I have been wanting to start a blog to help people understand what therapy is about and to help clarify what counseling is all about. There's so much confusion and miscommunication around counseling.
First, I'm a Marriage and Family Therapist. What does this mean to you? It means that I have a license with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences that demonstrates the completion of a Master's degree in Counseling, a 3,000-hour internship and 2 state board exams. My license allows me to work with individuals, families, children and couples. I must continue updating my education through workshops and classes to ensure that I am striving towards being the best therapist I can be. I cannot prescribe medications. This is limited to those with an M.D., like a psychiatrist or a general practitioner.
I cannot work with all problems. You wouldn't want to take your Volvo to a Toyota mechanic, right? When you call me to make an appointment, I want to know that I can provide the quality of care you deserve. For this reason, I will ask you about the problems that are causing you to call me. You deserve to have a therapist who is a good "fit." My questions aren't meant to be intrusive, but they are to help me determine if I'm the right therapist for you. If we decide that we won't be able to work together, I have many alternate, qualified therapists that I refer to and will provide you with the appropriate referrals so you can get the help you're seeking.
I will continue with this blog and help demystify counseling for you to make the process feel more comfortable. If you have specific questions or would like me to address specific issues regarding the counseling field, please leave comments for me and I'll be happy to answer them!
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