Here is what to expect.
Intake Process/ Children's Appointments/ Parent's Appointments/ Dyadic Therapy/ Other Meetings / Commitment To Time/ Fees
Intake Process – The first meeting is with parent(s) or guardian and myself without the child. In this session I will gather information from you about your child’s history, family of origin, presenting problems and any other important information you wish to share. In turn, I will share how I generally work with children; my theoretical orientation and training, as well as a tour of the therapy room with all of the toys and tools I use. This is a great way for not only you to get comfortable with how I work but it often helps you prepare your child for what to expect in our first session. In addition to getting a thorough history we will go over and sign my “Consent to Treat” form and “Financial Agreement” for therapy services form. If we are in agreement that we are a good fit we will make an appointment for you to bring your child in for his, her their first session.
Children’s Appointments – At the first session I ask that a parent come into the room with their child. I introduce myself to your child, explain what I do, explore why they are here as well as show them the room and all of it’s contents. Often the child is excited to explore and with your presence feels safe to do so. I am open to answering any questions your child might have and with you there will answer them. As a witness to this exchange, you will be able to continue to answer your child’s questions and/or dialog about this first experience later. At the end of this session I will wonder with the child if he/she would like to come back and if possible be in the room alone with me while you the parent waits in the waiting room across the hall. Your child is positively supported if she /he would prefer to have you come again for all or part of the next session. She/he can also periodically check in on you too, as you wait in the waiting room.
Parent’s Appointments – Continued contact with you is crucial to the therapy process. We will agree on how often this makes sense. Once a month or every 6 weeks is optimal. I prefer we meet in person for this collateral contact and will bill for it as a normal session. These sessions explore family dynamics, history and current events impacting your child. I work within a Family Systems approach as well as a Solution focused approach. These meetings not only inform me about issues and the progress of therapy but are a time and place for you to get the support you need, ideas, strategies and additional resources.
Adult Psychotherapy and Art Therapy - available In person, via Zoom or phone.
Telephone - contact is good too, especially if something happens that is important for me to know and will inform the direction of a therapy session. These are deemed as a “as need” basis and will not be more then once a week for 10 minutes, unless we agree on another arrangement or there is a crisis.
Dyadic Therapy (parent and child together) – Dyadic sessions are aimed to work on the relationship between the parent and child. It is similar to the child therapy session but I as the therapist will step back and allow you and your child to be engaged in art and play. I may make suggestions or give you cues in the therapy session to expose you and your child to different ways of relating. Integral to this approach are separate collateral sessions with you alone, to explore and process what has happened during the therapy session as well as outside the session. During this collateral session I will coach you in ideas and strategies to implement during the session and outside to support change and create a more meaningful relationship.
Other meetings – Often, connecting with teachers via phone, email, or via an IEP or SST can be very helpful. As a member of the child’s mental health team I am open to engaging in these meetings as an advocate in support of your child. Letter writing and reports. I do charge for this time.
Commitment to time – The commitment to therapy working takes time and consistency. For your child to get the most out of therapy regular weekly sessions is best. Vacations and illness are a part of life and such, we can do our best to plan ahead. I ask that if you need to miss a session that you give me a minimum of 48 hours notice. Less than this, I will need to bill you for this time. Frequently missed sessions will be considered a reason to pause or terminate our contract.
In our Parent Collateral session, together we will make and agree on a Treatment Plan with a time frame for expected amount of sessions. I ask as part of your commitment to your child and the therapy process, to complete the number of sessions outlined or if therapy needs to end sooner you permit a 3 session closing frame. The ongoing power of therapy work being sustained and integrated after therapy ends, hinges not only on good beginnings and middle stages but on good endings. As this is a best case scenario sometimes endings are sooner and I reserve the right to end if there are missed sessions or a disagreement about payment.
Fees – My fee is $170.00 per hour for individual therapy, $195.00 for dyadic therapy (parent and child) and $200.00 for family therapy. I offer a Super bill so that you can give it to your insurance provider or employer to get some portion of your expenses reimbursed. I accept cash or check. Payment is due at the time of service or you may pay monthly in advance.
Children’s Appointments – At the first session I ask that a parent come into the room with their child. I introduce myself to your child, explain what I do, explore why they are here as well as show them the room and all of it’s contents. Often the child is excited to explore and with your presence feels safe to do so. I am open to answering any questions your child might have and with you there will answer them. As a witness to this exchange, you will be able to continue to answer your child’s questions and/or dialog about this first experience later. At the end of this session I will wonder with the child if he/she would like to come back and if possible be in the room alone with me while you the parent waits in the waiting room across the hall. Your child is positively supported if she /he would prefer to have you come again for all or part of the next session. She/he can also periodically check in on you too, as you wait in the waiting room.
Parent’s Appointments – Continued contact with you is crucial to the therapy process. We will agree on how often this makes sense. Once a month or every 6 weeks is optimal. I prefer we meet in person for this collateral contact and will bill for it as a normal session. These sessions explore family dynamics, history and current events impacting your child. I work within a Family Systems approach as well as a Solution focused approach. These meetings not only inform me about issues and the progress of therapy but are a time and place for you to get the support you need, ideas, strategies and additional resources.
Adult Psychotherapy and Art Therapy - available In person, via Zoom or phone.
Telephone - contact is good too, especially if something happens that is important for me to know and will inform the direction of a therapy session. These are deemed as a “as need” basis and will not be more then once a week for 10 minutes, unless we agree on another arrangement or there is a crisis.
Dyadic Therapy (parent and child together) – Dyadic sessions are aimed to work on the relationship between the parent and child. It is similar to the child therapy session but I as the therapist will step back and allow you and your child to be engaged in art and play. I may make suggestions or give you cues in the therapy session to expose you and your child to different ways of relating. Integral to this approach are separate collateral sessions with you alone, to explore and process what has happened during the therapy session as well as outside the session. During this collateral session I will coach you in ideas and strategies to implement during the session and outside to support change and create a more meaningful relationship.
Other meetings – Often, connecting with teachers via phone, email, or via an IEP or SST can be very helpful. As a member of the child’s mental health team I am open to engaging in these meetings as an advocate in support of your child. Letter writing and reports. I do charge for this time.
Commitment to time – The commitment to therapy working takes time and consistency. For your child to get the most out of therapy regular weekly sessions is best. Vacations and illness are a part of life and such, we can do our best to plan ahead. I ask that if you need to miss a session that you give me a minimum of 48 hours notice. Less than this, I will need to bill you for this time. Frequently missed sessions will be considered a reason to pause or terminate our contract.
In our Parent Collateral session, together we will make and agree on a Treatment Plan with a time frame for expected amount of sessions. I ask as part of your commitment to your child and the therapy process, to complete the number of sessions outlined or if therapy needs to end sooner you permit a 3 session closing frame. The ongoing power of therapy work being sustained and integrated after therapy ends, hinges not only on good beginnings and middle stages but on good endings. As this is a best case scenario sometimes endings are sooner and I reserve the right to end if there are missed sessions or a disagreement about payment.
Fees – My fee is $170.00 per hour for individual therapy, $195.00 for dyadic therapy (parent and child) and $200.00 for family therapy. I offer a Super bill so that you can give it to your insurance provider or employer to get some portion of your expenses reimbursed. I accept cash or check. Payment is due at the time of service or you may pay monthly in advance.
For more information contact April Netzer at 510-334-8428 or by email here.
Centrally Located in El Cerrito, California