Where is Grateful Heart located?
Our therapists are located in satellite offices throughout the Bay Area, primarily in San Francisco, Marin, San Jose, Alameda, Berkeley, Oakland, Albany, Concord and Walnut Creek. Although we refer to Grateful Heart as a “Center” we do not have a centralized brick and mortar office. We’re located in more than 60 separate conveniently located satellite offices. During the pandemic, we are shifting the majority of our services to a teletherapy format.
Why do individuals, couples and families typically seek therapy?
There are many reasons persons seek the support of psychotherapy, ranging from anxiety or depression, to difficulties in creating and sustaining stable and nurturing bonds with others, to fears of expressing themselves authentically or trusting others. Some seek the assistance of psychotherapy to understand anger or conflicts with family members, spouses or other persons with who they are engaged romantically, collegially or as friends or lingering influences from their early lives that affected them adversely. Others seek the help of psychotherapy to develop new ways of responding to circumstances that have been habitually problematic, to develop more capacity for intimacy or to experience more joy and contentment in their lives. Sometimes a particular experience, such as a separation, divorce or a turbulent disagreement, or a milestone, such as marrying or becoming a parent, may also precipitate a decision to seek counseling; at other times a long-standing and vague sense of feeling lost, confused and disengaged from others. The reasons as are vast and as varied as people themselves, but most persons share a desire for a more gratifying experience of their lives.
In what ways in psychotherapy typically found to be helpful?
According to a study conducted through the auspices of Consumer Reports, psychotherapy has been proven to be as effective as medication in helping to relieve the symptoms of depression and anxiety. It has also been shown to be useful in assisting persons to (1) Develop more psychological awareness and insight, (2) Learn to communicate more effectively, (3) Learn to resolve both internal and interpersonal conflicts, (4) Manage, reduce or relieve symptoms of emotional distress, (5) Develop more social, relational or vocational functioning, (6) Pursue personal growth and development and (7) Reconstruct their lives in the aftermath of trauma and abuse.
What if I need or want to consider medication as an adjunct to psychotherapy?
Medication can often be helpful in supporting a person to feel a greater sense of well-being. If you are suffering from persistent or debilitating depression, anxiety or other troubling symptoms, and are interested in exploring whether medication might be helpful. If you are interested in exploring this option, your therapist will either refer you to a psychiatrist for a consultation, or help you in obtaining a referral through other means. If you wish to consider other methods of symptom management, such as the use of alternative remedies available through non-allopathic sources, such as homeopathy, they may also have recommendations of referrals.
How long is a typical psychotherapy session and how often will I meet with my therapist?
Most sessions are weekly and 50 minutes in length, however your therapist may suggest meeting longer or more frequently depending on your needs and goals. Sessions with couples are often scheduled for 60 to 75 minutes by some therapists. Please discuss your therapist’s approach to session frequency and length during your first session.
How long can I expect to be in therapy?
The length of therapy is dependent on many factors, including your goals, how frequently and consistently you attend sessions, your level of motivation for change, and the type of concerns or issues you are addressing in therapy. In general, recent situational stresses or problems can be addressed in fewer sessions than longer-standing issues, or situations involving trauma or abuse. Of course, therapy is a collaborative process, and we encourage you to share your preferences with your therapist. Even longer-term goals can be pursued in “chapters” if you prefer.
I want to get the most out of therapy. What can I do to help?
Your active participation and dedication is crucial to your success. To derive the most from psychotherapy, attend your sessions regularly. If you are struggling with excess alcohol or drug consumption, it is generally recommended that you abstain from substance use at least 24 hours before your sessions.
Do you provide tele-therapy?
Since the Coronavirus outbreak, most if not all of our therapists have shifted to seeing clients remotely, using the phone or video-confeencing. Teletherapy can only be offered to residents of California.