Frequently Asked Questions
Therapy | Culver City, California
What is the difference between a therapist and a friend?
A trusted friend provides a comforting presence, lending a compassionate ear and unwavering support, just as you do for them. A good therapist dedicates their attention entirely to you, offering a safe space to delve into your innermost thoughts and perceptions with objectivity, empathy, and utmost confidentiality. A skilled therapist introduces new skills, invites a fresh perspective on deeply ingrained beliefs, and isn’t afraid to navigate through difficult topics and thoughts.
How long does it take before I will feel better?
Though this can depend on a variety of factors, it takes time to see changes, especially if the issues being addressed are deeply ingrained patterns. Most clients will remain in therapy for at least 4 - 6 months. Many will choose to remain in therapy for a much longer period of time. It’s a personal decision, and one that can be approached within the therapeutic relationship as we determine what your goals are and how you will know if they have been met. Also, because you may be dealing with feelings that are difficult, it sometimes can feel worse before it gets better.
The hardest step is making the call and committing to the process. If you’ve come this far, you are well on your way. Whatever issues you face, you don’t have to face them alone, and having therapeutic support can greatly contribute to your healing.
Will we meet in-person or on telehealth?
I am currently offering in-person therapy sessions in Downtown Culver City, California. You can choose the format that works best for you. Many people have found that therapy has become much more accessible during the pandemic with the shift to telehealth – no commute, no parking, and a greater ease of scheduling during smaller windows of time. However, I want clients to have the option to meet in-person, even if they choose to do so only every now and then. We can decide together what works best for you. I offer online virtual therapy sessions for clients located in the state of California.
What does therapy look like?
If you have ever seen a picture of a client stretched across the couch with the therapist out of view and smoking a cigar, just know, it won’t look like that. Though we might decide that EMDR or mindfulness and breathwork are good fits for you, and incorporate that into our work together, for the most part, it will look like two people sitting in a room together, talking. You may laugh. You may cry. But, hopefully you will feel heard, accepted, and supported.
What is EMDR?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is an extensively researched, effective psychotherapy method proven to help people recover from trauma and other distressing life experiences, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and panic disorders. EMDR therapy does not require talking in detail about the distressing issue or completing homework between sessions. Rather than focusing on changing the emotions, thoughts, or behaviors resulting from the distressing issue, EMDR allows the brain to resume its natural healing process. It can be utilized as a stand-alone treatment modality or in combination with more traditional talk therapy.
What do you mean by “mindfulness”?
Mindfulness is the practice of being fully aware in the here and now present moment. It seems simple, but as humans, we can spend much of our time feeling distracted, overwhelmed by a myriad of thoughts, ruminating on the past, or worried about the future.
When we practice mindfulness, we work on bringing our full focus into the present moment to find a sense of calm. Everyone has the ability to be mindful, but for most people, it takes practice to incorporate it into their daily lives with ease. Mindfulness can reduce stress and anxiety, help us gain insight and awareness, and assist us in getting to a place where we can tune in to our thoughts, feelings, and the sensations in our body to work toward connecting them all together.
Mindfulness is also a practice of self-compassion that can powerfully impact our overall well-being. Some techniques that are included in mindfulness work are meditation, breathwork, visualization, progressive muscle relaxation, body scans, and embracing awareness during your everyday activities.
Do you accept insurance?
I don’t accept insurance; however, I can provide a monthly superbill which you may be able to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement. You can find fees listed here.
How do I get started?
The quality of the relationship between client and therapist is the key to successful therapy, so if you would like to learn more, I offer free 20-minute consultations by phone or video conference. This gives us a chance to get to know each other a bit to help ensure that you find the best therapist to meet your needs. Please contact me at info@bewellwithgina.com or 323-362-6468.