FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
Couples Counseling
How effective is couples counseling?
How important is the relationship with the Couple Counselor?
What is your approach to couples counseling?
Do you keep secrets in couples therapy?
What will we accomplish in couples counseling?
Do you meet with each individual separate from the couple?
360 Divorce Solution
What if the relationship is over?
What are the benefits of 360 Divorce Solution?
Therapy and Coaching
Do you see individuals for therapy?
How do you define therapy?
How do you define coaching?
How does coaching and therapy work together?
How effective is therapy?
How will I benefit from therapy/coaching?
How can you help me?
What is your approach to individual therapy/coaching?
Which populations do you work with?
Is therapy confidential?
How long will it take to solve problems?
Administrative Information
What is your fees, payment options and do you accept insurance?
What is your cancellation policy?
Where are your offices and do you see clients in other settings?
Next Steps
How can I talk with someone about working with you?
How effective is couples counseling?
Research shows that couples counseling works for 70% of couples receiving treatment, and these couples do vastly superior compared to those who do not seek help. Couples find that the positive changes they make with the support of a relationship expert surprise them. We help both partners take responsibility, learn to accept themselves and each other, and get motivated and excited about improving their relationship and lives.
How important is the relationship with the Couple Counselor?
We view the relationship between our clients and us core to the success of couples counseling. Research supports the quality of this relationship as the most significant element in a positive client outcome. It is the engine behind client’s positive change. Our clients are confident in our comprehensive professional experience and training, and feel supported by an unwavering commitment and passion for their well-being. Our clients feel trust, understanding and an alliance with us, which allows us to be influential, persuasive and convincing when needed. We rely on deep empathy, but also best research evidence and practices that can offer real hope, optimism and real positive change. We monitor couple’s progress based on a plan that is adaptive to the growth and achievement of goals.
What is your approach to couples counseling?
Every counselor at 360 Relationship has deep expertise in helping couples build healthy and vibrant relationships. We integrate many different scientifically verified models, such as Emotionally Focused Therapy, Gottman Method, AEDP, and Family Systems Theory with our own findings. This expertise and experience is the foundation we stand on and the person you work with is personable, warm, confident and accessible. Every session will offer feedback, guidance, tools and meaningful insight, and you will immediately start to notice a change in your relationship. We meet you with a modern, positive and results-oriented approach that blends the best practices of therapy and coaching.
Do you keep secrets in couples therapy?
Yes, sometimes. The truth is that sometimes honesty can be extremely painful to the other person and as experts we constantly navigate what, how and when to facilitate communication to ensure that both partners do not say or hear more than they can handle. It is also important that individuals have a safe outlet for what is really going on for them, in order for us to help the couple.
We do not judge past behaviors in any other way than products of past hurts. Clients feel safe with us as we approach every person with accept and the desire and skills to help. In our work we get to forgiveness, resolutions and new agreements that becomes a powerful road map for the couple, and gives space for each individual to be their own person with integrity and purpose in life.
What will we accomplish in couples counseling?
Couples counseling is a relationship between three people where your couple’s counselor is a trusted partner who will consult and help address the issues in your relationship. Here are a few samples of goals you may achieve:
- You will learn to explore your problems from a new perspective.
- Learn new ways to recognize and resolve conflicts with tools we provide.
- Improve communication and learn to be vulnerable and trusting of one another.
- Work through tough issues and let go of past “baggage”.
- Rebuild your relationship, make agreements and commit to a new future.
Do you meet with each individual separate from the couple?
Yes, as couple and family system counselors we see the entire system and its parts as important to making progress. It can be helpful and sometimes necessary to work with one or both individuals separate from the couple when we believe that this is important for the couple’s progress and each person’s individual development and health.
What if the relationship is over?
Some couples come to counseling after their problems have festered for years. When they seek our help their motivation and goals may be different. In some cases one or both partners have already decided to end the relationship. This can be revealed up front or uncovered in our work. In these cases the couples counseling is really separation or divorce counseling. Other issues that can make for a complex process are addiction, mental illness, and unhealthy power dynamics.
The importance of working with a very skilled relationship expert cannot be overstated.
What are the benefits of 360 Divorce Solution?
Our senior staff of relationship experts is certified divorce mediators. When emotions run high we ensure increased cooperation and decreased hostility. As a divorce attorney told a client ‘nothing scares us’. This is because we see hurt people in crisis who need help and a road map through a difficult transition. We are familiar with both the financial and legal process, and facilitate productive and respectful conversations. We work with family attorneys and legal mediators, and make referrals to same as appropriate. Our team offers an efficient and healthy alternative to a drawn out legal battle. We help clients think creatively, negotiate parenting plans and facilitate agreements that make sense emotionally and financially.
Do you see individuals for therapy?
As relationship experts we counsel with individuals who wants to improve relationships with others. This can be their relationship to a partner, family, friends or colleagues. We may work just with the individual and also include others in session to make progress as appropriate, indicated and agreed. We also help with numerous issues that manifest in making or having connections with others. Please visit here for more information.
How do you define therapy?
Therapy is a variety of techniques and methods that facilitates healing and growth by alleviating emotional and cognitive distress. A unique, professional and trusting relationship between the client and therapist is the anchor-point in therapy. The interpersonal communication in the sessions goes far beyond “talking about problems” as it reaches clients inner thoughts and feelings. A highly skilled therapist will help clients discover themselves in an often profound, meaningful and helpful way so causes of pain can be understood and resolved.
How do you define coaching?
