Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How does psychotherapy work?
It depends on the kind of psychotherapy.

Psychodynamic therapy is the most common form of psychotherapy and focuses on uncovering early childhood wounds and exploring how they influence present experience.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy focuses on how thoughts affect emotions and behavior and on replacing negative thoughts with positive or neutral ones.
Existential psychotherapy focuses on present life experience and encourages awareness. It involves examining one's life, taking responsibility for one's actions, issues of life and death, intimacy, loneliness.
Transpersonal psychotherapy focuses on spiritual integration.
Somatic psychotherapy focuses on present experience and includes the body. There may or may not be touch involved in somatic psychotherapy. If there is, it should always be very conscious, with your prior permission.
Relational/feminist psychotherapy focuses on equality and mutuality in the therapeutic relationship.
Narrative therapy focuses on externalizing problems. People learn to see the problem as the problem, rather than thinking that they, themselves, are the problem. This frees people up to face problems more effectively.
These are not the only methods of psychotherapy, but this does cover many of the most common.

Q. Is everything I tell my therapist confidential?
Yes, with the following exceptions:

in cases of child, dependent or elder abuse
if you report that you are going to injure another person, or the property of another person
if a court orders your therapist to release records.
if you are in imminent danger of committing suicide.

Q. Does therapy ever include sex?
Professional psychotherapy NEVER includes sex.

All therapists are trained to know that it is illegal and unethical to engage in any kind of sexual behavior with their clients.

Filing Complaints

If your therapist is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist or Intern, a Clinical Social Worker or a Registered Associate Clinical Social Worker, or an Educational Psychologist, you would report to the Board of Behavioral Sciences: http://www.bbs.ca.gov/consumer/complaint_info.shtml
If your therapist is a Psychiatrist, your report would go to the Medical Board of California: http://www.mbc.ca.gov/Consumers/Complaints/
If your therapist is a Psychologist or Psychological Assistant, your report would go to the Board of Psychology: http://www.psychology.ca.gov/consumers/filecomplaint.shtml

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Q. How do I know what kind of therapy will work best for me?
In most cases, your motivation combined with the relationship you have with your psychotherapist will have more to do with the success of your therapy than the specific methodology.

Find a therapist that you feel very comfortable with. Many psychotherapists are familiar with more than one methodology. If you sense that your therapist's approach is not benefiting you, talk with him/her about it. Chances are that the two of you can find common ground. If not, s/he may have suggestions for other therapists that might be a better match for you.

Q. How long should I stick with a therapist to determine whether he or she is right for me?
There is no hard and fast answer to this question.

When you are looking for a therapist, feel free to try out a few so you can make a comparison. If you have specific topics that you would like your therapist to be knowledgeable about or sensitive to, ask them over the phone before you set up an appointment. Once you have chosen a therapist, you will most likely know whether you have made a good choice by whether your quality of life is improved by the therapy. Is the therapist helping you reach your goals? Some goals take longer than others to achieve, so keep this in mind. Keep the lines of communication open with your therapist so the two of you can evaluate how things are going from time to time.

Q. What rights do I have as a client or patient?
You have the right to:

Request and receive full information about the therapist's professional capabilities, including licensure, education, training, experience, professional association membership, specialization and limitations.
Have written information about fees, method of payment, insurance reimbursement, number of sessions, substitutions (in cases of vacation and emergencies), and cancellation policies before beginning therapy.
Receive respectful treatment that will be helpful to you.
A safe environment, free from sexual, physical and emotional abuse.
Ask questions about your therapy.
Refuse to answer any question or disclose any information you choose not to reveal.
Know the limits of confidentiality and the circumstances in which your therapist is legally required to disclose information to others.
Know if there are supervisors, consultants, students or others with whom your therapist will discuss your case.
Refuse a particular type of treatment, or end treatment without obligation or harrassment.
Refuse electronic recording.
Request a summary of your file, including the diagnosis, your progress, and the type of treatment.
Report unethical and illegal behavior by a therapist.*
Receive a second opinion at any time about your therapy or therapist's methods.
Have a copy of your file transfered to any therapist or agency you choose.