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Orange County Therapist - Mark Pines - Call (714) 855-2232. |
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Have more questions?
Call me on (714) 855-2232. I am happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have.
Ready to schedule an appointment?
Call me on (714) 855-2232 or schedule an appointment online.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the free consultation?
What is your fee?
How long does counseling take?
Is counseling confidential?
How would a typical session go?
Is a male counselor right for me?
Do you accept health insurance?
Do you have appointments when I am free?
Q: What is the free consultation?
A: In order ensure that I would be a good fit for you and what is troubling you; I offer a free, no-obligation 30 minute phone consultation. The call is an opportunity for us to discuss what you are hoping to gain from counseling. I can then assess if I would be a good person to help you. If I am not the best person to help, I will do my best to give you a good referral. Simply call (714) 855-2232. If I am not available to talk immediately, I return most calls within two hours.
Q: What is your fee?
A: My fee for individuals is $120 per 50 minute session.
For couple, I often recommend 80 minute session. This gives us more time to explore issues and can yield quicker results. My fee for 80 minute sessions is $200. If finances are a concern, I do offer 50 minute sessions at $120.
In cases of financial need, I may temporarily offer a lower rate. If you feel you qualify for this, please bring this up during the first session or contact me by telephone (714) 855-2232.
Q: How long does counseling take?
A: Some people find that as few as 8 sessions may be all that is needed. For others, progress happens over several months. Deep-seated issues may take years to heal. I am usually able to give a rough estimate of treatment length after about four sessions.
The good news is that most gains in counseling accumulate and are rarely lost. At any time you can leave counseling and take your growth with you. Counseling can also be restarted at any future date without any significant loss of momentum. People will often see a therapist “as needed”.
I believe that counseling should take as short as needed. If I believe that a client can no longer benefit from further counseling, I will bring up the topic of ending counseling with them.
Q: Is counseling confidential?
A: What is shared between a counselor and his/her client is protected by law. Most people highly value the safety this provides. There are a few important exceptions that your counselor should explain. Examples of these are suspected child abuse; elder abuse and threats of physical harm to self or others.
Your name and that you attend counseling will also never be revealed. Even if some one called and asked if you were a client, your counselor should neither confirm nor deny knowing you.
Please look at my privacy policy for full details.
Q: How would a typical session go?
A: I have a welcoming office near the South Coast Plaza and John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California. Each therapy session is 50 minutes long and starts at the top of the hour.
On your first session you should arrive about 20 minutes before your appointment. This will allow you to fill out a short amount of paperwork. The paperwork is similar to that filled out when visiting a doctor for the first time,. The first few sessions are usually spent further understanding the issues troubling you. I will likely ask more questions during these sessions than I will in later sessions.
Later sessions start at the beginning of the hour. These sessions
are your place to relax, talk and grow. Most sessions are simply the
two of us sitting together and discussing your life.
Q: Is a male counselor right for me?
A: Often our experiences in earlier relationships set our expectations about later relationships. We can find ourselves caught in endlessly repeating patterns of poor relationships. The male figures in our lives that let us down may have been our husbands, significant others, fathers or step-fathers.
Many people expressly look for a man as their counselor. These clients have had poor experiences in relationships with men. A trusting, warm, accepting relationship with a man in therapy can often become a trusting, warm and accepting relationship with a significant other in their personal life. For these people, a male counselor may be difficult at first, but the trust gained will lay the foundation for far more fulfilling relationships.
A word of caution; for some people who have suffered sever trauma at the hands of a male perpetrator, seeing a male counselor may be too difficult at first. For these people it may be better to see a female counselor until a level of trust can be maintained. If you feel you may fall into this category, please bring it up with me and we can discuss possible referrals.
Q: Do you accept health insurance?
A: In certain cases, people carry health insurance that covers mental health. Unfortunately health insurance will only cover you if you are diagnosed with a major mental disorder. Since this is rarely the case for my clients, I do not accept health insurance. more
If cost is an issue for you, I do occasionally set a lower fee based on financial need. If you believe this applies to you, please mention this in our first session or contact me on (714) 855-2232. If I am not able to help you, I will do my best to find a good referral.
Q: Do you have appointments when I am free?
A: Most people choose to attend counseling at the same time each week. I try to be available at a time convenient to you and your work schedule. I typically work weekdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Call (714) 855-2232 to schedule an appointment, or schedule an appointment online.