Located in downtown Burlingame

Call (650) 733-HOPE to schedule an appointment.

Office of Deborah A. Simmons, PhD, MFT
405 Primrose Rd, Suite 313
Burlingame, CA 94010

Schedule an Appointment



(650) 733-HOPE

(650) 733-4673

 

Rachell MacCarthy, MA
Marriage & Family Therapist Intern
IMF 51237
(650) 733-HOPE

 

 

Supervised by:
Deborah A. Simmons, PhD, MFT
Marriage & Family Therapist
MFC 30119
(650) 558-1015

Welcome

The fact that you are researching therapists is a great first step to getting the help you want. I provide both individual and couples psychotherapy for a wide spectrum of issues including grief and loss, anxiety and fear, relationship building and more. When you and I are actively engaged in the therapeutic process it can be a rewarding and invigorating experience.

I commit to working actively and collaboratively with you to improve your relationships, well being and hopefulness. Together we will take a focused look at your life so that you can move beyond the patterns that may be inhibiting you from reaching your life goals.

There is a sliding scale fee available, or if your needs are beyond my scope of practice I will gladly help connect you with a therapist that can best serve you. I truly look forward to your call.

About Rachell

Rachell is a registered Marriage and Family Therapist Intern. She graduated with a B.S. in Business Management from Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont, CA, and obtained her Master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Western Seminary, Los Gatos, CA. She works with individuals, couples and children in the areas of anxiety, depression, grief/loss, trauma, codependency, self-esteem and conflict resolution.

Rachell is also trained in Rapid Trauma Resolution Therapy®, a revolutionary psychotherapeutic approach to healing emotional and behavioral issues through clinical hypnosis. Rapid Resolution Therapy® eliminates emotional pain and destructive behavioral patterns and completely resolves the psychological and physiological effects of trauma.

Rachell is certified in the Prepare-Enrich Assessment which helps engaged and married couples focus on core strengths and growth areas. Rachell is a member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists.

 

Education:
Western Seminary, Los Gatos, CA
Master's in Marriage and Family Therapy

Notre Dame de Namur University, Belmont, CA
Bachelor's in Business Management

Seminars, Workshops and/or Memberships:
Clinical Hypnosis with Rapid Trauma Resolution®
Prepare Enrich Certified
Board of Behavioral Science
California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT)

Sliding Scale: $50-$70

Links

Counseling Services

  • Anger
  • Anxiety, Stress
  • Body Image and Eating Disorders
  • Children and Divorce
  • Communication Problems
  • Dating problems
  • Depression
  • Discipline Problems
  • Engagement and Pre-Marital Counseling

 

  • Extra-marital affair
  • Family Counseling
  • Fear
  • Feeling Distant
  • Fighting
  • Financial Problems
  • Grief, Loss, Loneliness
  • Hate
  • Life Transitions and Crisis

 

  • Low Self-Esteem
  • Problems in School
  • Problems with Friends
  • Sexual Problems and Dysfunction
  • Sibling Rivalry
  • Sleep Problems
  • Trauma, Abuse Issues
  • Trust Issues
  • Verbal and Physical Abuse

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is psychotherapy?

    Psychotherapy is a partnership between parents, a child and a therapist. The relationship is designed to help a child better handle difficult challenges and live a more fulfilling life. Therapists can assist a child in identifying problem areas, building needed skills and measuring progress. Parents often seek psychotherapy to address symptoms of depression or anxiety. Depending on the situation and the child or adolescent, psychotherapy may be recommended for several weeks or several months.

  • Why do parents seek psychotherapy for their child or adolescent?

    Children enter psychotherapy for a variety of reasons that may include sadness, worrying, anger or stress. Once these feelings are affecting schoolwork or relationships with family and friends, it may be time to seek professional assistance.

  • What can I expect for the first meeting with the therapist?

    Your initial meeting with the therapist is a time for you to get to know each other. You can tell the therapist what you see as the difficulty your child is experiencing, as well as what kind of help you are seeking. You should feel free to ask questions about how the therapist works, what reasonable expectations are for progress, and any other concerns you may have. During the initial session, you will need to read and sign documents that are required by law. You will be informed about your legal rights and obligations in a psychotherapy relationship.

  • How long will the therapeutic process take?

    As with many situations, the answer to this question depends on various factors: the severity of the problem, child's motivation to change, emotional resources of the child and parental support of the process. Sometimes issues can be dealt with in only a few sessions; however, the healing process often takes a bit longer. These questions should certainly be discussed openly with the therapist. Many Americans feel their lives have improved through psychotherapy. In a recent Consumer Reports study, nine out of ten people surveyed said that they had benefited from psychotherapy. Another study indicated that fifty percent of people who had undergone psychotherapy said they saw improvements after eight sessions. After six months, the number jumped to seventy-five percent.

  • What do I tell my adolescent about therapy?

    Adolescents generally have a more sophisticated understanding of psychotherapy than do young children. Parents can generally tell adolescents candidly why therapy is indicated and what topics might be covered. Privacy is usually a primary concern, so it is helpful to reassure adolescents that they will not need to report back to their parents. Also, the therapist will set rules early in therapy regarding what type of feedback will be given to the parents about the sessions. It is important for adolescents to know in advance if any of the information they reveal will be shared with their parents or teachers.

