My Training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
What is Evidence-based Treatment?
Other Psychological Treatment Resources
Private Psychology Practice Homepage
As a licensed psychologist in Marin County, California, I provide an evidence-based treatment called cognitive behavioral therapy for depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and anxiety disorders. I have a special research and clinical interest in bipolar disorder.
How can I help?
Experiencing psychological problems including stress, anxiety and depression can be frightening and feel overwhelming for individuals and families. It is hard to know where to turn and who to trust for information and advice.
Is my problem serious enough to seek professional help?
Sometimes it is hard to know whether a problem is "serious" enough to seek professional help or whether self-help approaches might work. In general, if your problems are significantly interfering with your ability to function at school, at work and at home, or if you are experiencing serious symptoms such as suicidal ideation, severe depression, panic or anxiety attacks, drug or alcohol abuse, strange, unusual or disturbing thoughts, it is important seek professional help. While some problems get better over time or can be resolved by changes in your life or environment, other problems are unlikely to get significantly better without professional help. In any case, it is important just to get more information in order to fully understand possible treatment options and to get professional help in evaluating the problem.
How much therapy will I need?
Some problems can be significantly improved with short-term help. Other problems will require a longer term commitment to therapy. It is difficult to predict the course of therapy without an in-person assessment. In your initial assessment I will spend approximately 75 minutes with you exploring the problems you are facing and developing a treatment plan for you.
How do we get started?
I offer a comprehensive assessment to help you decide what treatment would be most helpful and to outline both the potential benefits and risks of considering psychological therapy. I may not always be the best resource for you in which case I will make a referral to the best treatment option. In some cases, clients will need both psychological help (which I provide) and psychiatric medications (which need to be prescribed by a psychiatrist by referral).
What can I expect?
You will be asked to provide some initial information over the telephone to help me evaluate your best treatment options. You will then be scheduled for an initial 75 minute assessment session.
Please arrive at my office about 30 minutes before your first appointment. You will be asked to complete some initial information including a questionnaire. You will be asked to review and sign a form describing important office policies such as handling of emergencies, protection and use of confidential information and limits to confidentiality as well as a "Notice of Privacy Practices" which tells you about how your information can be used.
In the initial session I will spend time getting to know you, try to answer any questions you have and will review basic assessment and psychotherapy procedures and expectations. A part of this initial discussion will be about client confidentiality and the legal limits to protected confidential information.
After two to three initial meetings I will summarize the problems we have been discussing and will discuss possible treatment options for you. I am interested in developing a collaborative helpful relationship with you in which we try to decide together what kind of treatment would be best for you. However, not every problem will be best suited for continuing therapy with me. I will make decisions based on what I believe will be best for you and make any referrals that are needed.
What is "Evidence Based" psychological treatment?
I am dedicated to providing "evidence-based" psychological treatment. What does this mean? This means that I use the most effective approaches to treatment based upon the best scientific evidence available. As an academic, clinical and research psychologist associated with the Pacific Graduate School of Psychology, I keep up to date on the newest and most effective treatments available.
What is the cost for psychological services?
I provide an extended 75 minute initial assessment at a cost of $225 and ongoing psychotherapy sessions (45-50 minutes) at a cost of $150 per visit.
© Robert Reiser, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved, 2006