Frequently Asked Questions


Marianne Mejia - Psychotherapy, Anxiety, EMDR, Trauma, Life Transitions, Writer's Block, Computer Phobia, Fears & Phobias - Soquel, Santa Cruz, Aptos, Capitola, Felton, Scotts Valley, Watsonville, Rio del Mar, & Santa Cruz county, CA What is the difference between Psychotherapy and Counseling?
Counseling tends to be short-term and focuses on a particular problem. Psychotherapy is longer-term and tends to be both more open-ended and life-altering. Therapy refers to both counseling and psychotherapy.

WILL MY INSURANCE PAY FOR SESSIONS?
PPO and POS plans will sometimes reimburse for my services; others (HMOs) require you to choose someone on their contracted provider list. This is your responsibility. You may want to check with your carrier to see if your plan will cover individual psychotherapy with "Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists" on an “out of network” basis.
I request payment at each session, but I am happy to prepare a monthly statement (which will require me to provide a diagnosis code) for you to submit to your insurance company. I no longer accept managed care because basic decisions about your care, such as the number of sessions, are decided by health plan employees, and providers may be required to discuss your confidential information with insurance workers for "authorization" to see you. By not contracting with health plans, I can preserve your confidentiality as fully as the law allows. Billing is straightforward and included as part of the therapy relationship. Treatment decisions are made by you and me alone.

HOW LONG ARE THE SESSIONS?
Sessions are generally 50 minutes long, but I may suggest 75- or 100-minute sessions if we decide it would be helpful. Typically we will meet two or three times a week, although you may choose to come more or less often. After several months we will reevaluate and decide whether to take a break to assimilate the work or to continue. I find that my clients make more progress coming to see me intensively in a short period than weekly for years!

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE?
It is not possible to answer this question accurately, since the length of treatment depends on your individual needs. Once I learn more about the issues you want to work on, I can provide you with a better idea of how long we might be working together.

WHAT CAN I EXPECT DURING THE INITIAL APPOINTMENT?
The first session is an opportunity for information gathering on both sides. I will have questions about your current situation, your family history, and your physical and emotional health. You will have the time to begin talking about why you decided to seek therapy, and we will begin to formulate some goals. This is also an opportunity for us to get a sense of what it's like for us to work together. If, at the end of the first session, we decide for any reason that your needs would be better served by someone else, I will do my best to provide more appropriate referrals.

HOW DO I PAY?
You may pay with cash or check, or credit card (You may receive a $5.00 discount for payment with check or cash), or
before your appointment you can pay with Paypal .

Unsolicited client comments:

"Little do you know all the ways you are making change in the world for the people you have touched.”
 
"And oh yes, you have helped me tremendously. Not even one day goes by that I don't have your words in my heart. Shamanism and journeying became the thread that kept me tied to myself as I ventured out into the world in a new way. I journeyed just this afternoon actually.”
 
"... My words aren't always well written and they only touch on how I feel - but they are very much indicative of how much you have meant to me in my growing - and continue to be so.” M. M.
 

" And I thought of how of much of you exists in my words. ... Your energy is very much in my continued healing - and in these words, I felt you with me.” Maggie

"I wish to thank you for all of the gifts you have bestowed upon me.
Our therapy sessions together were of times of great growth,
A continual process that has been with me every day since.
I feel like we've forged a connection that will last forever,
Helping me both in times of darkness and times of light."  Miles

"Dear Marianne,
I deeply appreciate your support in walking with me this big transition time in my life.
Your kind presence, open mind and heart helped me in this path.
The diversity of your tool kit to support me was very helpful." Lorenia PA

Marianne Mejia - Psychotherapy, Anxiety, EMDR, Trauma, Life Transitions, Writer's Block, Computer Phobia, Fears & Phobias - Soquel, Santa Cruz, Aptos, Capitola, Felton, Scotts Valley, Watsonville, Rio del Mar, & Santa Cruz county, CA Marianne Mejia - Psychotherapy, Anxiety, EMDR, Trauma, Life Transitions, Writer's Block, Computer Phobia, Fears & Phobias - Soquel, Santa Cruz, Aptos, Capitola, Felton, Scotts Valley, Watsonville, Rio del Mar, & Santa Cruz county, CA Marianne Mejia - Psychotherapy, Anxiety, EMDR, Trauma, Life Transitions, Writer's Block, Computer Phobia, Fears & Phobias - Soquel, Santa Cruz, Aptos, Capitola, Felton, Scotts Valley, Watsonville, Rio del Mar, & Santa Cruz county, CA


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