Are life circumstances and/or events in your internal emotional landscape leading you to seek professional help? Many, maybe most, of us did not grow up with all the information that we need to live peaceful emotional lives and thrive in work, social and intimate relationships. And there are always times when an outside perspective can help us better navigate something life brings.
While many Western psychotherapy models treat patients as broken and needing to be fixed, I think therapy is most effective when it is approached as an opportunity to learn about oneself and about life. I have been providing psychotherapy for almost three decades during which time I have studied many theoretical models. I pay attention to interpersonal and social contexts, as well as the lens through which you view the world.
My goal is to provide a useful conversation that helps you create the change that is possible, and identify and accept what cannot be changed.
While many Western psychotherapy models treat patients as broken and needing to be fixed, I think therapy is most effective when it is approached as an opportunity to learn about oneself and about life. I have been providing psychotherapy for almost three decades during which time I have studied many theoretical models. I pay attention to interpersonal and social contexts, as well as the lens through which you view the world.
My goal is to provide a useful conversation that helps you create the change that is possible, and identify and accept what cannot be changed.
Services
I was born in 1947 and raised in suburban Detroit.
I earned a BFA in Painting at Rhode Island School of Design and spent 10 years as a visual artist in Europe and the US.
While living in Paris I discovered psychotherapy (and a whole new understanding of reality) through a French friend's descriptions of his Lacanian psychoanalysis.
I moved to California to study Psychotherapy at the interface of Eastern spiritual thought and Western psychological thinking, earning a Master's Degree in Holistic Psychology at Antioch West University SF in 1983.
I earned a BFA in Painting at Rhode Island School of Design and spent 10 years as a visual artist in Europe and the US.
While living in Paris I discovered psychotherapy (and a whole new understanding of reality) through a French friend's descriptions of his Lacanian psychoanalysis.
I moved to California to study Psychotherapy at the interface of Eastern spiritual thought and Western psychological thinking, earning a Master's Degree in Holistic Psychology at Antioch West University SF in 1983.
I provide both short-term and long-term therapy that is client-centered and collaborative.
My office is in the Laurel Village neighborhood of San Francisco.
My greatest area of both expertise and interest is couples' therapy and Relationship Issues for individuals.
I treat married and unmarried couples of all sexual preferences, and also parents and children, siblings, friends, co-workers, business partners, etc.
I have been helping people recover from addictions to drug, alcohol and food for 30 years in both hospital and private practice settings.
My office is in the Laurel Village neighborhood of San Francisco.
My greatest area of both expertise and interest is couples' therapy and Relationship Issues for individuals.
I treat married and unmarried couples of all sexual preferences, and also parents and children, siblings, friends, co-workers, business partners, etc.
I have been helping people recover from addictions to drug, alcohol and food for 30 years in both hospital and private practice settings.
A Useful conversation: I have yet to be convinced that one modality of therapy is better than another.
It is not unusual for potential clients to request a particular treatment.
I have learned a great deal from most of the theories that I studied, and currently I choose what approach seems most likely to provide clients with a "useful conversation".
A therapeutic alliance: The research of Scott Miller PhD discovered that the extent to which the client feels understood and helped by the therapist is the secret to a successful therapy outcome.
It is not unusual for potential clients to request a particular treatment.
I have learned a great deal from most of the theories that I studied, and currently I choose what approach seems most likely to provide clients with a "useful conversation".
A therapeutic alliance: The research of Scott Miller PhD discovered that the extent to which the client feels understood and helped by the therapist is the secret to a successful therapy outcome.
I became dedicated to providing couple's therapy when a client brought her husband in for a conjoint session.
The flesh and blood husband had very little resemblance to the selfish, aloof man that she had described.
I discovered how easy it is to fool yourself and/or your therapist in individual therapy, albeit unintentionally.
One partner can single-handedly initiate significant changes in any relationship because a large part of relationship difficulties have very little to do with the other person.
The flesh and blood husband had very little resemblance to the selfish, aloof man that she had described.
I discovered how easy it is to fool yourself and/or your therapist in individual therapy, albeit unintentionally.
One partner can single-handedly initiate significant changes in any relationship because a large part of relationship difficulties have very little to do with the other person.
My full fee is $200 for a 50-minute individual session (55 minutes for couples.)
I encourage you to negotiate the fee with me if it is outside of your ability to pay, as I sometimes adjust my rate.
The fee is usually determined (on the phone, if you wish, or at the first face to face meeting) by a short conversation about your financial circumstances.
Longer sessions are possible if planned in advance, and are pro-rated.
When necessary, I am happy to help you connect to low-fee counseling.
While I do not accept direct payment from insurance if you have a PPO or any insurance that does not require that you use a provider in their network, you may be able to get reimbursed.
I encourage you to negotiate the fee with me if it is outside of your ability to pay, as I sometimes adjust my rate.
The fee is usually determined (on the phone, if you wish, or at the first face to face meeting) by a short conversation about your financial circumstances.
Longer sessions are possible if planned in advance, and are pro-rated.
When necessary, I am happy to help you connect to low-fee counseling.
While I do not accept direct payment from insurance if you have a PPO or any insurance that does not require that you use a provider in their network, you may be able to get reimbursed.
Reviews
Be the first to review Sara Alexander, MFT.
Write a Review
