fi New Clients - Couples Institute of Santa Barbara

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New Clients

What to Expect

The Gottman method focuses on communication, physiology, and emotion to help couples look at improving how they manage conflict, build friendship/intimacy and experience shared meaning. My approach involves 90 minute weekly sessions (the first three sessions are for assessment). I tell client’s “it doesn’t help to drive any faster if we don’t know where we are going”. During the first session I use a structured oral interview to hear more about the relationship, ask you to have a 10 minute “conflict” conversation, and invite you to fill out online questionnaires at home (independently) before the second session. During the second session I meet with each of you individually for 45 minutes and receive the completed questionnaires back. I score these and compare them prior to the third session. During the third session I describe the Gottman concept of the Sound Relationship House and let you know what I see are the strengths and areas in need of improvement in the relationship. From there we set treatment goals together and I check to see if you both would like to continue. I advise couples to decide on a time frame (for example 1, 2, or 3 months) where they dedicate themselves to the work and each other and then evaluate how they are doing at the end of that time. Of course many couples request longer term counseling or check in periodically even after they cut back on sessions as this allows them to hold onto positive changes.

Getting Started

Whether you are in the middle of a crisis, moving through an arduous transition time, or discovering unpleasant behaviors—a professional couples therapist or marriage counselor can be a tremendous source of support, strength and growth. When you select a marriage counselor, don’t chose just anyone who sees a few couples a week. Be sure to choose an expert.

The counseling intake process involves scheduling an appointment which can be done by telephone, text, or email. During this time you will have the opportunity to have your questions answered and our office will also assist with checking your insurance benefits if needed. Before your first session you will be asked to review several counseling related forms which are provided on this website page or will be placed in the waiting room for your review and signature prior to your first session. Please note directions to the office as we are located in a large complex. We look forward to meeting you and hearing how we can be of support.

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How To Get the Most Out of Couples Therapy
by Dr. Peter Pearson

Couples are often uncertain what to expect from the process of couples therapy. They are not sure what to expect of the therapist or even if the therapist has any expectations of them.

Read More

Specialties

Individual Counseling
Relationship Issues
Premarital Counseling
Marital Counseling
Couples Addiction Counseling
Affair Recovery
Marathon Therapy

Finances

Avg Cost (per session): $160 – $240
Sliding Scale: Yes
Accepts Insurance: Yes
Accepted Payment Methods:  Mastercard, Visa

Accepted Insurance Plans

Avante Behavioral Health
Anthem – Blue Shield
Cigna Behavioral Health
FEI Behavioral Health (EAP)
Magellan Behavioral Health
Optum
UnitedHealthcare
USPS (EAP)

Verify your health insurance coverage when you arrange your first visit.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can therapy help me?
Whether you are aware of your relationship issues, or are being asked to attend by a spouse or family member, therapy can help reveal underlying feelings which are affecting your day-to-day life. Together with your therapist, you can gain a better understanding of your own needs and work to create a stronger emotional intelligence.
How often will I need to come to therapy sessions?
Each person and each situation is unique. Some therapy sessions can be short-term and quickly effective, others may take more time and effort to see the underlying problems and create stepping-stones for improvement. While each session may differ, the therapist will be with you each step of the way devoted to helping you find a better life.
The Couples Institute of Santa Barbara offers short-term, long-term, and Marathon Therapy sessions and caters each session to the client’s needs in order to assist each client towards their own individual recovery.
I have friends and family I can talk to, why do I need to speak to a therapist?
Therapists offer an unbiased perspective to the relationship that family or friends may not be comfortable sharing with you. Our therapists also use research-based tools and refer to evidence-based practice to guide the work.
Just how confidential does confidential really mean?
Successful therapy requires an environment of trust and safety. Conversations and topics discussed between a client and therapist will remain completely confidential, with several exceptions: if the therapist has reason to believe that the client is or will put his or her own life or the lives of others in danger, hears reports of child abuse, or suspects a client cannot take care of themselves then the therapist is obligated to obtain additional support for the client.

Glossary of Terms

Couples Therapy is a counseling procedure that seeks to improve the adjustment of two people who have created an interdependent relationship. Generally, a more experienced therapist will offer more perspectives and tools to a couple. Length of treatment will depend on severity of problems, motivation and skills of the therapist. A couple can be dating, living together, married or separating and may be of any sexual orientation.
Marriage Therapy is a term often used interchangeably with marriage counseling. The term marriage implies two people have created a union sanctioned by a government or religious institution. The methods used in marriage counseling, marriage therapy and couples therapy are interchangeable and depend more on the specific challenges of each unique couple.
Psychotherapy is one or more processes to help improve psychological and emotional functioning. Examples are psychoanalysis, cognitive therapy, behavior therapy, Gestalt therapy, Transactional Analysis, Rational-Emotive therapy, or group therapy. Many forms of psychotherapy are blends of different approaches. For example, newer forms of psychotherapy called energy psychology draw upon recent advances in brain and neuroscience. These approaches often build on cognitive behavioral methods.
Clinical Psychologist After graduating from college, it usually takes about five years of graduate school to get a Ph.D. in Psycholgy. It then requires an additional two years of supervision and passing a written (and often) an oral exam. There are a few states that allow psychologists to prescribe medications (with additional training) but that is uncommon.
Psychiatrist After graduation from medical school, there is generally a 4-year psychiatric residency. After the completion of this training, psychiatrists must pass an exam issued by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology to obtain certification and legally practice in the field. Psychiatrists can prescribe medications.
Clinical Social Worker This profession usually requires two years of study after obtaining an undergraduate degree. While specific licensure requirements vary by state, most require clinical social workers to obtain 3,000 hours or 2 years of supervised clinical experience, after obtaining a Masters degree. Social workers can also specialize in diverse fields such as human services management, social welfare analysis, community organizing, social and community development, and social and political research.
Marriage and Family Therapist Obtaining this license requires a Masters degree which takes approximately two years of post graduate study. The license also requires 3000 hours of supervised work and passing written state exams through the Board of Behavioral Science.
Couples Institute of Santa Barbara Whatever marriage help or marriage advice you are looking for, we are here to serve you. While most other therapists see only a few couples a week, we specialize in marriage and couples relationships, working to develop and bring you the most current and effective approaches to couples therapy. For more information about couples therapy or marriage counseling, see our couples therapy section.

Forms

Permission For Digitally Recording Videotaping Therapy Sessions

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Client Information Form

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Consent to Treatment

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