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Vanessa Bellafiore —
Psychotherapy, Somatic Experiencing, and EMDR in Pasadena
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have additional questions regarding therapy, Somatic Experiencing, and EMDR in Pasadena, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
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I don’t accept insurance. However, I do provide superbills upon request. As an out-of-network provider, you can submit a superbill to your insurance provider for possible partial reimbursement.
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50-minute sessions are $250.
75-minute sessions are $300.
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I require a minimum of 24 hours notice to cancel a session without charge. In the event that you cancel less than 24 hours before your scheduled appointment, the full session fee will be charged.
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Individual therapy sessions are 50 minutes long.
Couples sessions, EMDR treatments, and extended individual sessions (available upon request), are 75 minutes long.
Initially, therapy sessions begin weekly. This is important because weekly therapy lays down the groundwork for a journey toward self-discovery and healing. It's about creating a safe and trusting space where you can explore your thoughts, feelings, and experiences in depth. By meeting regularly, we're able to delve deeper into the layers of your subconscious, unraveling the mysteries behind your emotions and behaviors.
Through this process, we not only gain insight into your individual experiences but also uncover patterns in your relationships and interactions with others. Together, we'll shine a light on any resistance or barriers that may be holding you back, allowing for a more profound exploration of your inner world.
Ultimately, initial weekly sessions set the stage for a successful therapeutic journey by fostering trust, exploring unconscious processes, processing relational dynamics, integrating symbolic material, developing insight, addressing barriers to progress, and facilitating emotional healing.
However, clients may decide to move their sessions to biweekly as treatment progresses.
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I offer free 20-25 minute consultations to see if I am the right fit for you. You may contact me via text or email. If you choose to move forward during our consultation call, we will schedule your first session. At that appointment, we will discuss the best day and time to schedule your sessions moving forward.
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Yes. I offer in-person therapy sessions for any clients who are able to come to my office in South Pasadena. For clients living out of the immediate area — but are California residents — I’m available for virtual therapy sessions.
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I do not offer weekends or evenings at this time.
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The range of treatments for psychological stress and trauma varies widely. Somatic Experiencing Therapy addresses the unresolved emotions embedded in the body, making it a suitable treatment for almost anyone affected by life's stresses, not just those with severe traumas.
The effectiveness of somatic therapy depends on several factors including the severity of trauma, the individual's engagement in the healing process, and the frequency of sessions. Regularly scheduled therapy tends to accelerate recovery, offering more substantial improvements than many expect.
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The process begins with a thorough history taking, preparation, and identifying the specific problematic events you’d like to work through and their elements. It progresses to actively processing the past, present, and future components of these events, alongside continuous evaluation.
The processing stage involves bilateral dual stimulation techniques—such as eye movements, taps, or tones—while you focus on various aspects of the memory. Following each set of movements, we will process your experience. To ensure that you leave each session feeling empowered and in control, I will teach you various techniques to help manage any challenging feelings that may arise. By the end of your EMDR Therapy sessions, disturbing memories and current triggers should be alleviated, with new, healthy responses becoming the standard.
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The number of EMDR Therapy sessions required varies depending on the specific problem and the client's history. Often, a single traumatic event can be processed within three sessions for the majority of individuals. In some cases, significant relief from PTSD symptoms can be achieved after approximately six hours of treatment, whereas other situations might necessitate around 12 sessions for substantial improvement.