Solano Psychotherapy Associates

F.A.Q. = “Frequently Asked Questions”

What are your fees? In order to be competitive, I set my fee at approximately 80% of the average quoted fee for psychotherapy in the bay area with psychologists of my experience. I have a limited number of low fee slots based on your income. I also have interns and psychological assistants working under my license who can provide therapy at a lower fee. In our first phone contact I will quote you my current fee, and at any time, from the first session on, I will be happy to discuss the fee with you. When an on-going client experiences unexpected financial difficulties, I will gladly adjust my fee accordingly.

Do you take insurance? I will be happy to provide a statement of my services for reimbursement from your insurance company; however, I do not participate with any managed care companies. I recommend you check with your insurance company to determine whether your policy covers my services.

How do you work? My approach is interactive. It is grounded in psychodynamic theory evolving from research on parent-infant attachment patterns, interpersonal coping strategies, and personality development. I will start by asking you to describe the difficulties that bring you in and from there we will investigate the things that do and do not work well in relationship to these difficulties. This will lead us to a mutual examination of the psychological and interactional patterns that may be contributing to these problems. Usually these patterns begin as coping mechanisms or attachment patterns early in life, often under stressful or depriving circumstances. As we age, they evolve into patterns which, during adulthood, can contribute in various ways to undesirable symptoms. Such patterns can be very difficult to see from the inside. It is common for a person to be aware and troubled by a symptom or interactional difficulty without being conscious of the underlying psychological patterns that hold that symptom in place. This process of mutual exploration of these psychological patterns is designed to help you let go of them and their related symptoms and develop more effective emotional, intellectual, and interactional ways of being. This process may produce temporarily uncomfortable or even painful emotional reactions along the way; however, the end result can be extremely relieving and rewarding.

What is your theoretical perspectives? The technical jargon for my theoretical orientation is “Object Relations Theory” as it has been informed by “Attachment Theory” and “The Intersubjective Approach.” Object Relations Theory refers to the internal “maps” we develop in our minds during childhood. These are maps of who we are in relationship to the world around us in all the various circumstances in which we find ourselves. Research on parent–infant attachment patterns has greatly added to object relations theory over the last 20 years. This research has demonstrated how humans carry psychological patterns from the first year of life into adulthood and how these patterns are transferred to the next generation in those parent-infant interactions. The Intersubjective approach evolved from studies on human emotional interactions. This approach requires that I be open to examining with my patients the effects I have on them from what I say, what I do, and who I am as a person.

What experience do you have? I received my first license as a Marriage, Family, and Child Therapist in 1984. I went on to get a Ph.D. in 1985 and a license as a clinical psychologist in 1987. During this time I developed specialties in psychological assessment, couples therapy, individual, and group therapy. My dissertation was on the hidden shame and guilt of children of alcoholics. I began doing short term groups for adult children of alcoholics in 1987 and from these formed several on-going psychotherapy groups that have lasted over two decades. During this time I have also been working with families, couples, and individual adults, all in private practice. I have done my best to stay up on my profession by reading the latest literature and teaching continuing education workshops and courses to other mental health professionals.

How do you evaluate whether your treatment is working or not? I encourage all my patients to work with me to establish clear goals and evaluate on an on-going basis our progress and any obstacles to achieving their goals. Even though the work does not often proceed in a linear fashion, I believe we should maintain a clear sense of where we are headed.

Do you still do forensic psychology? No. For about 10 years Michael Gray was a California licensed “Qualified Medical Evaluator” but retired that license in 2005, to focus on other types of therapy. We are happy to refer anyone wanting such services.

Are there types of therapy you don’t provide? Yes, we don’t perscribe medicine, work with specific phobias, sleep disorders, life-threatening eating disorders, drug problems requiring inpatient treatment, or detox.  We only do limited hypnosis and cognitive behavioral therapy in the context of psychodynamic therapy.  We do not do biofeedback or PET scans.   Dr. Gray does have knowledge of these things and knows excellent practitioners related to each of them.  We are happy to refer anyone wanting such services or who Dr. Gray believe might better benefit from such services.

Are there patients you don’t take? Yes, we don’t take patients who need or want the services mentioned above.  In addition, we do not take managed care patients. Of course, there may be patients we feel are better served by other  services or professionals and we reserve the right to make that judgment.   Dr. Gray does  know excellent practitioners across the full spectrum of psycholgical or psychiatric treatment.   We are happy to refer anyone wanting such services or anyone who Dr. Gray believes might better benefit from such services.

Fast Response Form