Your Partipation
Does my type of therapy work? Does therapy in general work? Short answer: yes. Long answer: much of it depends on you. Nothing works unless you’re willing to work at it. There is more than conversation involved. You need to take the insights (and exercises when there are some) with you and work at them between sessions. There is no other way – no pills, no magic wands – only your commitment and determination.
My Availability
I am available from sunrise to sunset. I am also available Saturdays and Sundays, when there isn’t the hurry of starting your workday or the exhaustion that follows it.
Calls & Voicemail/Email
Out of respect for my clients, I return calls, voicemail, or email, later in the day, usually after 7pm. I do not answer phones or emails while I am with clients.
How to prepare for a walk
First and foremost, wear comfortable walking shoes. That should do without saying. Your clothes, also, should be appropriate to anticipated weather. Growing up in Quebec, I learned quickly that it is best to dress in layers, which you can then shed (or put on as needed).
The trails are exceptionally well-maintained, and they are safe. There has never been an incident on either of them. We will come across people strolling or walking their dogs, mothers or fathers with their children. These are not isolated places. However, if it makes you more comfortable, bring whatever you consider necessary for personal protection. I don’t bite (I weigh 150 lbs soaking wet). People’s dogs on these trails don’t bite. Any kids we run into don’t bite. There are no bears, wolves or other worrisome critters. It’s unlikely we’ll be hit by a meteor. But your comfort and personal security come first.
If you are a smoker (cigarettes, pipes, cigars), that is fine.
That’s all there is to it.
Session Duration and Overtime
The total session is one hour long: fifty minutes walking & talking, ten minutes for notes writeup. Sessions out-of-doors however are not the same as those in the consulting room. Time is more fluid, for one; we don’t keep too sharp an eye on it. I also don’t use the “discrete” clock on my desk to keep time. Moreover, if we are in the middle of a discussion you don’t wish interrupted – this happens often; walking tends to promote it – I am not about to terminate it just because time’s up. For this reason, and unlike my regular office hours, I allot two hours between clients for Walk & Talk sessions. If we do run into the second hour, please note that the fee is prorated in fifteen minute increments.
Office Meetings
The purpose of Walk & Talk is to walk while we talk. We do so in most weather. Walking in the rain or in light snow (dressed appropriately, of course) can be quite exhilirating and tends to set free thoughts and feelings that might otherwise not so easily surface. If the weather is severe, however, then we have options. We can reschedule for the following week or other agreed upon time. Or, if your need to speak is urgent and overrides walking, we can meet in my office. If it’s a snowstorm or some other dangerous weather event, and if your need is truly urgent, then we can work remotely. Remote meetings though are not possible for the first few sessions. We need to have gotten to know each other over time before we can “thin” our conversation.
Cancellation Policy
If you can’t attend a session, please cancel/reschedule at least twenty-four hours in advance. I keep several time slots open in the same session week to allow for concellations and rescheduling. I understand that things come up, and that sometimes we might just not feel like honoring a commitment. While I do not bill for canceled sessions, please keep in mind that our relationship is based on trust. Where there is no trust, I reserve the right to cancel our work together and/or refer you to another therapist.
How many sessions will you need?
There is no answer to that; everyone has different needs. A good average is six before we begin to see improvement. I have clients who come for two or three because they have a highly specific problem they want to resolve. I have a number of clients that have gone on over a year – we’re in the province of psychoanalysis with such time frames – and I have clients who are quite random, whom I may not see for several months and then reappear. The latter invariably want only to talk, maybe “get something off their chests,” or they have good memories of our time together and want to relive that when they feel down. I have several clients who are with me for the companionable walk, so that neither of us talk much – they just happen to think it’s nice to be able to walk in good company (incidentally, these sessions will usually stretch to two hours, nor do I have any notes to take, and they tend to be clients with whom I’ve done substantial counseling in the past).
Rates & Payment
I am a strictly out-of-network provider, which means your insurance does not cover our sessions because insurance does not cover alternative therapies.
I accept cash (we can discuss this), checks, and all major credit cards. Note that payment is due at the time of our meeting, either before or after, depending on which timing you’re more comfortable with – some clients want to get talking right away. I’m not about to break that drive by requesting payment up front.
The rate does not change per session. I apologize for not disclosing it here, but it is not customary to do so. I can, however, affirm that the rate is the same for everyone.
The “No Surprises Act” Good Faith Estimate (meaning, no surprise billing) applies here, with the proviso that it is impossible to know at the outset how many sessions you will need. As I noted above, I have clients that have been with me for years simply because they enjoy the walking and talking, while I have others that may require one, two, or three sessions only as they seek assistance with highly specific (and not life-changing or otherwise threatening) problems.
Confidentiality
All information discussed in therapy sessions will be kept confidential, unless you give me written permission to share such information, with some exceptions as outlined below.
If you are concerned about confidentiality in any situation, please bring it to my attention.