Frequently Asked Questions


  • What are your office hours?
  • Where is your office located?
  • Where should I park when I come for my appointment?
  • How much do you charge?
  • Can I use insurance to pay for my appointments?
  • What should I expect from therapy?
  • How long should I expect to be in therapy?
  • What is your approach to therapy?
  • I suspect that my child may be developing an eating disorder, but she insists that nothing is wrong.  What should I do?
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    Q.
    		 What are your office hours?
     
    A.
    		 My office hours are by appointment only.  I offer convenient weekday, after-school, and evening appointments. Please call me at 305-668-5755 to schedule an appointment.
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    Q.
    		 Where is your office located?
     
    A.
    		 I am located on the 4th floor of the Kendar Building at 1550 Madruga Avenue, Suite 414, in Coral Gables, FL.  My office is within walking distance of the University of Miami and Sunset Place.  Click here for directions to my office.
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    Q.
    		 Where should I park when I come for my appointment?
     
    A.
    		 There is metered parking on the street in front of the building.  Be sure to bring change for the parking meters.
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    Q.
    		 How much do you charge?
     
    A.
    		 My standard fee is $110 per hour.  For adult clients, the initial session, which involves a thorough evaluation, lasts for 1 ½ hours and costs $165.  For adolescent clients, the initial session lasts for 2 hours and costs $220.  Subsequent appointments are generally 50 minutes and cost $110.  I offer reduced rates for college and graduate students and others based on financial need.  If you believe you may qualify for a reduced rate, please indicate this in your initial phone call.
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    Q.
    		 Can I use insurance to pay for my appointments?
     
    A.
    		 No.  I do not take insurance.
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    Q.
    		 What should I expect from therapy?
     
    A.
    		 Your first appointment, which involves a thorough evaluation of your needs, will be 1 ½ hours long.  For adolescent clients, the initial appointment involves interviews with the family as well as the client and lasts for 2 hours.  At the end of this initial session, I will provide you with my general impressions and we will discuss a treatment plan that best suits your needs.  If we decide that I am not the best therapist for you, I will provide you with referrals to other professionals who may be a better fit for you.  After the initial appointment, therapy sessions typically occur weekly and last for 50 minutes each.  However, sessions may be scheduled 2 or 3 times per week for clients who need more intensive treatment.
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    Q.
    		 How long should I expect to be in therapy?
     
    A.
    		 The length of your treatment will depend on the nature and severity of your problems, your progress in treatment, and your personal preferences.  Relatively simple problems, such as insomnia, panic attacks, social anxiety, and minor depression, can often be successfully treated in 8 – 12 sessions with a focused treatment approach such as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT).  More complex and serious problems, such as eating disorders and severe depression, generally require 6-12 months of therapy.  Some individuals may wish to continue with therapy after their initial presenting problems have been successfully treated for reasons of personal growth, stress management, and overall wellbeing. 
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    Q.
    		 What is your approach to therapy?
     
    A.
    		 My approach to psychotherapy is individualized, collaborative, and evidence-based.  The specific treatment approach we decide to use will be based on a variety of factors, including your age, personality, preferences, and family situation as well as the nature and severity of your difficulties. My treatment techniques are derived from Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and, for adolescent eating disorders, The Maudsley Method of Family-Based Treatment.  These treatment methods are empirically-supported, which means that scientific research has demonstrated that these methods are particularly effective for treating certain problems.  Success in psychotherapy requires an active commitment on your part.  At the start of our work together, we will have a dialogue about which type of treatment best suits your needs.  I will provide you with information and reading materials about your particular problem and the treatment approach we are using so that you will be fully informed. In order for therapy to be most successful, you will be required to work on assignments between sessions.  For example, I may recommend relaxation exercises, journaling, or other coping strategies for you to practice at home. 
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    Q.
    		 I suspect that my child may be developing an eating disorder, but she insists that nothing is wrong.  What should I do?
     
    A.
    		 Trust your parental instincts.  If you suspect that your child has a problem, you are probably correct.  Individuals with eating disorders are usually unable to recognize their symptoms and they typically deny that there is anything wrong.  However, this denial is a symptom of the illness, NOT an indication that there is no problem.  Your child did not “choose” to get an eating disorder any more than you would “choose” to get an ulcer or a migraine headache.  She cannot “choose” to get well on her own, and you probably cannot “talk her out of it.”  It is important that you intervene as soon as you suspect a problem.  Eating disorders have serious consequences for your child’s physical, mental, and emotional health, and they have the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric problem.  Early intervention dramatically improves your child’s prognosis.  As a parent, you can be your child’s greatest resource in recovery.  It is your responsibility to ensure that she gets proper treatment right away, whether or not she goes willingly.  I offer both family-based and individual therapies for adolescents with eating disorders.  See the Treatment section of my website for internet resources and books I recommend for parents of eating-disordered children.



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