|
|
 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you shop for a therapist?To get the most out of a therapeutic journey, you must find a therapist who is a good match for you. This means that you look for a therapist:
The best way is to get a recommendation from someone you trust or from a therapist that you know socially. Often, in the first telephone conversation, you are able to assess this fit when you make a personal connection and feel heard, accepted and understood. What happens in your first session?Most people come to a first therapy session anxious because self-disclosure with a new person feels awkward. It is much more comfortable to use your first session to interview your prospective therapist. How you feel in that first session is an important cue to whether or not you have found the best match. The best results accrue from an open and honest exchange of information from the very beginning. The relationship you establish with your therapist is more important than any theoretical preference so trust your innate common sense. Gail will welcome any questions or concerns you may have. Each session lasts 45 to 50 minutes and is typically scheduled at the same time each week unless other arrangements are made in advance. How do you get the most out of therapy?A sense of curiosity as well as a sense of what you want to accomplish or understand in therapy is an important beginning. Are you struggling with a decision? A loss? A change? Ambivalence? Coming to therapy willing to learn more about yourself and how you might change how you think about, feel about, or respond to circumstances in your life is the most fruitful approach. Coming to therapy to change someone else is usually, if not always, futile. As we change and grow ourselves, we are more effective influencing others and more effective achieving our goals. Ghandi said, "Be the change you want to see in the world," because you are and can be the active agent in the change you want to make in your world.When is it important to seek therapeutic assistance?When chaos reigns, repetitive patterns and troubled relationships plague you, it is wise to seek therapy. People often seek therapy in order to safely explore the symptoms of discontent that accompany miserable moments. They may include:
How do I pay for psychotherapy services?Please contact the office for information about the current fees for services. Gail does not participate in most HMO insurance panels. If you have out of network benefits, with a PPO plan or point of service plan, she will provide you with the required health claim insurance form to seek reimbursement from your insurance carrier. The amount is stipulated in your contract for health coverage under outpatient psychotherapy. If she is unable to accommodate your financial situation, she will assist you in finding appropriate referrals. How do I get more information or make an appointment?Office hours in her downtown Pleasanton, California office are Monday through Thursday from 10:00 AM until 7:00 PM and appointments are scheduled during those times. Appointments with Gail for professional therapy services are made in advance and typically run 45 to 50 minutes unless other arrangements have been made. For further information or to make an appointment, please contact the office by phone at 925-997-1799. How does therapy work?Therapy is a collaborative and personal conversation with your therapist conducted in a safe and confidential setting that is focused only on you and your circumstances. Listening very carefully and from a different perspective, Gail will gently explore your feelings, thoughts, and behaviors to help you:
What therapy models do you utilize?In uniquely tailoring the therapeutic process to your circumstances and individual needs, Gail may utilize strategies from several therapeutic theories. While all of the models promote personal growth through the integration of thoughts, feelings, experiences, action and understanding, different theoretical models spotlight different aspects of opportunity and action.
Other avenues of exploration may include recommendations or referrals to medical doctors, psychiatrists, books, movies, classes, group therapy, twelve step programs, educational programs or other community resources as they apply to your needs. What is couples therapy and who goes to the sessions?Since the focus of couples therapy is your primary relationship, it is most beneficial when both participate in therapy. The goal of couples therapy is to improve the interpersonal interactions between two individuals in the service of each partner and the whole. It is not about imposing some external standard or choosing sides as a referee. Couples therapy is about learning how to listen carefully to both partners, uncovering the values beneath the problems, and unleashing mutual creative energy to resolve current dilemmas. Sometimes only one member of the partnership chooses to participate in therapy. This is also a viable way to work through difficulties in your primary relationship because the focus remains the interactions between the partners. However, it is more effective when both parties participate, even if one partner does not want to change. Much still can be understood and learned about the other. Either partner can learn the skills to promote a relationship that flourishes and endures throughout the life span.
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Pleasanton Family Therapist | Gail Gabriel, MFT | Therapy Services | Challenges and Problems | FAQ | Therapy Resources | Office Policies ©2017 Gail Gabriel, MFT - All Rights Reserved |
Print Page