Welcome!

Working Together, Here’s What You Can Expect

1. Initial Phone Consultation:

The best way to get a sense of our fit it by scheduling a standard intake appointment/assessment interview. You can do that here: 

 Review Criteria For A 15-minute Phone Consultation

After you have thoroughly reviewed my website, we might start with a complimentary 15-minute phone consultation. I will ask you a few questions about your history and your goals and have you give me a brief outline of your concerns. I will then let you know whether or not I recommend you move forward with the standard intake assessment interview or not. Here is the link to help you prepare for the questions I’ll be asking you in that call.

https://michaelgquirke.com/phone-call-prep-and-faq-2/

If we decide it makes sense for us to meet we will schedule an initial consultation..

NEW CLIENT?  BOOK YOUR 90-MINUTE INTAKE HERE

2. Our First Meeting:

We will meet for a 90 minute counseling appointment. During that time, we’ll talk about you and your life. It’s helpful for me to get an understanding of the important relationships in your life, so I’ll ask you about those. There will be plenty of time for you to describe the concerns that have brought you to therapy, and together we’ll clarify your therapy goals. By giving me a detailed description, you can help me get a good sense of the problems you are having that you would like to solve, and the things you want to get better at.

I encourage you to be open about yourself and share with me anything that you would like me to know about yourself and your life. Be sure to ask any questions you have on your mind.

During our conversation, you can feel comfortable diving into things with me. Don’t worry about what you can share with me, I’ve heard a lot over the years, and you won’t shock me!

In our first meeting, together we will decide on a course of action to take in our future counseling work. We will then book additional sessions at that time. I may also provide you with referrals or resources that can assist you further in seeking the outcomes you want.

3. Subsequent Counseling Sessions: Finding Our Way Together.

Good therapy is a joint effort. When it comes to therapy, different people find different things helpful. Effective therapy is not a cookie cutter approach. What is right for you, may not serve someone else. This means that your input and feedback on our work is not only helpful, but necessary.  

I’ve been in this field for a while (20+ years!). My training and wide range of experience will help me to guide you and to provide a customized solution for your particular relationship problems and concerns.

You are welcomed, and encouraged, to be an active vocal partner in therapy. As we work together, I will seek input and constructive feedback from you. Your thoughts, feelings, questions or reactions to our work are vital…and always welcome. As we proceed, we will both learn more about you and what approaches seem to be most effective for you.

Below are several counseling approaches we might take together.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

(CBT) focuses on how your thoughts, beliefs and actions affect your emotions and your relationships.  Sometimes it is not so much an event, but your interpretation of it that effects you deeply. If you are the type of person who loves homework outside our counselling sessions, this may be a great option for you. 

E.M.D.R.

One of the most heavily researched of all psychotherapeutic approaches, E.M.D.R. is effective at reducing the effects of traumatic events. Originally developed as a treatment for  of the mit has been shown to be quite effective at resolving a range of emotional problems large or small. Click here for more info on E.M.D.R.

Neurofeedback Training

In a neurofeedback session, we use a computer to assess and train your EEG brainwaves. The computer and I guide you in in training your brain and your nervous system to be calmer, clearer and more flexible.  This treatment approach has proven to be very helpful for a range of problems including:

  • Insomnia
  • Anger
  • PTSD- Both adult and child onset
  • Chronic anxiety
  • Pain syndromes
  • Headache and Migraine
  • ADD/ADHD
  • Depression
  • Autism Spectrum/Asperger’s
  • Life and work stress

Mindfulness and Attachment Based Counseling Approaches.

Over the last decade, research in psychology has advanced our understanding about the brain, how it functions, and how it influences relationships.  My work with clients always incorporates the latest scientific findings about how people change and what works best in therapy.

Much of what we’ll do is designed to help expand your awareness of thoughts, feelings and body sensations. This process will ultimately help you solve your problems and live a happier fuller life. Attention to all these levels of your being will help you to  change and grow more quickly and permanently. With many clients, I use Mindfulness Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy approaches. I also have earned advanced clinical certifications in Pat Ogden’s Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and Richard Schwartz’s Internal Family Systems Therapy. My love for helping people recover from complex trauma has led me to train with leaders in the field such as Arielle Schwartz, Ph.D, Frank Anderson M.D. and Janina Fisher, Ph.D. 

