Therapy Q & A

We invite you to still come in for your appointment. Many people find that as a result of seeking my help and learning new skills as well as more effective ways of interacting, the relationship benefits in multiple ways.

Sessions typically last 45 minutes. If you feel that you may need double sessions, perhaps as in couples therapy, a family crisis, or just have a lot to talk about and process, a double or even longer session may be a great option for you. We will do our best to accommodate your needs depending on availability, especially if you let us know well in advance. Of course you will be charged accordingly as double or longer therapy sessions are not an option covered by insurance.

Typically, We see our clients weekly. Based on their individual situation, some choose more intensive work which requires coming to sessions twice a week. Your commitment and accountability evidenced through regular sessions are essential components of therapy’s success and outcome.

Clinical psychologists are required to be licensed and registered by the state they practice in. Individuals who call themselves “coaches” or “counselors” who may provide “counseling and coaching services” are not to be confused with a licensed clinical psychologist. A psychologist, who has had to have extensive training, provides counseling and psychotherapy, psychological evaluations and diagnostics, as well as a variety of effective and clinically sound techniques based on the best available research. If the need arises, licensed psychologists can also provide neuro-psychological testing along with expert interpretation and reporting of test data.

Psychiatrists attend medical school and receive a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree. Treatment approaches employed by psychiatrists are often biologically based and require psychotropic medications. When necessary, in cases of severe depression, debilitating anxiety or psychotic spectrum disorders, psychotherapy with a psychologist is an excellent adjunct to medication in order to increase overall success and consistent med compliance.
For clients who benefit from taking psychotropic medications, psychologists collaborate with primary care physicians, pediatricians as well as psychiatrists on their overall treatment.

The great majority of psychologists have had a minimum of seven years of training after acquiring their bachelor’s degree in their chosen field of study. Furthermore, they are required to complete 3,000 hours (half of which pre-doc and half post-doc) of supervised practice in psychology. Upon completion of their psychological assistantship, psychologists have take and pass their national test and then are allowed to sit for their state-administered exams. Additionally, prior to getting licensed, psychologist are required to personally complete a year in psychotherapy as a client in order for them to have a better understanding of themselves as well as the challenges brought in by their future clients into private practice. Dr Gilbert Chalepas has personally had over 20 years of psychotherapy which he considers one of his greatest assets in understanding others as well as one of his most effective tools. Very few other psychologists, therapists or analysts have had such a substantial and extensive adjunct to their training.
Once licensed to practice, psychologists are required to maintain and improve their knowledge base, which is evidenced by annually earning several continuing education hours of relevant training, as required by California’s state licensing board and regulations.

As a whole, practicing psychologists deal a wide variety of clients and treat many kinds of psychologically based challenges. Some people may seek a psychologist due to feelings of depression, excessive anger or have battle anxiety for some time. Or, they would like to have help and support for a chronic condition that is causing unpleasant and painful outcomes in their lives or overall physical health. Others may have come to realize that there are short-term problems they would like help navigating, such as doing too much, especially when trying to please or impress others and end up feeling overwhelmed by a new position or important relationship, or perhaps they are in the middle of grieving the passing of a beloved family member. Psychologists can support and educate their clients in learning to cope with the inevitably stressful situations life brings, improve communication styles and relationships, overcome substance addictions which affect everyone in their lives, help manage chronic or terminal illnesses and get somehow around perceived barriers that stand in the way of their goals and dreams.

Curing Psychotherapy with one of our therapist or psychologist oh, you’ll have your opportunity learn more about your condition through a renewed and often more insightful perspective which you may not have thought about. Together, you’ll ponder, discuss and process how you got to this juncture in your life and what you can do to have a different outcome. You’ll also talk about how your moods may be sabotaging your efforts, how hanging on to feelings both recent and old may be making your life more challenging, and finally the role of your thoughts, behaviors as well as your history and what impact they have played in your choices and outcomes up to today. Psychotherapy with our providers can help you learn how to make more positive and meaningful control of your life, how to more appropriately and effectively respond to challenging situations as you’re armed with healthier coping skills to transform and overcome your challenges.

We are currently accepting new clients as we have a few openings available. For your convenience we can provide also some evening weekend and phone as well as video appointments to accommodate busy professionals. We also offer prepaid therapy packages which offer a financial incentive and increases your commitment to the change process as well as an eventual successful outcome. We can discuss the different options available and which will best suit your needs during our phone consultation.

No Show, Late Cancelation or
Rescheduling Policy at Reconnect Relationship Psychotherapy in Beverly Hills and Laguna Beach, CA

When you make an appointment with one of our therapists at Reconnect Relationship Psychotherapy in Beverly Hills or Laguna Beach, CA, that specific time slot is reserved specifically just for you. Moreover, the dedicated providers at our psychology group practice also carefully prepare for each individual appointment by reviewing the pertinent paperwork, finding out about questions you may have had during a previous visit as well as designing an individualized mental wellness regimen in order to offer you the very best care available. Accordingly, if for some reason you are not able to keep your scheduled appointment, your therapist needs to be adequately notified in advance so that they can offer that appointment to other clients waiting to be seen.

