Jackie Dotson, LCSW, Sacramento Therapist

Making the decision to come to therapy a difficult step. Most of us try to "tough it out" and work through things on our own before realizing that getting help will make things easier. Making the call to set up an appointment and coming in for the first time are probably the hardest steps for most people. So what can you expect from starting therapy?

Appointments

Initially when we start treatment, I recommend weekly 45 minute appointments. This helps us establish a relationship and at the same time, provides a safe structure to begin tackling the problems that you want to solve. Generally it is the quickest way to get to the heart of the matter. I prefer to give you the same appointment time every week, but can also be flexible to accomodate your schedule. I find that regular attendance provides consistency, which is key to making the changes you want to make. A typical course of therapy lasts anywhere from 6 - 20 sessions but could be fewer or more, depending on your circumstances. Please note that if you have been hospitalized in a psychiatric facility or have had a suicide attempt in the past 6-12 months, I do require weekly sessions.

The First Appointment

My office is located at 4825 J Street, in a small professional office building. There are actually two sides to the building. The main side is in the back and has a double glass door entrance. I am not in the main part of the building, my office is on the smaller side in the front. My door is a single orange and glass door, located closer to J Street. Please arrive no earlier than 5-10 minutes before your appointment time. My office building does not have an intercom/buzzer and I cannot answer the door while in session with another client. If I do not answer the bell right away, don't worry. I will be down to get the door in just a few minutes. I will start our session at the agreed upon time. If for some unforeseen reason, I am running a few minutes behind, you will be guaranteed a full session. We will do some intake paperwork at the first session. During this time, I will explain my office policies and consent to treatment and explain how I work. I will also ask you to tell me a little about what is going on for you right now. You may feel very nervous and not know where to begin. This is a normal, common reaction that most people have when starting therapy.

What to Bring? 

For your first session, please bring your insurance card if you will be using your insurance. If you are paying for therapy out of pocket, payment is due at the time of your appointment. My fee is $110.00 per 45 minute session. If you are using insurance, your co-pay will be due at the time of session. I accept cash, checks, as well as Visa/Mastercard for payment. In the interest of saving time, if you are paying by check, please make your check out before you come to the session. Checks are payable to Jacqueline Dotson. Please let me know if you require a receipt so I can prepare that ahead of time.

How Treatment Works

In the beginning, I will do a brief history taking. This helps give me a snapshot of where you came from and how you got to be where you are today. This will also help us uncover any patterns that may be repeating in your life and holding you back. Initially when taking history, I will take some notes because there are so many details to remember. Otherwise, I generally do not take notes in therapy sessions.

We will work on your treatment plan and figure out what will be different in your life when therapy is done. I find it helps to speed up the process of treatment by beginning with the end in mind and thinking about what you would like your life to be like. Just like traveling with a road map, it is easier to get to where you are going when you have an idea of what the the destination is. Of course, as in life, there may be detours on the way.

How Treatment Ends

After working together for awhile, you will begin to see improvements in your functioning, relationships, decision-making, etc. We will evaluate gains you have made every few sessions and mutually decide when would be a good time to stop working together. If, after working together for awhile, if you feel therapy is not working, or if you are concerned that you are not getting any better, it is important to let me know. We can discuss your concerns and if you feel that I am not the right therapist for you, I would be willing to refer you to a therapist who would perhaps be a better fit for you. The quality of the relationship, aka "a good fit" is the most important aspect to effective therapy. Therefore it is always important to acknowledge when the relationship is working and when it is not.

Late Arrivals, Cancellations and No-Shows

If you cannot keep your appointment time, I do request 24 hours cancellation notice. If you miss an appointment without calling or cancel with less than 24 hours notice, I will charge you my full fee for that time. I measure 24 hours notice by the time stamp left on your voice mail message or the time that we speak if I answer the phone when you call. I do not accept appointment cancellations by e-mail. If you are using your insurance and no-show or late-cancel, you will be responsible for payment of my full fee for the missed appointment. Insurance companies do not reimburse for missed appointments. If you arrive late to an appointment, your time will not be extended and you will be charged for the full session. If I am responsible for a late beginning, I will guarantee a full session.

Phone Calls, Messages and Emergencies

You may leave a confidential voice mail at 454-1021 at any hour. I strive to return all phone calls within 24 hours during the week and by Monday if you call on the weekend. If I do not return your call within this time frame, please call back and indicate that you have called before. It is possible that I could not call you back because I could not understand your phone number when you left a message. This often happens when someone calls from a cell phone. Please remember to speak slowly when leaving your phone number. Also, to ensure your confidentiality, indicate whether I may leave a message when I call you back.

I do not carry a cell-phone or pager for off-hours emergencies. If you have an emergency during a time when I am unavailable and believe you may need an emergency evaluation, you have several options. You can call Heritage Oaks Hospital at 916-489-3336 or Sutter Center for Psychiatry at 386-3077. These hospitals offer mental health assessments free of charge, 24 hours a day. You can also call 911 or go to your nearest hospital emergency room and request a psychiatric evaluation. Please do not attempt to contact me via e-mail if you are in crisis. If you are having a crisis that does not warrant emergency evaluation and would like to schedule an urgent appointment, please call my office at 454-1021 and I will try my best to accomodate you as quickly as possible.