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Privacy, Confidentiality, and Insurance
Safeguarding privacy and client confidentiality is an absolute priority in Gary's practice. As a Primal therapist and psychotherapist in private practice, he does not accept insurance. However, by accepting only fee for service, this fits his philosophy of being able to guarantee true confidentiality, which computerized insurance records simply cannot. Today, managed care companies have large databases of computerized information which, intentionally or unintentionally, can easily be used to violate personal privacy.
In addition, managed care or insurance policies are under the "medical model" and, as such, require proof of "illness" or psychopathology in order to make third-party payment. The diagnostic label of a "mental disorder" can be problematic in applications for future insurance--life, health, disability, etc. as well as employment and credit applications. Unfortunately, using your medical insurance to pay counseling or psychotherapy fees automatically places you in the massive data bases that are accessible by almost everyone. Therefore, in "today's world", many clients simply do not wish to have any type of diagnosis (even as seemingly benign or innocuous a diagnosis as "adjustment disorder") listed on records of any kind.
Rates and Length of Sessions
Therapy rates are not charged by the hour, but rather by the session. Fees are $120.00 per individual session. However, unlike the typical "50 minute therapy hour", individual Primal sessions with Gary usually approximate 90 minutes. This additional time has proven to be enormously beneficial to most clients as it allows for a deeper exploration and more comprehensive integration of issues and feelings brought up during the session. These "open-ended" sessions not only allow the client to fully experience his or her feelings, but also allocate the necessary time to properly integrate the experience cognitively.
Unlike other primal therapy centers in the U.S., week-long intensives are available, but not required. Treatment is individualized to meet each client's unique personal goals and financial situation. Also, it is vital that the clients' treatment program respect the need to work and go on living a daily life, so "intensives", while highly therapeutic, are not mandated.
Couples Counseling Available
Couples counseling is also available upon request. Emphasis is on communication, honesty, existential and family-of-origin issues which may be impeding the relationship. Successfully addressing these areas is absolutely critical to restoring emotional intimacy. When Gary works with couples, exploration and expression of feelings are major aspects of the growth process and most definitely encouraged. Fees are $140 per session (per couple) and usually approximate 90 minutes.
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