Availability
I am currently only open to seeing new people interested in using Somatic Archaeology or Family Based Treatment. I am in training for both of these therapies and I am looking forward to offering sessions while there's consultation in training programs specifically related to these therapies (your identifying information will never be shared in consultation). Please see below to learn more and contact me with questions and to express interest.
Somatic Archaeology:
Somatic Archaeology is an integrative body based approach that cultivates personal and cultural memory facilitating healing from complex trauma and intergenerational harms. The model was developed by Dr. Ruby Gibson https://youtu.be/DFfObqSZBQA. Dr. Gibson describes Somatic Archaeology in her book, My body, my earth: The practice of somatic archaeology.
Somatic Archaeology is currently being researched and evaluated as a best practice. This modality is especially a good fit for those that identify as indigenous or have experience with marginalization, open to integration of mindfulness, spirit and/or nature in therapy session. Also those that connect current experience of dis-ease to historic harms that were not addressed and ready to dig deep for relief that can be found within themselves.
Family Based Treatment:
This therapy is also called the Maudsley approach and is a good fit for adolescents that meet the criteria for anorexia nervosa (low body weight) and will have some support from family to actively participate in therapy. More information about this therapy can be found here: http://maudsleyparents.org/whatismaudsley.html
If family based treatment or somatic archaeology will not be of support to you, you're welcome to email me with what you're looking for in a therapist so I can share will share with my professional communities. Each Monday, I will forward request for therapist to community without sharing your identifying information and forward you responses. You may consider sharing:
- time of day and days of the week you're best available (usually sessions are once/week at regular time)
- telehealth or in person only
- if in person, what locations are accessible to you (cities and / or near public transportation)
- training of the therapist (specialties)
- types of therapy or modalities (if known)
- identity of the therapist
- insurance accepted and or fee range that's sustainable for weekly sessions
If you have insurance, you may have been given a list of providers with openings and/or were referred to a website to search. While these lists are updated frequently, often times they're not accurate because there's rapid change in availability especially for private practice providers with limited availability. If you have already found it difficult to find a provider with availability and is a good fit for what you're seeing therapy for, you may contact your insurance company and asking them to make initial calls (considering with what's important to you).
If you feel you're not being connected within a reasonable time period to a provider that can support you, you may advocate for a "single case agreement." While the representative you speak to initially may not be able to support you with this, escalate your request to someone that can support with this process of approving this. A single case agreement will allow you to work with a provider that is not contracted with you insurance company because you have a need for mental health services that aren't being met.
It could be difficult to share challenges any why you're seeking therapy with someone outside of your network multiple times with people that aren't going to work with you for any length of time, your insurance company will need to understand there's a problem in your life that impacts your daily functioning. Consider challenges you may have with caring for your hygiene, work, school, relationships etc to share with insurance company so they can see the need for creating a single case agreement and sense of urgency especially if there's any safety issues. Everyone feels sad sometimes but consider sharing how your mood is impacting your ability to function in different areas of life. It may also support to share beyond no time availability why you need to work with someone outside of their network. For example consider if there's a type of therapy that would be helpful or shared identity of provider and yourself that would support your wellbeing to work together.
After your single case agreement is approved, you will need to need to identify a specific provider and ask them if they'd be willing to work under a single case agreement. There are many free provider directories such as the National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network (https://nqttcn.com/en/mental-health-directory/) and the Bay Area Therapists of Color Directory (http://www.therapistsofcolor.org/). Some providers have never heard of a single case agreement and do not typically work with insurance companies or want to for a number of reasons (that's another story but if someone declines your request that seems like a good fit, it's likely an issue with this system not you personally). It may be helpful to share with providers your direct contact with insurance representative that approved your single case agreement and inform the provider that they can negotiate their rate directly with insurance company and there may be less paperwork required than contracted providers. They will need to call and create contract with insurance company and you will be like a coordinator for your own care following-up and advocating.
I hope this information will be helpful in your journey navigating this system to find a therapist. This can be alot for someone not experiencing mental health challenges and it's understandable if this feels like too much. I encourage you to ask someone in your support network for help if that's available to you.
If not 211 may be a good resource. It's the health and human service referral line that has a live operator. Connections are likely to be to agencies that staff unlicensed staff but there is usually greater flexibility for sliding scale and opportunity to use insurance with organizations.
