Therapy can be a big expense, so it is understandable that you might be asking yourself if it is really going to be worth the cost...

The best way to think about therapy is as an investment.

Think about the cost of depression to yourself, to your relationships, and to your ability to accomplish the things you want in life. Then compare these costs to the monetary cost of attending 20 therapy sessions, which will amount to little more than an expensive vacation.
Another comparison you can make is between the monetary cost of relying on medication and bimonthly check-ups with your psychiatrist or PCP, and a year worth's of therapy, which could potentially help you live a life free from medication.

The question to ask yourself is really: Am I worth it? Do I want to invest in my quality of life and my future? Do I want to treat myself to therapy, just like I would treat myself to Lasik surgery to see better, or a vacation to relax from stress...?

Therapy is a highly interactive process in which both you and your therapist set out to explore the as-of-yet unknown. As your therapist I am always listening for all the things that have not yet been expressed or come to awareness. This includes clues revealed by subtleties in your language, body language, emotional life, dreams, and stories. For this reason, the outcome of any therapeutic experience will be different and unique in each and every case. Research shows that most people benefit from therapy, but the extent of change is highly dependent on your own ability to open up and participate in the process. You can read more about the process and effectiveness of psychodynamic therapy here.

Therapy is a process that needs time to unfold. It is possble to accomplish something meaningful within as little as 5-10 therapy sessions. I recommend committing to at least 5 sessions and then reassessing the benefits. Many choose to continue their therapy for several months or years because they find that the benefits justify their continued investment of time, effort, and resources.

The first couple of therapy sessions will consist of talking more about your immediate problems and asking detailed questions about your life experiences. Subsequent therapy sessions will be less structured and will evolve more spontaneously by following leads in whatever you bring up. You are encouraged to share everything, large and small, including dreams, fantasies, and things you normally keep to yourself. The more open you can be and the more freely you can share your thoughts and feelings, the more beneficial the sessions will be to you and more progress you are likely to make.

Since I don't adhere to a medical model of psychotherapy I am not affiliated with any health insurance plans and cannot accept insurance as form of payment. Some health insurance plans will allow you to use me as out-of-network provider and I am happy to supply documentation for you to submit to your insurance company who will reimburse you separately if services are covered.

Your secrets are safe with me. The things you share in therapy are considered confidential information by law and cannot be shared with anyone except with your explicit permission. To protect yourself an others, certain limitations to this general rule do exist. Please download and read my Informed Consent to Treatment for a more detailed description of limits to confidentiality.