This page contains information related to Psychotherapy Services, Groups, Treatment Team Collaboration, Speaking/Consultation, Informed Consent/Confidentiality, and Fees.

Psychotherapy 

Suzannah provides psychotherapy for individual adults and adolescents, couples, and families.  

Areas of specialization include the following:

• Eating disorders/disordered eating (anorexia, bulimia, chronic dieting, compulsive eating, over- or under-exercising)
• Substance abuse/Addiction
• Helping young people make the transition into adulthood 

Therapy can help with the following goals:

• Heal problems with food and exercise
  
• Improve body image and develop a healthy relationship with your body
  
• Get support with addiction recovery or sobriety/provide a complement to 12 step work (if that is your path)
• Alleviate depression and anxiety
  
• Develop creativity and flexibility in the way we respond to life 
• Cope with/heal from trauma and PTSD  
• Explore life goals
• Development of sense of self 
• Support life-cycle changes, for example, dealing with adolescence or moving into adulthood  
• Learn more effective communication skills
• Strengthen a support system
• Empower family members to help one another and solve problems
  

Groups 

Suzannah has a great deal of experience running groups for people with eating disorders and addictions.

Currently, Suzannah is not running any groups.

Treatment Team Collaboration for Eating Disorders

People with eating disorders are best supported by a multitude of providers--in addition to seeing a therapist, clients are advised to work with some of the following professionals: physicians, psychiatrists, dietitians/nutritionists, exercise specialists, family therapists, and group therapists.  There is a consensus amongst eating disorder treatment professionals that eating disordered clients are best served when all providers work together as a "treatment team" (www.aedweb.org).  Suzannah values collaborating with other specialists and coordinates treatment closely with all other providers.  When other providers are not yet part of a team, Suzannah can provide referrals.  For clients coming from or going to higher levels of care, Suzannah works with the client's treatment program to provide continuity and consistency.

Suzannah also considers the client and the family to be key members of the team.  She welcomes questions and feedback from clients and seeks to always prioritize the clients' needs and wishes in creating a treatment plan. 

Speaking/Training/Consultation

Suzannah is available to speak in/consult with schools and organizations on topics related to eating disorders, addiction, body image, and media literacy.  She enjoys teaching therapists about how to recognize and treat eating disorders.

Some past speaking engagements include the following:

• National Eating Disorders Association Conference 2008
• San Francisco City College
• Youth Service Bureau of San Mateo
  
• Eating Disorder Resource Center events

Call or e-mail for more information.

Additionally, Suzannah is an Education Into Action Workshop Leader for About-Face, a Bay Area media literacy organization.  Visit www.about-face.org to set up a workshop or get more information.

Informed Consent/Confidentiality

All clients are entitled to understand the following:

• The approach of the therapist
• A clear explanation of treatment options
  
• The background/qualifications of the therapist

Suzannah welcomes clients to ask questions about the above information at any point in the therapy process.  Clients will be asked to carefully read and sign the following form in order to begin therapy with Suzannah.

Informed Consent

For more information about your right to a confidential relationship, you may read here about my HIPAA privacy practices.

HIPAA Privacy Practices

I honor the rights of clients and families dealing with eating disorders as laid out in the Academy of Eating Disorders' Worldwide Charter for Action on Eating Disorders.

Fees 

• Individual sessions are $120 for 50 minutes.
• I do offer a few spots at a sliding scale based on income for those in need.  Please contact me to inquire about available slots.
  
• Fees are due at the beginning of each session.
• I do not accept insurance, however, I am able to provide you with an invoice that you can submit to your insurance company.