If you are dissatisfied with your decisions or your functioning in all the important areas of your life — social, work, academic, etc. — you may really benefit from starting therapy, but many people can still learn new things and improve their life by taking time to learn more about themselves, even without NEEDING therapy.
My typical fees are $125 for the initial session, and $115 for subsequent sessions. However, if I am in network with your insurance company, then you will only be charged the contracted rate, which is typically less than my regular fees. You can check your provider directory to see if I’m in network, and I can help you check benefits once we schedule your initial intake session.
Psychiatrists are medical doctors who can prescribe medicine and typically do not provide individual therapy sessions. Counselors have Masters’ degrees in Counseling. The other types of therapists who also have Masters’ degrees are Clinical Social Workers and Marriage and Family Therapists. Psychologists have Ph.Ds, usually in clinical psychology, and they provide therapy also.
How long therapy takes depends on a lot of factors, including what your goals are and how many environmental stressors are going on in your life. In general, most people come for 6-12 sessions, however. Some people do stay longer, because they need additional support, due to possible lack of community, chronic stressors, or ongoing symptoms and distress.
Although marriage counseling works better if both partners come to therapy, there are still improvements you can make on your own. I have a lot of ideas for ways you can behave differently to improve your marriage, and ways you can think differently to improve your marriage.
I will send you paperwork for you to fill out before you come in to that initial appointment. And I will also send you a link to join the client portal where you can upload your insurance card and other demographic information. You can also bring your insurance card with you to the first session, if you want. I will be asking you for your therapy goals at that first meeting, so give some thought to what you want my help with.
I am part of several health insurance networks, and will be happy to file claims with your carrier, even if I am out of network. Currently, I am part of Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, PHCS, and United Healthcare.
My name is Ilia, spelled i l i a. However, it is pronounced like eeleea. It is Spanish, as I was born in Puerto Rico. It is frequently given to Russian men, including the former Atlanta Thrashers team hockey player, Ilya Kuvalchuk. I don’t mind if you mispronounce it a few times. And you can always call me Ms. Jones!
I recommend John Gottman’s marriage books, and Gary Chapman’s The Love Languages book, for marriage counseling. My favorite parenting books are “Parenting Teens with Love and Logic” and “How to Really Love your Teenager.” I do love lots of other books though, so feel free to ask me for more recommendations, outside therapy books!
