Practice Information
Online for Californians and Oregonians
In-Person at the Lemon Tree Art and Therapy Nook in Morro Bay, CA
742 Morro Bay Blvd., Morro Bay, CA 93442 (meet in front of Vinyl Isle record store)
Workshops and in-person sessions sometimes in Bend, Oregon, too! Stay tuned!
Phone – (541) 728-3563
Email – alice@growinglifetherapy.com
Do you take insurance?
I do not take insurance. There are a lot of reasons why, but three primary ones:
First, insurance companies require that you be given a mental health diagnosis. If you are a couple, one of you has to take on a diagnosis. This, along with other personal details about your history, stays on your medical record for life.
Lots of life and relationship problems are not mental health disorders. Life is a challenge that does not need to be pathologized. In fact, it is wise to seek help BEFORE you meet the criteria for a mental health disorder.
Second, insurance companies can dictate the kind of therapy you get, number of sessions, length of session times, and when you are done with therapy. These are things that I believe you as the client should be deciding and informed about in consultation with your therapist.
And, third, this is a small practice of one. I work hard to offer my clients a caring, focused, creative, and responsive relationship with their therapist. With the self-pay model I can see fewer clients, and be adaptable to the needs of your family and mine. I also offer sliding scale pricing. Let me know if you are feeling deeply motivated for therapy but have a financial hardship.
I can also provide you with a monthly Superbill with all necessary information for you to apply for reimbursement based on the out-of-network benefits of your insurance company.
How much do sessions cost?
Prices vary depending on the time and work you want to do. I offer intro packages, “Tune-In” packages and work to offer as many sliding scale spots as possible. Give me a call so we can talk more!
Mental healthcare needs to be affordable and accessible to all. In this small business I aim to acknowledge this need along with the needs of myself and my practice. If I cannot meet your needs I will work to help you find the right support.
Why 90 minute sessions?
Relationships need time to develop and grow. Healing takes attention and space. For this reason I work with families in 90 minute sessions and I encourage individuals to make time for longer sessions as well.
Couple/Family Therapy – 90 minutes or 3 hour intensives
Individual Therapy – 60 or 90 minutes
Creative “Tune-In” sessions – 75 minutes
Do you have a cancellation policy?
Life happens, I understand that and am here to work with you. Also cancelations are a challenge and there are usually others who would like to get in. So let me know as soon as you realize you can’t make an appointment and I will try to reschedule you within the week. Please cancel 36-24 hours in advance to avoid being charged for missed sessions.
What does therapy look like right now?
Therapy looks like you carving out space and sacred time for you. In-person this means you walking into a peaceful, safe sanctuary, away from your everyday life. Online I invite you to do this mentally rather than physically, carving out space and time for YOU.
For the first session, we will probably meet online and I will guide you through some questions about your goals, challenges and history. Within the first few sessions we will develop a plan for impactful work that can shift your path.
On a deeper level, good therapy, whether it is online or in person, should look like you getting to know yourself on a deeper level, processing hurt, sometimes feeling challenged, always feeling support, and making changes you feel good about. You are fostering the discovery of internal resources, with a trusted person accompanying you on the journey. We go at your pace.
We take the time for you to develop coping mechanisms in times of challenge and experience your stuck places using more than just your analytical brain. Sometimes there are revelations, and sometimes you simply exhale the burden and find strength to carry on. Sometimes you reach new, deeper connections to Self and Other, sometimes you have a much needed laugh as you recognize and have empathy for your own humanity. Whatever happens, it is my job to help you to feel recognized and supported throughout.
What does therapy feel like?
This depends on what is happening in your life, but most generally therapy can feel like the relief of not going through it alone and gaining new tools to address ongoing issues.
All your problems are not solved; but with attention to the process and dedication to yourself, life can start to feel more bearable, maybe even joyful, with more light.
You should start to feel more compassion for your struggles and get new insight into why things hurt as much as they do. Connection to your interests and loves grows; new approaches to old issues arise. You get to know and show compassion for the various aspects of yourself that are present in your days.
And if it is not going the way you need, it will hopefully feel okay for you to say so.
This happens when you feel safe and accepted with your therapist.
(The single most important factor in research of therapy success rates is the quality of the connection between client and therapist.)
How long until it starts to get better?
I can only say generally the improvements that come with therapy build on one another.
There is often new hope in the first session, and then some peaks and valleys along the way. It is a good idea to plan on committing time, at least 3 months and possibly more to the process.
I also understand that we can only come to therapy as much as schedule and budget allow. You are not expected to come weekly, but that may be what you want to do.
We check in about how therapy is going throughout.
It is wise to expect couples therapy to last somewhere between 8-20 sessions for a sustained shift. It really depends on the challenges you are facing and the time you are able to give to the process.
Often, after a concentrated period, people decide to come for “tune-in sessions” monthly, then in time just as needed.
But, again, it all depends.
What are you like?
Basically, I am a warm welcoming person who wants to hear what you have to say. You have my full attention; I’m there to learn about you.
I offer thoughts and insights. I’m fairly direct.
Sometimes I get pretty involved in the conversation; sometimes I sit back. It depends on what is happening.
I welcome feedback.
I don’t let couples get distracted by the minute details of a disagreement.
I laugh with you.
I follow up when you are struggling and help you find the additional resources you need.
Are you experienced in LGBTQ+ relationships?
Yes.
I have lots of experience working with relationships between cis-gendered women and experience with transgender clients. Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy is a practice of working with couples that aims to be accessible to all relationships. And I actively take training in working with clients of all backgrounds and identities and strive to know my limits and competencies.
What’s stopping me from calling you?
What a great question! If your heart is crying out for help, it is a good plan to listen as soon as possible to prevent the problem from getting worse and taking more time to work through. Call for a free consultation!
Calling puts you under no obligation and only gives you information designed to help you figure out the best path forward.
You don’t have to know exactly what to say or do anything more than leave your name and number. I will reach out to you from there. If you want to tell me more about your situation in the message, great! But it is not necessary.
“Growth is painful, change is painful. But nothing is as painful as staying stuck where you do not belong.” – N.R. Narayana Murthy
Ready for action? Call or use the contact form below to email me.