How do I know if therapy is right for me?
Therapy has the potential to change the rest of your life, as well as those around you, and generations to come. People come to therapy to better themselves, whether that means understanding the impacts of your family and cultural history, overcoming specific systems of anxiety, depression, or trauma, or just wanting self-discovery, better understanding, and self-love. Therapy provides you with the opportunity to move forward from the places in your life in which you feel stuck, blocked, or under-supported.
What should I talk about in therapy?
It’s important to remember that these are your therapy sessions and you have the freedom to talk about anything you choose. Sometimes you may come in knowing exactly what you want to talk about or a specific challenge or block you want to work on during that session. Other times you may continue a conversation or theme from a previous session or share new events in your life. Often, some of the most impactful sessions are the ones in which you have no idea what you want to talk about, which allows for self-reflection and following your own intuition and inner guidance.
Can I come bi-weekly?
Research has shown that therapy is most effective when attended on a once a week basis at minimum. Regular and consistent sessions are proven to be the most beneficial to assist with managing stress and challenges during the week and there’s something important about knowing you have a regular space to reflect, get support, and work towards your goals. When sessions get spread out, there is less room for deep healing work that is often needed to see real change and growth. It is for these reasons, among others that we recommend all clients, including couples and families, start with weekly sessions.
Should I use insurance?
Using insurance is really a personal choice and it’s important to know the benefits and potential drawbacks of using insurance. A mental health diagnosis will be required to get reimbursed for your therapy fees. Feel free to discuss the pros and cons about getting a mental health diagnosis with your therapist at Life by Design Therapy if you are on the fence and need additional support making this decision.
Do you take medi-cal? What insurance do you take?
Life by Design Therapy does not accept Medi-Cal insurance. For more information about insurance, please visit our Fees/Insurance page to learn more about insurance coverage.
What can I expect from the first few sessions?
The first session will be spent going over our new client paperwork, which you will complete prior to your first session. During this session you and your therapist will review our office policies and any questionnaires. Your therapist will be gathering additional information based on what you shared in your questionnaires and get to know more about you, your history, your current challenges, and your goals for therapy. This is also a great time for you to ask any specific questions to your therapist.
The following sessions may be a continuation of the first session as you work with your therapist to narrow down your goals and desires for therapy and your life!
Ready to get started? Contact us today!
Phone
(510) 646-0046
hello@lifebydesigntherapy.com
Locations
Berkeley Office
2140 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley CA 94704
Richmond Office
3150 Hilltop Mall Road, Richmond, CA 94806
our office is open by appointment only. each therapist sets their own schedule. please note our regular business hours below.
hours
M-F 8a–8p
Sa-Su 9a–7p
cancellation policy
If you need to reschedule or cancel an appointment, please provide at least a full 48-hours’ notice. Your full session fee will be charged for any session that is missed or cancelled without the requested notice.
