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Questions
Q. Why do you offer workshops?
There is a certain amount of teaching necessary in ACT (e.g., concepts, skills, terminology). I originally developed the workshop series to provide a supportive, group environment for women to learn this material. At that time, I was an Instructor at Stanford and the groups were formatted to meet weekly (for 10-12 weeks).
Now that I'm in private practice, the workshops have taken on a different meaning and format. First, they are a superbly cost-efficient way for women to learn this information. Second, because they are not group therapy, the workshops afford a more relaxed venue where I can offer a lively mix of stories, experiential exercises, and group discussion among a wide range of participants (colleagues, friends, and clients). Finally, as a small business owner and mother, I now realize how difficult it is for many women to attend regular weekly meetings; I have therefore reformatted the workshop series so that each workshop is offered on one day and the material on that day stands alone. |
Q. How do I choose a therapist?
First, consider your needs and interests. What do you want to accomplish?
Second, evaluate each potential therapist's: - Level and type of education (degrees earned, postdoctoral training, professional license)
- Area of specialization (therapeutic orientation, client population)
- Depth and breadth of specialty training (years of supervised training)
- Treatment services (individual sessions, group sessions, workshops, retreats)
- Fees (Fees vary considerably by therapist, depending upon degrees, credentials, years of experience, and type of training)
Finally, pay attention to your level of comfort interacting with this person. Contact the therapist via telephone to get a sense of whether you'd work well together. Many therapists, including myself, offer a complimentary 10-15 minute telephone consultation. Generally, you should have a sense of fit within three sessions.
The American Psychological Association (APA) website provides information and advice regarding the process. |
Q. What is a clinical psychologist?
Psychologists are trained to evaluate, diagnose, and treat adjustment problems, psychological aspects of disease or injury, and nervous, emotional, and mental disorders. In order to be licensed by the Board of Psychology, they are required to: 1) obtain their bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees; 2) complete 3,000 hours of supervised clinical training in hospitals, clinics, and other health care facilities; and 3) pass two competitive written licensing exams at the national and state level. Psychologists are licensed to conduct psychological testing and to practice individual and group therapy. |
Q. What specialty clinical training do you have?
I earned my doctoral degree (Ph.D.) in Clinical Psychology at Northwestern University. I completed my postdoctoral clinical training at Stanford University. My postdoctoral training (4 years) was focused exclusively on using ACT with women in the form of individual psychotherapy, group therapy, outreach, and behavioral health counseling in the primary care setting (VA Palo Alto Psychology Internship; VA Boston Mini-residency; Stanford postdoctoral fellowship). |
Q. What is your therapeutic approach?
As a psychotherapist, my area of expertise is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). The goal is to get each client living the life she most values-often in the face of emotional obstacles. During internship and postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford University, my supervised clinical training was 100% focused on using ACT with women for the treatment of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other emotional health issues. |
Q. What is ACT?
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (spoken as the word "act") is a relatively new, mindfulness-based approach to behavioral change that is gaining popularity in the clinical and popular press. If you'd like to read about it more, then I recommend visiting the ACT website; You might start at the page entitled "ACT for the public" and work your way through the site from there. If you're interested in learning about my specialty training, you can visit my specific listing on the ACT website |
Q. What do I need to know prior to our first meeting?
If you are planning to submit claims to your insurance company for reimbursement, then please consider confirming your benefits before our first meeting. (Some companies, for example, require a pre-authorization.) I have created a document that lists important questions to ask your claims representative. If I have not yet sent it to you via email, then contact me requesting it.
Also, if you need to change or cancel your first appointment, please provide 24 hours notice by leaving a voicemail message at 650-323-2353. |
Q. What do I need to do prior to our first meeting?
Prior to our first meeting, please download, print, and read the following:
1) Therapy Agreement
Please sign the last page of the Agreement and bring it with you to our first session.
2) Notice of Privacy Practices (NPP) |
Q. Do you accept credit cards?
Yes. I accept VISA, MasterCard, and Discover. At the beginning of each session, please let me know that you'll be using this form of payment so that I can swipe your card and have you sign the receipt. |
Q. Do you accept insurance?
My practice operates on a fee-for-service basis. If your health insurance allows for an out-of-network psychologist, then I will provide you with a statement that contains all necessary information for you to seek reimbursement.
Sometimes health insurance can help offset the cost of therapy, but often there are trade-offs in choice, flexibility, limits to kind or duration of treatment, and confidentiality. I have chosen not to participate in the Managed Care system because I believe it compromises my ethical practice. To read more about the hazards of managed care organizations with regard to mental health provision, please visit Dr. Zur's Concerns Regarding Managed Care or The National Coalition of Mental Health Professionals and Consumers.
That said, if you are planning to receive insurance reimbursement, then please be sure that you are familiar with the details of your outpatient mental health coverage. Contact me and I will provide you with a document that lists important questions to ask your claims representative. |
Q. What type of consultation do you provide?
As a consultant, I typically work with colleagues who strive to become better at their craft. For seasoned therapists, the goal is often improving self-care and considering professional values in the service of preventing burnout. For doctoral students and interns, emphasis is often placed on exploring vocational calling and personal values. In both cases, individual consultation provides an opportunity to experience ACT firsthand. |
Q. What are your academic interests?
As a researcher, my work aims at increasing our understanding of depression among women. The goal is to enhance wellness, thereby preventing depression, during high-risk periods of women's lives. This effort earned me two prestigious national awards-the Young Investigator Award (NARSAD) and the National Research Service Award (NIMH)-during my postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford University.
My research findings have been published in peer-reviewed scientific journals, including Psychological Medicine, Biological Psychiatry, Psychiatric Research, Neuroreport, Brain Research, and Journal of Abnormal Psychology. Most recently, I co-authored an extensive review paper regarding gender differences in psychiatric outcomes (Psychological Medicine, 10/08). |
Q. What are your cancellation policies?
If you need to change or cancel your appointment, I ask that you provide 24 hours notice. Please leave your message by voice mail, 650-323-2353. |
Q. How do I get started?
Call me (650-323-2353) and leave a voicemail message, including your telephone number and the best time to reach you. I'll return your call as soon as possible so that we can discuss what's bringing you into therapy, determine whether ACT provides a good fits for your needs, and see whether you feel comfortable with me initially. We can also discuss any other questions you may have about therapy. |
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