This is not easy but you are worth the time and care from a provider that will support you best.
Somatic Archaeology:
Somatic Archaeology is an integrative body based approach that cultivates personal and cultural memory facilitating healing from complex trauma and intergenerational harms. The model was developed by Dr. Ruby Gibson https://youtu.be/DFfObqSZBQA. Dr. Gibson describes Somatic Archaeology in her book, My body, my earth: The practice of somatic archaeology.
Somatic Archaeology is currently being researched and evaluated as a best practice. This modality is especially a good fit for those that identify as indigenous or have experience with marginalization, open to integration of mindfulness, spirit and/or nature in therapy session. Also those that connect current experience of dis-ease to historic harms that were not addressed and ready to dig deep for relief that can be found within themselves.
Family Based Treatment:
This therapy is also called the Maudsley approach and is a good fit for adolescents that meet the criteria for anorexia nervosa (low body weight) and will have some support from family to actively participate in therapy. More information about this therapy can be found here: http://maudsleyparents.org/whatismaudsley.html
If family based treatment or somatic archaeology will not be of support to you, you're welcome to email me with what you're looking for in a therapist so I can share will share with my professional communities. Each Monday, I will forward request for therapist to community without sharing your identifying information and forward you responses. You may consider sharing:
- time of day and days of the week you're best available (usually sessions are once/week at regular time)
- telehealth or in person only
- if in person, what locations are accessible to you (cities and / or near public transportation)
- training of the therapist (specialties)
- types of therapy or modalities (if known)
- identity of the therapist
- insurance accepted and or fee range that's sustainable for weekly sessions
If you have insurance, you may have been given a list of providers with openings and/or were referred to a website to search. While these lists are updated frequently, often times they're not accurate because there's rapid change in availability especially for private practice providers with limited availability. If you have already found it difficult to find a provider with availability and is a good fit for what you're seeing therapy for, you may contact your insurance company and asking them to make initial calls (considering with what's important to you).
If you feel you're not being connected within a reasonable time period to a provider that can support you, you may advocate for a "single case agreement." While the representative you speak to initially may not be able to support you with this, escalate your request to someone that can support with this process of approving this. A single case agreement will allow you to work with a provider that is not contracted with you insurance company because you have a need for mental health services that aren't being met.
It could be difficult to share challenges any why you're seeking therapy with someone outside of your network multiple times with people that aren't going to work with you for any length of time, your insurance company will need to understand there's a problem in your life that impacts your daily functioning. Consider challenges you may have with caring for your hygiene, work, school, relationships etc to share with insurance company so they can see the need for creating a single case agreement and sense of urgency especially if there's any safety issues. Everyone feels sad sometimes but consider sharing how your mood is impacting your ability to function in different areas of life. It may also support to share beyond no time availability why you need to work with someone outside of their network. For example consider if there's a type of therapy that would be helpful or shared identity of provider and yourself that would support your wellbeing to work together.
After your single case agreement is approved, you will need to need to identify a specific provider and ask them if they'd be willing to work under a single case agreement. There are many free provider directories such as the National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network (https://nqttcn.com/en/mental-health-directory/) and the Bay Area Therapists of Color Directory (http://www.therapistsofcolor.org/). Some providers have never heard of a single case agreement and do not typically work with insurance companies or want to for a number of reasons (that's another story but if someone declines your request that seems like a good fit, it's likely an issue with this system not you personally). It may be helpful to share with providers your direct contact with insurance representative that approved your single case agreement and inform the provider that they can negotiate their rate directly with insurance company and there may be less paperwork required than contracted providers. They will need to call and create contract with insurance company and you will be like a coordinator for your own care following-up and advocating.
I hope this information will be helpful in your journey navigating this system to find a therapist. This can be alot for someone not experiencing mental health challenges and it's understandable if this feels like too much. I encourage you to ask someone in your support network for help if that's available to you.
If not 211 may be a good resource. It's the health and human service referral line that has a live operator. Connections are likely to be to agencies that staff unlicensed staff but there is usually greater flexibility for sliding scale and opportunity to use insurance with organizations.
This is not easy but you are worth the time and care from a provider that will support you best.