1. 48-hour cancelation policy (two business days). For example, if your next appointment is scheduled for Tuesday at 9 a.m., you have to cancel your confirmed appointment no later than 9 a.m. the Friday prior to the appointment. If the appointment is on Friday at 3 p.m., it must be canceled no later than Wednesday at 3 p.m. Please keep in mind that insurance companies do not pay for, or reimburse missed sessions, in any way. Unfortunately, a missed session will be strictly an out-of-pocket expense.
2. Late cancelations done within the agreed-upon 48-hour window will be given the choice for an alternate make-up session to be attended during the same week as the canceled appointment, when available. If this make-up session is declined or missed for whatever reason, we then reserve the right to charge the full rate for that session.
3. We certainly understand that emergencies do occasionally come up and we are willing to make exceptions for only true, unavoidable emergencies (being admitted to the hospital, being involved in a serious car accident; not yoga class or a hair/nail appointment).
4. The client is ALWAYS responsible for calling or texting at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled appointment time to find an available alternative or cancel.
5. Our office will usually confirm your appointment in advance via text message or email, and you are expected to acknowledge and respond to those messages in return.
6. If you are unable to keep your appointment as scheduled, and if you have not already notified our office of cancelation or request to reschedule please understand that you are responsible to alert us at this time in order to avoid being charged for the appointment out of pocket, regardless if you are using insurance or not.
7. In the event that you no show or cancel an appointment in less than 48-hour prior notice, you then understand and agree that the full appointment fee will be charged to the credit card on file unless it was a true emergency.
8. To cancel your appointment, please call (310) 500 8442 or respond via text. If you cannot reach us in person or by phone because we’re either in session or away from the office, you may leave a detailed message on our confidential voice mail with your information, as well as your request to cancel or reschedule.
9. PLEASE REMEMBER: Any client arriving past their scheduled appointment time will be seen for the remainder of their scheduled session, not longer and will be charged for the full fee for that session, no exceptions. For example, if a client is let’s say 20 minutes late to their 45-minute appointment, then you will be seen for only the remaining 25 minutes but will be charged for the full session. Make sure you call or text to alert us of this as any client more than 15 minutes late without notice, will void their appointment and charged for the missed session, unless we hear from you. You also have the option of having your session via phone or video telehealth if you prefer to save time.
10. In the case of a true emergency, as mentioned above, this 48-hour cancelation policy will of course not apply. Please let us know as soon as possible if such a case arises so we can plan accordingly. However, we do politely ask that this strictly be used in the case of a real emergency and that you otherwise make every effort to keep your scheduled appointment so that your provider at Reconnect Relationship Psychotherapy can best use their time most efficiently and tending to other practice clients or matters. You appreciate your understanding and respecting this important boundary and we look forward to seeing you for your next scheduled appointment.

We wish we could as we would like everyone to live more satisfying and fulfilling lives. We can tell you that the majority of our clients experience a definite benefit after participating in therapy along with the support and encouragement they receive. Of course, we always invite and welcome your feedback during the entire process. This is helpful for both of us, and ensures that I am guiding you in a direction you want to go so you can experience the maximum benefit during our time together and beyond.

There are some instances where a combination of therapy and medication can be the most beneficial route to take, for example with chronic and recurring major depression or bipolar disorder. This option has to be carefully considered and will be determined by your primary physician and/or psychiatrist depending on the issues and severity of your current mental health and prior history. Unfortunately the solutions to many long-standing problems are not found in a bottle of pills, but rather in altering behavior and cognitive modification. Therapy and working closely with an effective as well as skilled psychologist can be very beneficial in order to get to the root of the issues standing in your way.

Psychotherapy has the power to be life-changing if you are willing to do what it takes. In our case, after spending over 20 years as a “patient,” We are well aware of the challenges and rewards that can come about as a result. Skilled therapists provide support, understanding, acceptance as well as critical and relevant feedback, are a sounding board, a valuable resource for improved problem-solving, including fresh ways to look at situations and providing effective alternatives, which can be vital in your journey to increased happiness and fulfillment.

