Updated: May 1
It can be overwhelming looking for a therapist. Here are the answers to the most commonly asked questions to hopefully demystify some of the process.
How do I know if the therapist will be a good fit for me?
The therapeutic relationship really is integral to the process of healing. It is important to feel comfortable and safe with your therapist and it is like any other relationship, it can take a little while to get to know and understand each other. We recommend taking advantage of a complimentary initial consultation to talk to a therapist and get a feel for us and our style. You can schedule an initial consult here. Secondly, we recommend giving it some time after you start working with a therapist and trying to be open in the therapeutic relationship. We welcome feedback and collaboration. The more open our clients are with us the more we can fully support them and what they are needing.
What is the frequency of therapy?
Therapy session are typically on a weekly basis but treatment recommendations are made on an individual basis dependent on the client's individual needs. Some clients may be in need of more frequent sessions and others less. We do recommend weekly appointments for the first 4-6 week minimum to help establish the therapeutic relationship.
I have never been to therapy before, how does it work? What if I don't know what to talk about?
Therapy is really focused on holding a safe space for you to take a deeper look into the areas of your life. We may talk about things that you are struggling with or we may talk about things that are going really well. We think it is important to identify an individual strengths and work together to determine what your goals for therapy are. We can talk about your wins and your losses and everything in between. Personally, my favorite sessions are when a client comes in and says they don't have anything to talk about because those tend to end up taking us somewhere deeper than expected. Our goal is not to go digging up every trauma that you have ever gone through but to see what is coming up for you and to help you process whats weighing on you in the present. We often look at unhealthy behavioral patterns, explore relationship dynamics, identify positive coping skills and allow lots of space for the messiness of life.
How long will I need to be in therapy?
The length of treatment is individually based and dependent on your treatment goals. Some clients goals are more short term and focused so they may be in treatment for a shorter about of time 3-4 months. Most of our clients are more long term, over 1 year, but session frequency will be tapered based on needs.
Recovery (and life in general) is not a linear process. There will be ups and downs in the therapy process. Your therapist is here to support you in what your needs are even if that changes throughout the process.
Where is your office located? Do you provide in-person therapy?
Our office is located in the Rancho Bernardo community in North San Diego County. We are providing in-person therapy to those that prefer to come to the office. In-person hours are a little more limited than telehealth but we are happy to discuss availability to see if it will work for your schedule. We understand that coming into a physical office location can feel more comfortable. We also have the option to switch back and forth between in-person and telehealth when needed due to illness or scheduling needs. In-person is great and we have flexibility to switch it up if needed.
I am not in the San Diego area, am I able to see you via telehealth?
Absolutely! We work with clients throughout the state of California. Telehealth has been such a great asset in providing therapists the ability to work with clients from a wider geographic area and has helped make therapy more accessible. Telehealth has been a great asset to even our local clients that may not have a ride to therapy or are on a tight schedule and cannot commute. With telehealth you are able to access therapy from the comfort of your own home or where ever you are comfortable as long as its in a safe, confidential space and is in the state of California. One common misconception is that telehealth will feel cold or distant but the reality is in some ways its more intimate. We get a literal window into client's lives and we even get to meet their pets. Whether we are meeting in-person or online, the relationship is still the same.
What types of eating disorders do you work with?
We work with the full spectrum of eating disorders - ie. Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge Eating Disorder, Orthorexia, ARFID, Other Specified Eating Disorders. You do not need to have an eating disorder diagnosis to work with us. We are passionate about helping heal ones relationship with food and their body. We work with those that are struggling with more general dissatisfaction with their body and anxiety around food to those that are suffering with a chronic eating disorder.
I am struggling to lose weight, will you help me lose weight or stick to my diet goals?
A big part of the work we do is challenging diet culture and exploring the systematic structures that place shame and judgement on larger bodies. We will not support dieting or weight loss goals because we believe that it is counterproductive to improving your relationship with your body and with food. The overwhelming vast majority of diets and weight loss, encourages and integrates the exact behaviors and beliefs that we are working to disrupt. We are extremely passionate about holding a safe space for individuals to take a more vulnerable look at their relationship with food/body, challenging weight stigma/diet cultured beliefs and hopefully create some deeper healing than any diet can offer.
Do you take insurance? What is the cost of therapy?
We understand therapy is a financial investment and we want to be as transparent as possible regarding fees. We do not take insurance. We are considered an out of network provider and we are happy to provide you with a superbill that can be submitted to insurance for reimbursement. Our rates are listed here. We are always happy to discuss finances with you further if you have additional questions.
Do you only work with women?
No, although the majority of our clients are female identifying, we do work with all genders. Men are often overlooked in regards to eating disorder diagnosis and treatment and we believe this is a disservice. We strive to create an equitable space for anyone struggling with food/body image concerns to receive unbiased, client-centered care.
I have a teen with an eating disorder, Are families involved in treatment?
Yes, we do believe that family involvement in therapy is extremely helpful. Research has shown that outcomes improve dramatically when family is involved. Our typically recommendation is to have family sessions biweekly to monthly with the goal to discuss how you can support your teen in their recovery process and to process any stressors that arise. The level of family involvement is going to vary dependent on the severity of your teens eating disorder, their age and level of motivation. Your therapist will work with you to come up with an individualized treatment plan.
Have any other questions? Drop us a note. hello@wholespacefamilytherapy.com