Coaching, Consultation and Educational Services

We’ll assess your goals and design a plan together.

Frequently asked questions about my services.

Rates and Financial Info

What is your rate?

  • 50 minute sessions are 250.00
  • 60 minute sessions are 275.00
  • 75 minute sessions are 325.00
  • 90 minute sessions and initial consultation are 375.00
  • Qeeg brain mapping- includes acquisition, preparation of data and reports- 850.00
  • Fees are payable via cash, check or credit card.

Neurofeedback and EMDR sessions are a minimum of 1 hour appointments

Do You Offer Online Video Appointments? 

Yes, since 2005 I’ve been offering clients online therapy.

How frequently do we meet?

Clients meet with me 1-2 times per week.

What About Insurance?

My practice is out-of-network. I’ll provide you with an invoice for your insurance company if you would like to get reimbursed. But, I don’t accept your insurance directly. Please contact the company you purchased your coverage from in order to inquire about your coverage.

I have made an intentional choice to remain out-of-network in order to put my clients first. The care I provide is customized according to my expertise and your unique needs, not to insurance dictates. By being out-of-network, I am also more able to safeguard details of your care, honoring your privacy.

All insurance and managed care companies only reimburse for treatment provided to patients diagnosed with a mental disorder. Insurance companies dictate terms of treatment. When this information becomes part of your permanent medical record, there are several important risks.

Here are some ways that having a mental disorder diagnosis may harm you:

  • Having a mental disorder diagnosis can make obtaining life insurance, difficult, expensive or impossible
  • In legal disputes, such as divorces and child custody cases your interests can be harmed
  • If you ever become self employed, purchasing insurance can become impossible or prohibitively expensive
  • When your private, personal information is obtained by an insurance company it is released to medical information databases. Your private information becomes shared among insurers, market researchers and a host of other organizations.
  • If you seek employment which requires a background check or security clearance, your medical records may become available once they are released to an insurance company.
  • Important decisions about our work together will be made by someone who has never met either of us, and who has competing interests to yours.
  • If you have been reading the news, you have heard about how frequently private information gets out. My aim is to provide you with the highest level of ethical care, and your privacy a key underpinning of our work together. The only way I can assure your privacy is by keeping your personal information between you and me.

Can I tell you who does take your insurance?

No. Your best course of action would be to attempt to find a contracted provider who is accepting new patients. “Provider panels” have very heavy turnover, so I am unable to recommend anyone specific.

What About Your Flex Spending Or HSA Account?

Yes. Bring your card with you to our meeting. Many of my clients bring their card with them, and we can swipe it during your visit. If you need an invoice, just let me know and I will be happy to provide you with one which you may submit for reimbursement.

Will You Provide A Superbill?

Yes. Upon request, I can provide you with one. Superbills are not provided for coaching, consultation or educational services.

Do you offer a “sliding scale”?

No.

What are your hours?

I see clients during standard business hours.  My practice is open M-F 9a.m-5 p.m.

Do you have any openings?

I tend to have an opening in my practice approximately every 4-6 weeks. Please feel welcome to use the online scheduler that is on this site. If you have any trouble finding an open appointment, let me know. Here is link:

NEW CLIENT?  BOOK YOUR 90-MINUTE INTAKE HERE

How do you know if my services are right for you?

  • Are you ready to take the necessary steps to decrease your frustration, anxiety, and depression?
  • Do you want guidance and input from a seasoned professional? 
  • Are you willing and able to look at the contributing role that you may be playing??
  • Are you willing to commit the time, money, and effort to improving yourself and your relationships, even when it might be a little uncomfortable?
  • Are you willing to follow through with the work that is required for growing, changing, and mastering new skills?

If you can answer yes to all the previous questions, then you are very likely to benefit from my services.

On occasion, some clients are hesitant to commit to therapy because of a specific concern or question they have. If this is the case for you, and you would like to clear up something before setting up your 90-minute intake session, you may qualify for a free 15-minute phone consultation.

 Review Criteria For A 15-minute Phone Consultation

Looking forward to speaking with you!

Michael G. Quirke, MFT

CA License#39030