I am trained as a cognitive behavioral therapist (CBT) with a lot of experience in behavioral therapy, both of which are evidence-based practices. Meaning, there is a lot of research literature supporting the effectiveness of the treatment practices. I do not strictly adhere to any manuals or training protocols, but rather tailor therapy and draw from other theoretical orientations as needed to provide the best treatment for my patients and their families.
There’s no simple answer to this question. Although everyone can benefit from therapy, whether someone “needs” or “requires” therapy depends on how much the problem interferes with their life and how distressed or bothered they are by the problem. If you have tried resolving this difficulty independently, but it continues to significantly concern you, it may be time to seek additional help.
Yes, I am available for in-person appointments as I recognize that some people prefer the personal connection that can be attained when sitting in the same room. We can meet either in-person or through teletherapy, depending on which you prefer and my availability.
For in-person appointments, which take place without a mask, I require that the individual be fully vaccinated. My office is located at 4000 MacArthur Blvd., Suite 625 at the cross section of Jamboree Road and MacArthur Blvd. I'm currently in the office on Mondays and Thursdays for in-person appointments.
If you prefer teletherapy, that's no problem. Teletherapy sessions are available regardless of the day and whether I'm in my Newport office or home office.
I am frequently asked this question and truly wish I had a straightforward answer. Unfortunately, this isn't a simple question. Some people come to therapy after years suffering from a chronic, debilitating mental health condition, whereas others seek therapy to cope with a particular stressor or transition they are currently experiencing. There are a number of factors that contribute to the length of the therapeutic relationship, such as your goals, the intensity of the problem, the chronicity of the challenge, and your motivation and efforts, to name a few. If you are limited in the number of sessions you can afford, whether in your time or finances, please let me know. I very much understand life's limitations and will continually check in with you to make sure you feel that therapy is addressing the goals we have established.
Each therapy session is slightly different. However, common themes among all sessions include talking about the events, feelings, and thoughts that took place since your last therapy session and how they relate to the greater problem that prompted you to seek therapy initially. We often also address any upcoming or anticipated challenges and how you can respond to them. I want therapy to be a comfortable place where you can talk openly and vulnerably. As a CBT therapist, sessions often end with a homework assignment to work on skills learned during the therapy session. For more information, check out this helpful article.
It is important to keep in mind that a therapy session is different than a massage appointment. That is, you are almost guaranteed to feel better and more relaxed following a session with a masseuse. Psychotherapy, however, is like personal training in which change is realized over weeks of work and some sessions are more difficult than others.
Online therapy has been called telepsychology, telehealth, telemedicine, online therapy, etc. All of these terms refer to the same process – providing mental health services using technology and an online format. For our purposes, it means that all of your appointments will be held through a secure, HIPAA-compliant videoconferencing platform, similar to Zoom or FaceTime.
I decided to include a teletherapy component in my practice, along with in-person meetings, because I found that patients appreciated the ease of meeting from work, home, or campus. Furthermore, patients were able to attend therapy sessions more consistently because the typical barriers to an in-office visit didn't exist (e.g., childcare, traffic, business trips or vacations, illness, carpool).
The short answer is “yes, online therapy is effective.” Research has consistently shown that online treatment can be very effective for many mental health issues (Study 1, Study 2, Study 3). It can be especially helpful for treatment of disorders where practice at home is crucial (e.g., OCD). Teletherapy allows the therapist to be present in a way that isn’t feasible with an in-office appointment. However, some people, understandably, prefer the traditional in-person experience. Also, some mental health difficulties are not suitable for online treatment. Therefore, if there are complex diagnosis, crisis concerns, or active suicidal/homicidal thoughts, online therapy is not advisable.
No, all you need is an electronic device with a camera, microphone, and a speaker (e.g., smart phone, tablet, laptop, desktop with camera). It’s also important to have a strong internet connection and privacy, so that you can feel free to speak openly and comfortably.
Yes, I’m happy to do so, whether you need superbills for several months at a time or prefer to receive them automatically on a monthly basis.
Teletherapy sessions are charged at the same rate as face-to-face sessions.
I am not “in-network” for any insurance company, which means that you are responsible for full payment of services at or before the time of service, and I will not bill your insurance company directly. However, I’m happy to provide a “superbill” for you to submit to your insurance company so that you can receive “out-of-network” benefits. This form is a receipt of services completed by me and submitted by you to your insurance company. I recommend to all families that you contact your insurance company to ask about mental health benefits and out-of-network reimbursement rates prior to your first appointment.
Please contact me via phone or email and we’ll have a brief conversation during which I can help determine if we would be a good fit for one another. If so, I’ll send you a "welcome email" with a link to visit my online portal through Simple Practice so that you can conveniently complete the necessary intake paperwork prior to your first appointment. Lastly, we'll schedule your first appointment, which is a 45-minute intake session.
Although the paperwork may feel impersonal, the intake is (hopefully!) a pleasant conversation. During this initial meeting, I’ll ask a lot about the problem that motivated you to seek therapy, as well as additional background information. Following the intake appointment, we’ll schedule regular meetings, generally 1x/week, depending on patient’s need and the treatment plan we discuss.
Please feel free to reach out if you want to ensure that I am a good fit for you or your family.
Totally get it. Please feel free to contact me with any and all questions at (949) 407-9731 or Sivan@DrSivanKochinski.com. I'm happy to help however I can.