All us have felt sad or even depressed at times as it is part of the human experience. Feeling depressed can be a normal and appropriate response to significant loss, life’s struggles and disappointments, or a major blow to our self-esteem. On the more serious side of the spectrum, when feelings of profound sadness that linger for an extended period and include feeling helpless when you can’t see a way out, hopeless when you feel that things will never get any better, and worthless when nothing you have to offer is of any value or consequence to anyone. Furthermore, you cannot seem to shake off these feelings for several days to weeks at a time, your sleep and weight have been noticeably affected, you experience frequent crying spells, you lost interest in many things much of the time including work and finishing tasks, find it difficult to concentrate or make a decision, feeling inappropriate guilt and the marked decline of personal hygiene. When how and what you feel keeps you from living your life and functioning normally, your intense sadness may be indicative of a major depressive disorder or possibly bipolar disorder. You also may be experiencing some of these symptoms to a lesser degree yet feel that you still need professional help, don’t put it off, depression is serious yet treatable, you don’t have to be staying in bed all day to need help. For an accurate diagnosis please see a mental health professional like one of our therapist or psychologist experience an appropriate knowledge to make that call. Please do not engage in self-diagnosing based on what Google says, which includes this oversimplified explanation. There are additional symptoms and criteria to be considered and met prior to making any diagnosis.

Unfortunately, whether we like it or not, as people we all encounter inevitable changes in our lives. Some are blessings and some are rather difficult to adjust to. If something has been bothering you for some time and books, tapes, seminars or your friends have not been able to help you in substantive way, perhaps it’s time to consider other options available to you. Life is short and one cannot waste it waiting for things to get better on their own. Sometimes they do, yet often times we have to pull up our sleeves and do the necessary work to make things better for ourselves. Professional help from a competent Beverly Hills and Laguna Beach therapist or psychologist who may also be able to pinpoint some of the blind spots that are standing in your way, something that close friends and family may be reluctant or even unwilling to bring up to you for fear of possibly damaging or losing the relationship entirely. Besides, psychotherapy is completely confidential. You won’t have to be concerned about others “knowing your business” and gossiping, judging or rejecting you because of what you’re going through. Winners get help, why not you? Taking charge of your own life and making it what you want to be by changing what can be changed, as well as accepting what is, and not what you would like it or wish it to be, can be very liberating and a huge relief. You are the captain for your ship, make sure that your voyage can be an enjoyable one. We cannot foresee all the storms but we can certainly avoid some of the unnecessary turbulence with some experienced help.

There are many reasons why and when clients seek therapy. Sometimes it is to deal with long-standing psychological issues like low self-esteem and feelings of inadequacy, or difficulties dealing with excessive worrying, life dissatisfaction or depression. Other times a major life event takes place which they have a hard time adjusting to like a divorce, children leaving the home, career transition or retiring, illness, or the loss of a loved one. Therapy can provide a safe place where clients can express their feelings, wants, and needs without having to worry about being judged or ignored. Psychotherapy may also provide new insights, needed support as well as new tools to deal with what is going on in their lives. Cognitive-Behavioral therapy can help address many types of issues including relationship and career challenges, anger, resentment, grief, body image and weight concerns including their source, anxiety, depression, and effectively dealing with inevitable life changes. Therapy can be a very useful tool in improving one’s quality of life when they are ready to get on board and make the necessary changes in order to have and enjoy the type of life they desire and deserve.

Cash and checks are gladly accepted. If however you prefer using Paypal or any major credit card, HSA (Health Savings Account), FSA (Flexible Spending Account), or HRA (Health Reimbursement Account), a 3% processing fee will automatically apply.

Please keep in mind that the actual length of your therapy depends on the type, severity, and frequency of your symptoms as well as how long you’ve been dealing with the issue(s) you want to address. Equally important to the efficacy of treatment are your consistent desire, seriousness of commitment, compliance to the process, and intrinsic motivation as well as the quality and consistency of your support system to help you manage and maintain the changes necessary to accomplish your goal(s).

Please bring copies of as many of the following documents as possible. Some may not apply, and that’s fine.

• What you want to work on in therapy, list of major events and time of those events.
• A copy of your insurance card front and back
• A copy of your driver’s license
• Psychological, Neurological, or other relevant Testing Reports.
• List of Current Medications or Prescriptions, and supplements (including dosages)
• Names/Contact Information of current and former therapists and psychiatrists/physicians who prescribed psychotropic medications
• Dates, Places, and Discharge Summaries of any psychiatric hospitalizations

Please keep in mind that this is a relationship. Like all new relationships, it can take a bit of time time to connect with your new mental health psychotherapy provider. Be patient and open. If you don’t happen to click right away in your first session, consider giving it a little more time as discussing difficult personal issues may be triggering. On average, we find clients hit their sweet spot in therapy after 3 sessions. The therapist-client fit is critical, as well as a high priority for us. If at any time you desire to consult another therapist within our practice, we would be happy to assist you in finding a more suitable match within our practice.

Call/text us now at (310) 500 8442, or if you prefer you can also email us directly at email to share your story and schedule an appointment in our Beverly Hills and Laguna Beach office, or just fill out the drop us a line form below.