Looking for a therapist in San Francisco

December 6, 2006 7:00 PM

I think I need to see a therapist (psychological) and I live in San Francisco. I have a history of depression, however, I have never had a therapist here in US. I would like a recommendation on a good therapist in SF as well as what to expect in terms of cost (I have a medical insurance)

I had been depressed and I am once again depressed. I'm familiar with the practice, except that I was in Japan when I first saw a therapist (I had mental instability as well as anorexia) during my teenage years. I didn't really have a good experience with it.

After moving to the US, I had series of events that led me to recurring depression, but I never saw a therapist, partially due to my distrust with therapy as well as my lack of insurance and/or financial difficulty. I always gotten over it, or so I thought.

This year has been a very challenging year to sustain my mental health, and I have been very unstable. Recently, a series of events occurred, either to very close friends I have or to myself, which has led me to realize that all of the issues I experienced in the last 10+ years had never been dealt with properly. This has put me in the level of depression a little more severe than ones earlier this year.

I am aware of what is triggering my depression. I am also aware of what I am afraid of and what some of my issues are. And while I try to deal, because they are all the things (and a lot of things) I did not deal for so many years, it's like I'm carrying a bucket of water, running around trying to extinguish fire that's burning at 100 different locations. Often I'm at a loss of where to start, and often I feel like the fire I just put out restarted. I get bogged down.

I also have been dealing with this by spending more time alone, I exercise regularly, I try to smile (though often this attempt itself makes me cry) and find small happiness. I am changing my attitude about things, but then again, once fallen apart, things are very difficult to put back together.

So, once again, I'm considering of seeing a therapist. But I'm not familiar with the mental health system here in the US let alone what kind of therapist I should seek. I have Aetna as my medical insurance (90/70 Choice POS II, non-HMO).
Searching threads here in ask mefi, I found this thread and found a link to SF Psychological Association, however, the number of specialties available purely overwhelmed me.

I'm hoping to find someone I can talk to without feeling guilty, someone who can offer some insights as well as guidance, someone who does not recommend drugs unless it's the last resort, and someone with experience in seeing someone with history of depression as well as distrust of therapists. Someone in San Francisco, CA.

I am also interested in what the average cost of seeing a therapist here in the US (with or without insurance coverage).

Thanks,

posted by grafholic to health & fitness (3 comments total)

If you have decent medical insurance, your co-pay should be pretty reasonable - $5 - $25 per session. Without insurance, it can get considerably more expensive...when I was paying out of pocket for therapy back in 2000, I payed about $150.00 per session.

I would recommend Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. I've done both extensive psychotherapy and CBT and found the latter to be the most effective at getting me to feel better quickly. The site linked above explains it pretty well.
posted by echolalia67 at 8:57 PM on December 6, 2006

A lot of therapists will not bill insurance directly - often you need to pay out of pocket - and then seek re-imbursement from your health insurance. It's a pain - but with good insurance - I was surprised how much was covered.
I just went through a bout of post partum depression / situational depression with the death of a friend and the therapist that helped me through it was pretty good. Johanna Murphy is mostly in Berkeley but she also has office hours in San Francisco once a week (Divis/California-ish). She offers sliding scale payment - that tops out at $125/session. She never suggested drugs for me - but I don't think she is categorically against them. She can be reached at 510-459-6037
posted by Wolfie at 9:12 PM on December 6, 2006

Don't be afraid to see another therapist. I had a similar experience when i was younger, and was very reluctant to see someone later in life. However, a relationship with a psychologist is, in many ways, a relationship like you have with any other person. Many will allow you to see them for an initial visit to see if there is a "fit" between the two of you. If you don't feel comfortable up front, or you're not sure, move on sister. Keep trying until you get it right. You need someone with a personality and method that works well for you, and there's no shame in looking until you find the best possible match for you.

As for insurance, I would call the number on the back of your card and ask a representative what your coverage is like. They can tell you how to proceed. Ask how many visits you have per year, and what your copay will be like. Then you can get an idea of how much of a financial investment this might become. He or she should also be able to tell you the proper way of setting up an appointment for your particular coverage. Doing this ensures your treatment will be covered.

If you don't have any friends or family who might be able to recommend a good therapist for you, consider asking your primary care physician. Often, doctors have professional relationships with therapists in their area. Ask for several choices, and speak to them all on the phone. Set an appointment with your favorite. Good luck to you. Please don't be intimidated by the prospect of setting all of this up in a system you aren't used to. Get yourself the treatment you need!
posted by theantikitty at 6:34 AM on December 7, 2006