Alice Filmus M.A. MFT

About Me and the Work We will be doing Together... 

                                                                  &

To Answer some of the questions you might have... 

What is your Background & Training? I received my Undergraduate degree in Psychology, and then went on to receive a Masters in Counseling Psychology. My training includes, but is not limited to: Trauma and Recovery, Child, Adolescent, Couple and Family therapy, Personality and Mood Disorders, Life transitions, Addiction, LGB Issues, Diversity & Cross Cultural Awareness, Human Sexuality, Geriatrics, Chronic Illness, and Self-Esteem issues.

What is your Therapeutic Orientation? In Couples and Family therapy the focus is on systemic approaches to treating couples, children and their families. I include various modalities of family therapy, specific approaches utilized in the treatment of couples, special issues pertaining to family therapy, and the use of self. I use Psychodynamic theory, Self Psychology, Attachment theory, Solution-Focused, Brief Therapy, Object Relations, CBT, Generally an eclectic approach depending on the clients’ goal of the therapeutic journey and outcome.

Are you part of any Professional Affiliations? I am a Clinical Member of California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists

Languages Spoken: English (fluently) & Russian (almost fluent)

Personal belief: Everyone has something valuable to offer, and with unconditional empathy, compassion, and therapeutic guidance a person's fullest happiest potential can be achieved.

Who are your clients?

I work with individuals, couples, and families who have relationship concerns, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, trauma history, loss or grief.  Life transitions such as a marriage, divorce, having a new baby, or career changes. I also work with students aspiring to be in the field. Some schools require their Psychology students to seek personal therapy. The BBS triple counts hours for personal therapy, and I have a sliding scale for students because I remember how tough it was paying for tuition and for therapy.

Limits of the Therapy Relationship:

What Clients Should Know

Psychotherapy is a professional service I can provide to you. Because of the nature of therapy, our relationship has to be different from most relationships. It may differ in how long it lasts, in the topics we discuss, or in the goals of our relationship. It must also be limited to the relationship of therapist and client only. If we were to interact in any other ways, we would then have a "dual relationship" which would not be right, and may not be legal. The different therapy professions have rules against such relationships to protect us both.

I want to explain why having a dual relationship is not a good idea. Dual relationships can set up conflicts between my own (the therapist's) interests and your (the client's) best interests, and then the client's interests might not be put first. In order to offer all my clients the best care, my judgment needs to be unselfish and professional.

Because I am your therapist, dual relationships like these are improper:

~I cannot be your supervisor, teacher, or evaluator.

~I cannot be a therapist to my own relatives, friends (or the relatives of friends), people I know socially, or business contacts.

~I cannot provide therapy to people I used to know socially, or to former business contacts.

~I cannot have any other kind of business relationship with you besides the therapy itself. For example, I cannot employ you, lend to or borrow from you, or trade or barter your services (things like tutoring, repairing, legal advice, dentistry, etc.) or goods for therapy.

~I cannot give legal, medical, financial, or any other type of professional advice.

~I cannot have any kind of romantic or sexual relationship with a former or current client, or any other people close to a client.

There are important differences between therapy and friendship. As your therapist, I cannot be your friend. Friends may see your position only from their personal viewpoints and experiences. Friends may want to find quick and easy solutions to your problems so that they can feel helpful. These short-term solutions may not be in your long-term best interest. Friends do not usually follow up on their advice to see whether it was useful. They may need to have you do what they advise. A therapist offers you choices and helps you choose what is best for you. A therapist helps you learn how to solve problems better and make better decisions. A therapist's responses to your situation are based on tested theories and methods of change. You should also know that therapists are required to keep the identity of their clients secret. Therefore, I may ignore you when we meet in a public place, and I must decline to attend your family's gatherings if you invite me. Lastly, when our therapy is completed, I will not be able to be a friend to you like your other friends.

In sum, my duty as therapist is to care for you and my other clients, but only in the professional role of therapist.

These professional boundaries all create a safe place for you, and make it possible for you to have an ideal therapeutic world.

Please Note: Limits of the Therapy Relationship: What Clients Should Know and The Clinician's Toolbox™, The Paper Office, 2nd Edition are the property of Edward L. Zuckerman, Ph.D., and The Guilford Press, copyright 1997, reprinted with permission.

Why does therapy cost so much? I’m not sure I can afford it.

It’s true that therapy can seem like a big expense, but many people come to feel that the cost is minimal compared to what they have gained from it. Good therapy brings about changes that go beyond whatever the immediate problem appears to be, because most problems are interconnected with all different parts of your life.

The time, energy and money you put into therapy usually results in a sense of peace and happiness many times over what you had initially hoped for. In most cases it opens up a newer happier “better” you.

What are your fees and do you give discounts in these harsh econimic times?

The fee is $200 per therapy hour (50 minutes) There is a sliding scale for those with financial limitations and aspiring therapists.

Do you accept insurance?

With respect to health insurance, I do not participate in any managed care networks. I do not accept insurance at this time and currently work with private pay clients.

Phone therapy?

With lack of time being the reality for so many people these days, phone therapy is becoming a viable option to face-to-face therapy sessions for some.   People are busy, traveling, are overwhelmed with obligations and in some cases, appreciate the additional privacy that phone counseling can provide. 

Please note, it is my belief that not all people are good candidates for phone therapy.

These people include the following:

Individuals who are experiencing crisis concerns or more serious clinical situations.  If you are suicidal and in need of assistance right away, dial 911.

Individuals who have serious unresolved trauma and family of origin issues.  This entails deeper and possibly grief eliciting work that is better suited for face-to-face therapy for maximum therapeutic support, connection and my ability to monitor nonverbal communication.

Couples - Much of my relationship therapy includes physical cues and attempts to connect the individuals in ways that I’m not able to do on the other end of a phone line.

I prefer to meet face-to-face for an initial session, however, I realize this may not be possible if you are out of the San Francisco area. I will consider each situation on a case by base basis. Be aware that due to licensing laws governing California Marriage and Family Therapists, I am only allowed to do therapy (face-to-face or phone) with people in California.

My rate for phone therapy is less than a standard face-to-face session $150 per 50 minute therapy hour. I am open to a fee reduction if this is not affordable to you at this time: a sliding scale starting at $100 per session.

Is everything I say confidential?

The therapist-client relationship is confidential but there are exceptions. I am legally bound to report child abuse and elder abuse. I am also required to report intentions to commit homicide or do grave bodily injury to another. Lastly, I am bound to break confidentiality to protect a client who is actively suicidal.