One is in their own self the wanderer, the exile, the homecoming, and home.
-Anandamayi Ma
As a therapist, I am trained to work in many different ways. At any given time, this may take the form of psychoeducation, finding specific solutions to specific problems, and supporting clients through major life transitions. Many individuals and couples are satisfied with just a few sessions to get them back on the right path.
With this said, I find that working on a deeper level with clients promotes more lasting change. This might include exploring how family, culture, work, and spirituality interact with and have been an influence in one’s life, revealing unconscious scripts, assisting clients to better understand their relationship patterns with spouses or family members, and exploring how our true Self attempts to communicate through the body and dreams. Regardless, it is my ultimate goal to form a trusting, genuine, and open relationship – working together as a team to create greater fulfillment in life.
I work with couples, individuals, and groups from a Psychodynamic, Systems, Psychomotor, Cognitive/Behavioral, and Transactional Analytic perspective. I have had marked success assisting individuals, couples, and groups with a specific interest in relationship discord, difficulty with intimacy, anxiety, depression, grief/loss, and addiction.
Current Group Therapy Offerings:
How to find the Love of Your Life
In this group, we explore dating challenges, the progression of a romantic relationship, how one's experiences in family and in past relationships has made finding love more challenging, mistaken assumptions about intimate connections, and eventually what each member individually may be contributing to his/her difficulty finding love. In connection with others struggling with similar issues, group members receive feedback in a supportive environment and learn valuable skills that increase the odds of finding one's soul mate.
Recovering from the Trauma of Divorce
This group is intended to soften the blow of divorce and help members get back on their feet to a life that feels in control and full of promise. Through group therapy process, expressive arts, and psychoeducation, members will experience profound healing. Working through grief, anger, depression, and anxiety will be main areas of focus.
Learning to Set Boundaries and Get What You Want
This group helps members find more balance in romantic, family, and professional relationships. For many people setting boundaries brings up fear, self-doubt, and confusion. Worse, the longer one goes in a relationship without proper boundaries, the less likely it is to be satisfying. Members will learn how to enhance communication and healthy balance in their relationships through group process and psychoeducation, including assertiveness training.
Individual Psychotherapy:
$120 per 50 minute session. A sliding scale may be considered under special circumstances.
Couples Psychotherapy:
$120 per 50 minute session. $180 per 75-minute session. A sliding scale may be considered under special circumstances.
Group Psychotherapy:
I offer a sliding scale from $40-$60 per 90 minute session.
Insurance:
Anthem Blue Cross (including within UC School System), Tricare, and Magellan
If I am out-of-network with your insurance carrier, I will provide you with end of the month billing statements so you can attain reimbursement.
Scheduling:
I offer psychotherapy appointments six days per week, including Saturdays from 9AM-9PM.
For the past six years, my psychotherapy practice has been in San Francisco, CA. A high proportion of my clients have been couples dealing with intimacy problems, as well as individuals struggling with difficult life transitions, depression, anxiety, self-harming behaviors, relationship discord, chemical dependency, and grief/loss. I utilize individual, couples/ family, and group psychotherapy modalities.
I have also been leading interpersonal psychotherapy groups for six years. My groups focus on interpersonal connectedness and opening to intimacy. Invariably, this process leads to grieving past pain and loss.
In 1996, I graduated Magna Cum Laude from University of Virginia with degrees in psychology and studio art. In 2003, I completed my graduate training at the University of Georgia School of Social Work, which included intensive psychotherapy training at the Medical College of Georgia and Augusta Veteran's Administration Hospital. Upon moving to California, I attained an associateship at the Marina Counseling Center in San Francisco and soon after opened my private practice in Pacific Heights, San Francisco.
I have recently relocated to San Luis Obispo, CA where I hold a full-time private psychotherapy practice.
Ben Elfant-Rea, LCSW
11573 Los Osos Valley Road
Suite H
San Luis Obispo, CA
93405
Phone : (805) 903-2604
E-mail benrea_earthlink.net
"I have worked with Ben Elfant-Rea for 7 years as a consultant for his groups and individual therapy. What Ben provides is an astute blend of the clinical, the interpersonal, and the transpersonal dimensions in his work. Rarely have I come across a clinician who can apply such a multi-dimensional, relational approach. He demonstrates an innate wisdom that is also seasoned with a broad range of clinical experience -- be that in individual, couples, or group treatment. Whomever he works with, I feel, is in safe hands; and I do not use these words lightly. This is a clinician who is a gifted healer, not merely a skilled technician."
Jim Fishman, LCSW
Psychotherapist, Instructor Northern California Group Psychotherapy Association
"Ben is a gentle, nurturing therapist who is also direct and professional. I have worked on client cases with him many times and am always impressed by his insights and depth. Whether struggling in relationship or going through trauma, Ben is a strong support system to have. I would highly recommend him as a therapist."
Tamara Hostetler, LMFT
Psychotherapist
"As a licensed marriage and family therapist, I often find myself in need of a good referral. Through the years, I have had the opportunity to work with Ben many times. Ben is a down-to-earth, warm, and intelligent practitioner who is truly able to meet clients where they are. He handles depth and crisis with equal confidence based on rich training and years of experience. I feel excited to give Ben my highest recommendation."
Bambi Zilberstain-Twersky, LMFT
Further testimonials on Yelp!
http://www.yelp.com/biz/ben-elfant-rea-lcsw-san-luis-obispo#query:psychotherapy
