Many people are apprehensive about visiting a psychologist or counselor for the first time. You may believe that your concerns are too small to justify the time. On the other hand, you may feel that problems have existed for so long that there is no hope for improvement.

Please do not hesitate to call. I will be more than happy to answer your questions so that you can decide if psychotherapy may be of help to you. Some of the most common questions and answers are listed below:

Psychotherapy is a tool used to help you determine what is preventing you from achieving your goals in life. We then work together as a team to remove these roadblocks. Several different types of therapy are available at present, all of which involve active collaboration with the therapist.

• If Individual Psychotherapy is recommended, I will meet with you once or twice per week for fifty minute sessions. We will work to understand your current experiences in the context of your life as a whole, continuing until you are certain that your life is back on track.

• Marital or Family Therapy will be recommended if there are problems in the network of relationships within your family. By meeting together, we can explore problems in communication as they occur. Recurrent behavioral patterns can be changed, and relationships may be enhanced.

We will devote the first few sessions to an overview of any difficulties you may be experiencing. This private consultation will take place in a comfortable "sitting room" setting in my office in Plano. Working together, we will establish goals for treatment and a tentative plan of action to achieve those goals.

Individual, family, or marital psychotherapy is billed at $130.00 per 50 minute session. The first session is slightly higher. If you are a member of a PPO (Preferred Provider Organization), your fees may be less, and your copayment will be substantially less. If you intend to use insurance coverage, please contact your insurance company to see if you must precertify the first visit. Usually, the phone number to call is on the back of your insurance card. If you want help with insurance issues, call my office manager Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at (972) 818-3993.