Psychotherapy Services

Psychotherapy is rational and accessible. It is not some esoteric, undefinable, mystical process that only some people can grasp, a faith that only converts believe in and others do not. It is a logical process which anyone can understand and follow. In good psychotherapy every step should make complete sense to you,the client; you may end up in strange territory, but it should be entirely clear to you how you got there. Facts are not only external, but include your feelings, your reactions, your perceptions. In sessions, it will be important for you to take an active role in trying on your and your therapist’s ideas. The most important proof that an interpretation or suggestion from either side of the room is correct is your reaction to it. And right or not, if you can’t benefit from it, it’s worthless.

Psychotherapy is a dialogue. It is not a teaching session. You present information, the therapist offers ideas about that information, as well as their own reflections–feelings, past experiences, their own theories–then you pick up the ball, and so on. Is the therapist helping you discover truth about yourself, your life, your feelings–and is this material helping you make the changes you want–or are they off the mark? If the latter, you must speak up. No therapist will be right all the time, of course, and it may be that your expectations for change are unrealistic or misguided. You have to sort this out together. But the final word is yours. Your therapist can tell you what’s probably going on with you, what seems to be happening, but it is only you who can say if they are correct.

Psychotherapy is not a massage. It is not “unconditional positive regard”, although sometimes that’s part of it. Of course a big part of the success of therapy is the client/therapist relationship, which is built on trust, support, and honest dialogue, but they are not, by themselves, psychotherapy. You need to feel safe with your therapist, but it’s not necessary that you always be comfortable. In fact, if your therapist’s questions don’t stir up a little discomfort, you may not be getting anywhere. Sometimes therapy can even feel difficult. Psychotherapy is not advice. The world’s full of advice. Part of what brings you to treatment is that you’ve become lost in that advice and can’t sort out who’s to heed; the last thing you need is yet another voice to consider. The goal of treatment is for you to rediscover your own voice, your own priorities, and the courage to act on them. I do not tell a client what to do about their marriage, career, sense of loneliness or anxiety. If the therapist can help the client become aware of what’s happening, inside and between them and others, they will know better than I what is best for them. It’s like that old aphorism: Give a man a fish, you feed him for a day; teach him to fish, and you feed him for life.

Rates & Insurance. Karen provides individual, couple, family and group psychotherapy to people dealing with multiple issues affecting their wellbeing. Sessions are 60 minutes and are most often insurance reimbursable. Hourly therapeutic rate is $80/hour and once your insurance carrier has provided payment, you the client will be reimbursed at the rate your insurance carrier covers. For those persons who do not have insurance with a provider carrier we can arrange a sliding scale fee to meet your financial abilities.