I should sell my tongue/and buy a thousand ears. Rumi
My training and experience:
I have been working as a therapist since getting my Master’s Degree in 1975. Most of my work has been in outpatient settings in mental health clinics or private practice. I have also worked in non-profit agencies and for Employee Assistance Programs. Employee Assistance Programs help people through the workplace offering free counseling services for assessment (understanding the problem) and referral to the right place to get help.
After receiving my degree I have studied many different theories and strategies to maximize the help I can provide. These include family therapy, hypnotherapy, psychodynamic psychotherapy, eating disorders therapy, chemical dependency, couples counseling, group therapy, stress and anxiety reduction, and poetry therapy. I am certified as a poetry therapist. I use these theories and specialties as needed. I make a great effort to work with each person or couple I see in a unique and individual way.
Fees:
I offer a free telephone evaluation. Fees for in-person sessions are $140. I do have a sliding fee scale that I can speak with you about on the telephone. The range of the fee scale depends on how many people I am seeing at a lower fee already and what you can realistically afford. If you would like to use your insurance and have an out of network provision, I can give you a receipt to send in to get reimbursement. I am also interested in helping you find a referral if you need a lower fee than I can offer.
How to evaluate the fit between us:
I believe that there is an intuitive way for you to tell whether I am the right person to help you. It might be a comfort level or something I say that lets you know I “get” what you might need. Sometimes it could take a few meetings to decide, sometimes things feel right at the first meeting. I encourage you to ask questions and feel free to say what your needs are. It is very important to feel that you are working with the right person.
What is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker?
A Licensed Clinical Social Worker is a person with a masters degree in social work who is licensed by the state to practice therapy. Graduate school is the beginning of the training which continues indefinitely as the therapist learns and develops maturity and skill.
What is the difference between a Marriage Family Therapist, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Psychologist, and Psychiatrist?
The differences are: length of time in school to get the degree, type of degree, and specialization. MFT and LCSW are both masters level licenses. Each degree focuses on becoming a therapist, and social work can have other facets of training like community organizing, policy, medical, etc. The “C”linical part of L”C”SW refers to the therapy focus. A psychologist who is a licensed PhD has a doctorate in psychology, spends more years in school and writes a thesis. The psychologist is also trained to administer psychological testing (personality testing). The psychiatrist is a medical doctor who has specialized in psychiatry. The psychiatrist is trained to prescribe medication and some specialize only in this, while many psychiatrists also choose to be therapists.