The first session will be very relaxed as all of my sessions I strive to contain in relaxation and humor containers. Take a deep breath, we are on this journey together. 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. 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.

What is your no show/late cancellation policy?

If you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment, please let me know 48 hours before your upcoming appointment time as that is my Late Cancellation Policy is full charge. Of course things happen -medical emergencies and global pandemics have been our speciality for the last five years and we have found being proactive with communication is crucial. The client portal is available 24/7 to jump on cancel, reschedule, or communicate with Amy directly.

We have been fortunate with the 48 hour cancellation that we are often able to accomodate reschedules and help clients who are on the waitlist be seen if we have more time to communicate verses later as I reserved for you with others who may be on a waitlist for your time. 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. 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 time of the session, as many of my clients prefer EMDR and extended family intensive sessions - based on the time and participants, the fee may alter. Fees also increase annually for existing clients due to inflation and subject to change with continued certifications and experience in the field. For existing clients, notice will be provided at least 30 days before your rate is increased. 

What insurance do you accept?

In Network Insurance -Unitedhealth Care

All clients are responsible for checking with their insurance provider prior to first session to ensure provider is in covered for out of network reimbursement. Even for in-network insurance, there are often issues with insurance paying your provider timely and sufficiently, therefore it’s best to be aware. Some clients have insurance benefits, but still prefer to pay "out of pocket" to include more privacy and more control over their treatment process.

Out of Network Insurance

If you have another 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. 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 $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?”

Keep in mind that submitting a superbill for reimbursement may grant the insurance company the right to access your records and limit the number of sessions you attend. 

NO SURPRISES ACT, which was put into action starting January 1, 2022 for individuals using Out-Of-Network (OON) Benefits or paying in cash. The good faith estimate is only an estimate and the actual items, or services, may differ from the good faith estimate. The services are NOT required by the client therefore may change throughout the course of treatment as client is in charge. These are services that you may opt to use through the course of therapy. The GFE includes potential costs that can occur over the course of 12 months. This estimate will up be updated every 12 months. There are various factors that impact the number of sessions required for progress. Some of these factors include diagnosis, goals, and necessity for continued services. This will be discussed frequently throughout the course of treatment.