Question 1

Are you currently accepting new clients?

Accepted Answer

Yes. There are some very busy times I don't have any new client openings and have a short waitlist, but for the most part I try to keep a couple of openings each week for new clients.

Question 2

Do you accept insurance?

Accepted Answer

I do not participate in any insurance networks. If your individual plan covers out-of-network therapy, I am happy to provide a receipt or superbill for insurance plan reimbursement.

Question 3

Are there any client populations you don't work with?

Accepted Answer

I generally do not work with children or teenagers, though once in a while I make exceptions to work with older teens. I also do not work with couples, and prefer individual and group therapy with adults.

Question 4

Are there any mental health issues you do not work with?

Accepted Answer

I have an ethical obligation to work only with the mental health issues I have training and competence in. If a prospective client has an active eating disorder, significant substance use disorder, or has more severe mental health issues and or risk factors which would make it difficult to invest in therapy, I will usually recommend these prospective clients seek specialty treatment to work on and stabilize these issues first. Likewise, teletherapy is contraindicated for higher-risk clients or those whose physical safety may be an issue and in these cases clients are more safely and better served by in-person mental heath treatment in their own geographic areas rather than teletherapy.

Question 5

What is your background and education?

Accepted Answer

I have both a BSW and MSW from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and have been a Licensed Clinical Social Worker since 2000. Please refer to the "About" section of this website for more information.

Question 6

Do you work virtually or in-person?

Accepted Answer

Both. Because most of my clients live throughout California, the majority of my practice is virtual. I do have one day per week I see clients in my office in Sierra Madre, which are usually clients local to the Pasadena area who prefer in-office therapy.

Question 7

What kind of treatment do you provide?

Accepted Answer

I've worked with trauma since starting my career in 1995. Trauma has always been the main focus of my training, though only in the past several years I have changed my focus from sexual trauma to the trauma caused by narcissistic/relational/
emotional abuse. Healing these forms of hidden abuse is my passion, and most of my clients are recovering from abuse at the hands of narcissists.

I draw from many different theoretical approaches in my work, including DBT, EMDR, IFS, psychodynamic, and others. I also embrace a feminist therapy model, asking critical questions about the degree to which clients feel a sense of personal power in their lives.

Unlike other perspectives, social work is unique in that it examines the role of societal inequities and injustices - versus psychopathology in a vacuum - as contributing to mental health issues. Fighting social injustice is both my personal and professional commitment.

Question 8

How long are our sessions?

Accepted Answer

A typical session is 50-55 minutes. There are some instances I think a client may benefit from a longer session, but these sessions are arranged for in advance, usually at the last appointment of the day to have the flexibility to extend beyond a typical hour-long appointment.

Question 9

What can I expect in our first session?

Accepted Answer

Our first session or two is usually spent with me obtaining a thorough assessment of your history and your goals for therapy. It is my hope that by the end of our second session, we have created a list of goals to work on together.

Question 10

How long do most people stay in therapy?

Accepted Answer

It really depends on the presenting issue and the goals you want to work on. Typically, trauma work takes a longer commitment to fully recover from trauma and heal but I do try to help clients move through the process as efficiently as we can. Further, once clients begin to heal and near completion of our goals, I try to decrease the frequency of our sessions to twice monthly and then monthly.

Question 11

Can I contact you between sessions?

Accepted Answer

Yes and no, depending on the reason. Clients are free to email about canceling or rescheduling appointments, asking for superbills, and other business-related requests, and I generally reply to these emails within 24-36 hours, not including weekends.

Because I have a solo practice, I do not provide after hours or emergency crisis support. I make every effort to refer clients who may need more regular contact or crisis stabilization outside of sessions to more appropriate comprehensive treatment programs.

Question 12

What is your cancellation policy if I need to miss a session?

Accepted Answer

Cancellations require 48 hours' notice so I have enough time to offer it to any clients waiting for a session. Cancellations with less than 48 hours notice are charged the full session fee. I do understand that emergencies occasionally arise (illness, auto accidents, etc.) and in these instances I will offer any openings I might have within 2-3 business days of the cancellation to reschedule without a fee.

Question 13

Can I call you if I'm having a clinical emergency?

Accepted Answer

I do not provide emergency or crisis services. In the event of a medical or psychiatric emergency, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. If you are having suicidal thoughts, please call 988 for the national suicide and crisis lifeline.

Question 14

Are you an ally to the LGBTQ+ community?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. I was lucky to have been raised in an LGBTQ+ inclusive family, and never learned fear or hate about who my family members loved. This just seemed normal to me as a child.

Early in my social work education, I was challenged to move past my passive acceptance into advocacy, to better support my family and the clients I was seeking to help. I volunteered with Human Rights Campaign to promote marriage equality and train school personnel to be more responsive to LGBTQ+ students and their parents. 
I will never presume to fully understand the concerns and difficulties the LGBTQ+ people I love and work with encounter on a regular basis. My own child's journey in gender self-discovery and my support of his gender affirming care helps inform my sensitivity towards and work with LGBTQ+ individuals as well as advocating for and helping parents accept their children for who they are.

Question 15

Are you an ally to any other populations?

Accepted Answer

Most definitely. I've worked with many people whose sexual and relationship happiness falls outside stereotypical norms. I'm sex positive and affirming to kink, open and poly relationships. I am relieved that happiness in relationships is now more accepted in many different configurations.

Many new clients reluctantly disclose these parts of their lives to me and seem to assume I will be judgmental. I assure all clients of my belief that relationships, love and sexuality exist on a wide spectrum, and I approach these issues with acceptance and never judgement.

Question 16

Do you provide Good Faith Estimates?

Accepted Answer

Yes, upon request. You have the right to a Good Faith Estimate, which explains how much your mental health services will cost. Under this law, healthcare providers (including therapists) must offer clients who do not have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the expected charges for services. Because our rates are clear at the onset of our work, and are only increased once yearly (with 30-60 days notice), there should be no surprise fees.

For example, x number of sessions per year x $250 per session = your total yearly fee.

But if you would like a Good Faith Estimate, either prior to or during our work, please let me know. For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises.

Question 17

What if I have a question about something else?

Accepted Answer

Please feel free to navigate to the "Contact" section on this site and complete a consultation request form. You may also email directly at paulatimonlcsw@gmail.com (paulatimonlcsw@gmail.com)if you have a more specific question.

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