Frequently Asked Questions
What ages of children do you work with?
I work with children between the ages of 3-8 years old.
How long will my child be in therapy?
This is a difficult question to answer. It really depends on your child and the pace they set for treatment. I cannot push your child and their psyche to move faster than they are willing and able to go. Further, children take longer than adults to do their psychological work.
Do you work with children under age 3?
At this time, I only see children aged 3-8. While trauma and grief experiences happen to babies and children under the age of 3, these very young children do not necessarily have the ability yet to make meaning of the event in a way that therapy can address. Kids under the age of 3 watch their caretakers for signs on how to react, and are in tune with their caretakers’ energy, and so it is their parents/caretakers who are best able to address the child’s feelings/fears. If your child is still symptomatic when they turn 3 years old, then let’s discuss treatment for your child.
Do you accept insurance?
I accept HMSA, HMSA-Quest, Kaiser, Kaiser-Quest, UHA, HMAA, and HWMG insurances.
How much is your rate?
I charge $175.00 plus tax per session.
How much involvement do I have as a parent/caretaker?
Depending on the issue that brings you to treatment, I may meet with parents frequently to start to help you support your child at home since what you do will have a lot of impact on your child’s behaviors. So we may meet every 2-3 weeks so we can discuss the parenting skills and problem-solve any problematic situations until you feel rather confident using the skills. From there, I like to meet with parents/caretakers at least every 6-8 weeks so that I can provide you with support and maybe even some more parenting recommendations and ideas, if necessary. At these meetings, we will also discuss any updates for your child and family as well as any changes in your child’s behaviors and symptoms.
What if I have a custody agreement?
I do require a copy of the custody agreement for my file for legal reasons. If the parents have joint legal custody, I do require both parents to agree to treatment and complete my intake documents.
Do I have to stay in the building during the session?
My office does not have a waiting room, but there is a seating/waiting area that parents/caregivers can use outside of my office in a common area. I do ask that you do not leave the building, because sometimes unexpected things happen. For example, if your child is feeling ill or having a bad day and wants to end the session early, I will not force your child to stay. Or I will end a session early if a child repeatedly and wantonly breaks a safety rule. Another example of the necessity of having the parent in the building (even if you are just waiting in your car) is if your child reveals thoughts of self-harm, I will want to bring you into the session to discuss a safety plan.
Do you do play therapy with adults?
At this time, no, I do not do play therapy with adults. I am also not aware of any play therapists here on Maui that do, but you may search for play therapists on the website for the Association for Play Therapy at http://www.a4pt.org.
Where do I park? (and do you validate parking?)
My building has a parking structure, and yes, if we have an appointment, I will validate your parking. Please know my parking validation stickers may not cover the entire parking fee, but is offered to help offset the parking fee. There is also street parking parking right in front of my building.
How does confidentiality work for therapy with a child?
Your child is my client and so the things they say and do in their therapy sessions are protected under the rules of confidentiality. However, I will let you know immediately if there are any safety concerns, or if I have any concerns. I will also generally share with caregivers about how treatment is progressing and what it is that your child seems to be working on in therapy. Rest assured that you will be provided with enough information to get a good sense of the therapeutic work your child is undertaking.