I I would begin my work with you as a new client by having an open mind as to what you want to achieve. Some people know exactly what they want to change in their lives and need suggestions and support in reaching their goals, including help in overcoming the habits and emotions that get in their way. Others are not sure exactly what is wrong or what they want to change. They just know that things are not quite right. Here I may need to spend more time with you listening carefully to that still, small voice within you that is trying to get your attention. Common issues I help people with are marriage conflict, multi-cultural and interracial relationships, parenting concerns, depression, facing life threatening illnesses like cancer and Parkinson’s disease and grief and loss.
With couples I consider it essential for me to act in service of the marriage or relationship by listening in a fair and balanced way to each person. While all feelings need to be listened to, respected and understood (especially the deeper hurts and frustrations underlying them) I do not allow fighting or abusiveness to go on in my office. You probably do enough of that at home and you are coming to see me to learn something different. So maintaining a safe, working environment is a job I take seriously. I try to help you formulate goals as specific and concrete as possible so that you can feel like there touchstones for your progress.
With families I also consider it important to let everyone have their say, even small children. I also consider it essential to develop rapport with those who are reluctant to be there. Usually there is a buy-in at some level whereby an angry teenager or bored child can begin to feel that participating in a family discussion is in their best interest.
Some people are interested in the kind of theory or school of therapy to which a counselor subscribes. Actually I am not a subscriber—over the past 20 years I have tried to integrate into my work the best of a number of traditions. Notable among these are experiential therapy, Emotionally Focused couple therapy, Solution-Focused couple and family Therapy, and the emerging Relational theory and practice of the psychoanalytic tradition.
Fees
$200 per session. A couple or family session is one hour. An individual session is 50 minutes. I also have a limited number of student and low-income hours available.
Insurance
I am a provider for the following networks:
- Blue Shield
- Aetna
If I am not a preferred provider on your plan I will be happy to provide a receipt that will enable you to submit for reimbursement.
Appointments
If you would like to discuss setting up an appointment, please call my office at (650) 321-2588, or send me an E-mail.