Coaching is a teaching, training and development process where we support clients in achieving specific personal or professional goals. Coaching goals can include creating and sustaining a new routine, ending a bad habit, setting career goals, learning how to improve interpersonal relationships, become an effective leader, do well in job interviews, improve your communication, learning to take charge of finances, just to mention a few issues our clients have successfully traversed with our help. Effective coaching helps you make positive and long lasting changes in your life. At 360 Relationship, we use our extensive coaching background in the fields of communication, human resources, finance, marketing, and as relationship experts to help you achieve your goals.
How does coaching and therapy work together?
Therapy can be explained as the process of understanding how your life experiences and resulting thoughts and feelings influence your functioning. Coaching supports specific future short or long-term objectives, and is geared toward helping you achieve your desired outcome. There are clear overlaps in how therapy and coaching support personal growth, and our clients benefit from our expertise in both fields. Life is not divided neatly in past, present and future, but rather an integrated human experience. The quest as a human is to gain a deeper understanding of who we are, define what matters to us, and achieve goals in the most effective and sustainable manner, and to enjoy the journey. Coaching and therapy conducted with expert understanding of what the client needs is a potent agent of positive change.
How effective is therapy?
With an excellent therapist, scientific research has proven therapy to be highly effective and also cost-effective. Research further shows the effects of therapy are lasting, continuous, increasing over time and more enduring than medication. In controlled trials therapy show that over 80% of clients make positive changes in their lives and are better off than those who don’t receive treatment.
How will I benefit from therapy/coaching?
Sometimes it may be obvious to you that you need help, but other times it may be a yearning for someone with deep expertise and a clear perspective to help you discover your own truths and wisdom. Therapy is proven to significantly improve clients’ conditions and propel their lives in a better direction.
Our guidance and tools will aid you to find positive perspectives and pursue new directions. We will help you incorporate what you learn into your daily life to ensure immediate results and long-term success.
Benefits may include:
- Enhanced communication skills
• Clear understanding of yourself, your goals and values
• Skills for improving your relationships
• Problem solving and coping skills
• Effective management of stress and anxiety
• Coping with anger, anxiety, grief, depression, and other emotional pressures
• Learn new behaviors and break those that no longer serve you
• Improved self-esteem and confidence
How can you help me?
We will help you understand and resolve what holds you back, develop problem-solving skills and support your goals for personal growth. We are highly trained to help you establish coping strategies for a variety of issues including depression, anxiety, unresolved childhood issues, grief, stress, body image concerns and career impasses.
The hardest step to take is often to reach out to us. What most people say is that they did not know where to turn, saw seeking help as a sign of weakness, or felt hopeless and not believing that therapy would help. We want you to consider that seeking help when you need it is a sign of strength and resourcefulness.
What is your approach to individual therapy/coaching?
At 360 Relationship, our ultimate goal is to help our clients gain insight into why certain issues occur, work through them, address and reduce negative symptoms, and avoid the re-emergence of the symptoms in the future, so each client can reach their optimal functioning. It is also important to let passions and new goals emerge, and we help clients define and take steps into their future with increased self-esteem, clarity and confidence.
Which populations do you work with?
We are experienced in working with couples and individuals from all backgrounds and all sexual and lifestyle orientations. Our therapeutic style is interactive, relational, deeply empathic, and respectful of your values and choices. We have an ongoing commitment to continually growing personally and professionally to provide the best help to our clients. We expect to help you improve your health, your relationships, and your ability to function and prosper in the world.
Is therapy confidential?
We take every step to protect your confidentiality, and the law protects the confidentiality of communication between a client and therapist. No information is disclosed without prior written permission from you to anyone.
However, there are some exceptions required by law to this rule. Exceptions include:
- Suspected child abuse or dependent adult or elder abuse. The therapist is required by law to report this to the appropriate authorities immediately.
- Client threatens serious bodily harm to another person. The therapist is required by law to notify the police immediately.
- Client threatens to harm him or herself. The therapist will make every effort to work with the individual to ensure their safety. However, if an individual does not cooperate, additional measures may need to be taken.
All visits and records are confidential. No one will be notified of your participation in therapy unless you specifically request a release of this information in writing.
How long will it take to solve problems?
We understand the sense of urgency that can accompany this question. You are done with feeling a certain way and you want it to change, and we support this. In this general answer all we can state is that the length of therapy depends on your specific issues and your commitment.
You can expect us to clearly share our assessment based on your particular situation in the first few sessions, and to help you define your goals. As you progress towards your goals we constantly fine tune and re-evaluate. You will discover your inner strengths and gain the skills, tools and awareness you need to navigate the challenges, and enter your future with greater clarity, confidence and momentum. When we work together it is because we are confident we can help you.
What are your fees, payment options and do you accept insurance?
Our fees vary depending on provider and range from $75-$225 per 50-minute session. Please see each clinician’s page. Accepted payment methods include cash, checks and all major credit cards. We do not accept payment directly from insurance providers. However, if you have out of network coverage from your insurance carrier, your mental health benefits may be partially reimbursable, and we will provide you with the appropriate statement for submission. Please check with your carrier for details.
What is your cancellation policy?
Appointments are in high demand, and your timely cancellation will give another person the opportunity to have access to our services. Please make sure you contact us 48 hours in advance of a cancellation; otherwise we must bill you for the session fee.
Where are your offices and do you see clients in other settings?
We see clients in San Francisco Bay Area. We also offer sessions per phone and video conference from the privacy of your home or office anywhere in the world. We also see clients in the privacy of their homes under certain circumstances. Travel time is added to the session cost.
How can I talk with someone about working with you?
You can take any of these steps:
- Call 415.813.5454 and leave a confidential message with some good times we can call you back.
- Contact us at Contact@360Relationship.com. Your email will be read by either Marit Bakken or Claudio Zanet and is confidential.
- Book a phone call on this calendar at a day and time that is convenient and we will call you.
Welcome to 360 Relationship – Help that works.