  • How should parents handle the end of therapy session?

    It is generally best to ask no questions at the end of a session. Even an innocent question such as, "So, how was it?", may feel like pressure to discuss sensitive topics. Children often leave therapy with many racing thoughts because they have confronted uncomfortable feelings during the session. Rather than asking the child directly, it may be better to speak with the therapist. The therapist can then tell you the information you need to know while still protecting a child's privacy as appropriate.

 

  • What benefit should I feel afterwards?

    Research has shown that psychotherapy is effective in reducing symptoms, improving relationships and self esteem. However, as each person is an individual it is difficult to generalize at the beginning as to which benefits a person may feel. The exploration and the journey is often as important as the goal.

  • Does it usually work?

    A great deal of research has been done in the last few years to demonstrate that psychotherapy is effective. However, it only works as a catalyst with the person undergoing treatment. This means that in order to be effective, the "work" is not done to you - but by you and with you.

  • How will I feel during therapy?

    It is possible that you may feel worse before you feel better. Therapy requires an uncovering of painful feelings and memories. This can be experienced as a relief but it may also stir up uncomfortable feelings.

  • What goes on in a psychotherapy session?

    It depends! For most adults, sessions involve talking. For children and adolescents, sessions may involve play and/or games. In my approach, clients are encouraged to enter into a trusting relationship with the therapist. Sometimes clients come to sessions with an agenda or something they want to talk about. Other times, people come in with an emotion, a thought, a story, or a success. Each session progresses based upon what the clients needs are at that time. I believe strongly that the collaboration between therapist and client brings the relevant material out.

  • Will I have to talk about things I don’t want to go into?

    The short answer is, no. A good therapist doesn't force people into anything. There may be things that you need to discuss that are difficult. This is why it is important to establish a trusting relationship with your therapist. When this is in place, you can address things as you feel ready.

  • After the first meeting, will I meet with the therapist again?

    A therapist working with a child will arrange periodic meetings with the parent to review progress and make suggestions for further care of the child. During these meetings, parents have the opportunity to ask questions about the therapy. This is an excellent time to evaluate progress to date and to present any new areas of concern. The kind and extent of feedback to the parents will depend on the age and clinical needs of the child. For instance, if too much information is shared with a parent, an older adolescent is unlikely to ever trust the therapist.

  • How long are the sessions?

    Individual psychotherapy sessions normally last 45-50 minutes. Some specialized groups are longer than this.

  • How often are the sessions?

    Most psychotherapy is once weekly, although it can be up to three times per week in certain circumstances.

 

  • What are the differences between a psychologist, social worker and psychiatrist?

    A licensed psychologist can do psychotherapy as well as educational, psychological and neuropsychological evaluations. A licensed clinical social worker can do psychotherapy. Neither a psychologist nor a social worker can prescribe medications. In contrast, psychiatrists have medical doctorates and specialize in mental health issues. They primarily treat problems through the use of medications; however, some of them do psychotherapy as well. Psychiatrists do not administer tests of intelligence, academic skills, attention or emotional functioning.

  • What if I need medication?

    As we discuss the nature of your suffering, it sometimes becomes clear that a psychotropic medication might be helpful. If this is the case, we will discuss together the possibility of a referral to a psychiatrist who can prescribe medication if he or she feels it would be helpful. I do not recommend taking any psychotropic medication without also attending therapy sessions.

  • Does insurance pay for psychotherapy?

    Insurance companies set the rules for payment. Many insurance companies pay for psychotherapy under certain conditions. They may have restrictions on what diagnosis the child must have to be covered. For more information, it's recommended that families contact their insurance provider in advance of the initial therapy session.

  • What is the difference between a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT or LMFT) and a Marriage and Family Therapist Intern (MFTi)

    Marriage and Family Therapist Intern is an interim licensing level for therapists with advanced degrees (MA or MS) in Marriage and Family Therapy who are working to become Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists but who are still completing their supervised work and still need to take the official state licensure exam. In California, 3000 hours of supervised work as an intern are needed to sit for a licensing exam. Only after completing their education and internship and passing the state licensing exam can a person call themselves a Marital and Family Therapist and work unsupervised.

  • What about holidays and cancelled sessions?

    Continuity in therapy is important. Time-off needs to be planned in advance with this in mind. I will try to give you plenty of notice of my absences. Of course we realize that sometimes circumstances may prevent your attending, and I ask that you give as much notice as possible (not less than 24 hours) of a cancellation. If I am unable to reschedule your appointment during the week of the cancellation you are financially responsible for the missed session. Occasionally, I may need to cancel a session, and I will give as much notice as possible. Any feelings stirred up by breaks in your therapy are an important part of the process, and can be discussed in your session with me.

  • Is my family's privacy protected?

    Therapists cannot discuss anything about psychotherapy or an evaluation without permission. In most cases, a parent or legal guardian decides who sees the report or receives any information. There are some exceptions to these confidentiality rules, such as suspected child abuse, suicidality or homicidality. We will review these privacy issues together and answer any questions.

  • How do I find additional information?

    Do not hesitate to call (650) 733-HOPE for more information about Burlingame Marriage and Family Therapy.

Ready to get started?

Call (650) 733-HOPE to schedule an appointment.