What will my first appointment be like?
After our initial consult, you’ll decide if you’d like to start treatment. If yes, I’ll send a link to paperwork to be filled out before our first session. The intake assessment form will give me some idea of what brings you to therapy and where you’d like to begin. Often, but not always, that discussion is the basis of a first session. So, we’ll talk about what prompts you to seek treatment and whatever else you want to address that day.
How long does therapy take?
That depends on what you want from therapy. You may come with a specific issue in mind and some idea of how long you’d like to focus on it. Sometimes, while working through the issue that first brought you in, others emerge. It’s often the case that the most useful insights come to the surface in therapy after a crisis has passed.
What exactly is psychodynamic therapy?
Psychodynamic therapy, also referred to as psychoanalytic psychotherapy, teaches you to look to the past in order to understand the suffering you’re experiencing now. It seeks to liberate you from past constraints that are causing pain. In psychodynamic therapy, the bond between therapist and patient is a key agent of change. It’s been said that all psychotherapists, regardless of their orientation, are psychodynamic in some way.
The psyche, like the body, has a powerful capacity to heal if we offer it the right conditions. If you allow yourself to follow your thoughts in session, your mind will take you where you need to go and you’ll talk about what you need to that day. That’s why you’ll often hear me encouraging you to say whatever is at the top of your mind.
Why do you say ‘patient’ and not ‘client?
Some psychotherapists prefer ‘client’ or use the words interchangeably. I don’t. Here’s why: You’ve come to therapy because you’re in pain, and the word ‘patient’ comes from the root word for suffering. The word ‘client,’ on the other hand, comes from the root word for ‘to lean on.’ Sure, you come to therapy to help you feel better, but the goal of treatment is to heal emotional suffering and give you the tools to carry yourself forward independently.
Do you take insurance?
Currently I don’t accept insurance, but am happy to provide a superbill that you can submit to your insurance carrier for out-of-network reimbursement.
What are payment options?
You can pay by cash, check, or credit card.
Can we speak briefly first?
Absolutely. If you’re interested in treatment, call me at 213-807-6021 to schedule a free, 20-minute consultation.