What is an MFT?
MFT stands for Marriage and Family Therapist. MFTs must earn a Master's level degree in Psychology, complete 3000 hours of clinical training working with adults, children, and families, and pass rigorous state exams prior to becoming licensed by the Board of Behavioral Sciences. MFTs are qualified to diagnose and treat a broad range of mental health issues and disorders.
Back to Top
Is there a difference between “counseling” and “psychotherapy”?
The words “counseling” and “psychotherapy” are often used interchangeably by both clients and clinicians. In general, however, counseling suggests shorter-term, solution-focused work centered largely on the present and designed to resolve a specific problem or to reduce certain undesired behaviors. Psychotherapy, on the other hand, is associated with longer-term personal growth. It looks at family of origin experiences as well as present day issues and strives to bring about a shift in the client’s internal sense of self-worth, effectiveness, and satisfaction with life.
I offer both counseling and psychotherapy in my practice depending upon the client’s goals and individual needs. Sometimes a client enters treatment with a specific counseling-oriented goal in mind, and once the goal is reached the client decides to continue coming for the deeper personal growth work.
Back to Top
Do you accept insurance?
I am considered an out-of-network provider for most PPO insurance plans. If you have out-of-network PPO benefits, your insurance company may reimburse a portion of my fee.
As a free service to prospective clients, my biller can call your insurance company to see if you have out-of-network benefits for mental health services. The biller can also find out what percentage is estimated to be reimbursed and how much deductible, if any, you will need to meet before benefits kick in.
Once your deductible has been met, I am able to accept out-of-network co-pays for the patient portion of the weekly fee, with my biller seeking the therapist portion directly from insurance. However, the full fee remains your ultimate responsibility in the unlikely event that the carrier fails to reimburse me.
Should you wish to handle insurance reimbursements on your own, I can provide you with a monthly statement of services rendered (super-bill). There will be a slight discount in session fee for clients not requiring the services of my biller.
The decision to utilize insurance benefits is wholly up to you. Some clients prefer to pay out-of-pocket for counseling services and not to submit claims to their carrier.
Back to Top
What forms of payment do you accept?
Unless special arrangements have been made in advance, payment is due at the time of service and can be made via cash, check, or credit/debit (Visa, MasterCard) card processing.
Back to Top
How long are sessions?
Regular sessions are 50-minutes in length. Occasionally, I will suggest double sessions when working with couples and families.
Back to Top
What do you charge?
Session fees are determined by the type of service to be rendered and will have been discussed between us prior to our first meeting.
Back to Top
How frequently will we meet?
Weekly sessions are the most effective for building a counseling relationship and bringing about the desired change. However, some clients’ needs and treatment goals require more intensive work, in which case sessions are scheduled twice weekly.
Back to Top
How many sessions will I need?
Length of treatment depends upon the level of your distress, the nature of your therapy needs and goals, and your willingness to invest time, money, and emotional effort in the process. Within the first 2 – 4 sessions, I will evaluate the issues and dynamics at play and then share with you my professional recommendations and suggested treatment plan. As always, the decision as to your participation in the counseling process rests entirely with you.
Back to Top
What if I need medication?
Sometimes medication combined with psychotherapy is part of the treatment plan. Only psychiatrists and other MDs are authorized to prescribe medication.
I maintain strong working relationships with a number of psychiatrists in Los Angeles and the South Bay who are skilled, ethical and compassionate. If at any point you or I feel that an evaluation for medication would be a good idea, I will make the appropriate referral.
If you already take psychotropic medication and have an established relationship with a psychiatrist or other medical doctor you trust, I will be happy to collaborate with that individual once you sign a release giving me permission to do so.
Back to Top
Is everything we discuss confidential?
Confidentiality is the cornerstone of the counseling experience and is guarded with the utmost seriousness and professionalism.
All personal information discussed in session is confidential and cannot be released to a third party without your express written permission. There are, however, special rare circumstances in which the law mandates that I disclose confidential information. I will explain these few rare exceptions to the laws of confidentiality at the start of our initial session.
For your comfort and to maximize privacy, my Beverly Hills and Torrance offices provide separate entrances and exits that minimize client contact with others.
Back to Top
Do you offer a free telephone consultation?
Yes, I offer a complimentary 20-minute initial telephone consultation for prospective clients. To set up a time for your telephone consultation, please call my office
(310) 226-6161, or email me at
CounselingYourRelationships@verizon.net.
I look forward to connecting with you
to see how I can be of help.
Back to Top