Practice Policies

What To Expect From The First Session…and Beyond

Congratulations on taking the first step and looking into details before you make your first appointment! It is very normal to feel anxious or confused, especially if this is your first time trying out counseling. I would like to make it easier for you by providing information on what to expect. Do you have a specific question in mind? Please visit my "Contact & FAQs" page to see if your question is answered. For general information on the therapy process, please read below.

We will meet in a cozy and comfortable room and talk about the concerns you have (or the concerns that important people in your life have about you), the history of these concerns, and your likes, dislikes, expectations, and goals for therapy. The first session looks like we are just "getting to know each other," although most people report feeling better after the first session. It gives you the chance to discuss the issues that have been bothering you, clear your mind, and see if I am a good fit for you. It gives me a chance to learn about your strengths and values and to start formulating ideas about the causes of the problem and the ways you can use your strengths in ways that fit with your values to solve your problems. You already have the biggest tool to overcome your struggles: Your expertise! You are the expert of your life; believe me, you know more than you give yourself credit for. My contribution will be to help you discover that side of you, sometimes by supporting and sometimes by challenging you. Remember my Michelangelo and David Story?

Therapy is not a rose garden. Although generally, you will leave the sessions feeling better, there will be sessions in which you will feel challenged, confused, and tired. This is normal and part of the change and growth process. Over time, if therapy is working, you will start feeling better about yourself and life in general, but not necessarily after each session.

I have a system for periodically incorporating your feedback into sessions. If something we are doing in sessions is helping you get closer to your goals and makes you feel better even between sessions, we will do more of it. If it does not help you, we will change gears. You choose to get counseling by investing your time, energy, and money to feel better. We need to make sure that your investment pays off in a relatively short amount of time.

The outcome of your treatment depends largely on your willingness to engage in this process, which may sometimes result in considerable discomfort. Remembering unpleasant events and becoming aware of feelings attached to those events can bring on strong feelings of anger, depression, anxiety, etc. There are no miracle cures. I cannot promise that your behavior or circumstances will change. I can promise to support you and do my very best to understand you and your repeating patterns and help you clarify what you want for yourself.

Based on your desires, needs, values, and personal strengths, I will teach you tools to maintain what you gained from the therapy sessions so you can fire me and live your life fully to your potential.

Once again, I congratulate you on taking the first step! If you would like to give it a try, I am looking forward to meeting you. Whether we meet or not, I wish you the best in your journey! 

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations and re-scheduled sessions will be subject to a full charge if the cancellation notice is not received at least 24 hours in advance. This is necessary because a time commitment is made to you and is held exclusively for you. That being said, we are all human. I also try to extend my empathy and support in my cancellation policy as much as possible. 

I encourage you to be on time for your scheduled sessions. If you are late for a session, you may lose some of that session time due to my schedule for the day following your session.

Please also note that insurance companies do not provide reimbursement for late cancellations or missed appointments.

Telephone Accessibility

For phone contact between sessions, clients can leave a confidential voice message on my cell phone number at (925) 405-6040 and request a call back for either scheduling or a brief check-in, not to exceed 15 minutes, free of charge. I make every effort to return calls within one to two business days. For crises and emergencies requiring immediate assistance, please call 911 or the Contra Costa Crisis Line at 1-800-833-2900.

Social Media and Telecommunication

Due to the importance of your confidentiality and the importance of minimizing dual relationships, I do not accept friend or contact requests from current or former clients on any social networking site (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc). Adding clients as friends or contacts on these sites can compromise your confidentiality and our respective privacy. It may also blur the boundaries of our therapeutic relationship. If you have questions about this, please bring them up when we meet and we can talk more about it.

Electronic Communication

I cannot ensure the confidentiality of any form of communication through electronic media, including text messages and e-mails. If you prefer to communicate with me via email or text messaging for issues regarding scheduling or cancellations, I will do so. While I may try to return messages in a timely manner, I cannot guarantee immediate response and request that you do not use these methods of communication to discuss therapeutic content and/or request assistance for emergencies.

Confidentiality Of Minors

If you are a minor, your parents may be legally entitled to some or all information about your therapy. I will discuss with you and your parents what information is appropriate for them to receive and which issues are more appropriate to keep confidential. I will always do my best to keep things confidential and advocate this policy on your behalf with your parents.

Ending Therapy

Ending relationships can be difficult. Therefore, it is important to plan an end to our work together in order to achieve some closure. The appropriate length of this process depends on the length and intensity of the treatment. If therapy is terminated for any reason other than achieving your therapy goals, I will provide you with a list of qualified psychotherapists with openings. You may also choose someone on your own or from another referral source if you choose to do so.

If you fail to schedule an appointment for three consecutive weeks, unless other arrangements have been made in advance, I must consider the professional relationship discontinued for legal and ethical reasons.

Unexpected therapist absence

In the event of my unplanned absence from practice, whether due to injury, illness, death, or any other reason, I maintain a detailed Professional Will with instructions for an Executor to inform you of my status and ensure your continued care in accordance with your needs. 

Good Faith Estimate Notice

  • You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical and mental health care will cost. 

  • Under the law, healthcare providers must give patients who don’t have insurance or are not using insurance an estimate of the expected charges for medical services, including psychotherapy services. 

  • You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency healthcare services, including psychotherapy services. 

  • You can ask your health care provider and any other provider you choose for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule a service. 

  • If you receive a bill at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill. Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate.

  • For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises.