Margot Parker M.S., LMFT #115651 Psychotherapist
Wise Turtle Counseling
Solve Problems Through Collaboration
My Approach
I am a Marriage Family Therapist, who specializes in working with adults struggling with anxiety and couples who struggle with lack of connection with each other. I have worked as a mental health professional since 2014 and I am currently in private practice in Thousand Oaks, where my work includes problems related to anxiety and stress, marital, and parenting issues and running Radically Open (RO-DBT) groups. I have worked with grieving individuals, parents and children both in clinical practice and in community settings. I utilize collaborative therapy, dialogue therapy and RO DBT in my work with couples and families. RO DBT is a research-validated therapy for helping individuals and couples strengthen relationships and build stronger connections with the people who matter to them.
What will happen on the first visit
I offer an informal consultation via phone if you would like to talk with me in your process of finding a therapist; I won’t open a file for you or charge you, and we’ll talk for about 20 minutes.
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Our first session is a chance for us to decide if we are a good fit. During our first hour together you can tell me about yourself and what sort of treatment you are looking for. You can also ask me questions about my background, therapy approach, and practice policies. If we feel we have good rapport and that I can provide the treatment that will be most helpful to you, we will schedule additional sessions. If we decide that I may not be the best therapist for you, I will help refer you to another provider who may better suit your needs.
Before your first session, you should print out the New Patient Packet. You will find three forms that I would like you to complete before I meet with you; a description of my practice policies that you need to sign; a patient information form and telehealth authorization if you decide to work with me via Zoom.
Common Questions
How to prepare for my first session?
Before our first session, please print out and complete the New Patient Packet and bring it with you to your first appointment. You can also email the forms to me as an attachment. This choice allows me to read your information before our first appointment. If you are planning to see me via Zoom, then please send the forms via email. Also, it is a good idea to make an appointment with your physician if you haven’t had a check-up in the past year. Often emotional problems are related to physical problems. For example, a thyroid imbalance can manifest as anxiety or depression. Taking care of physical illness can speed up therapy significantly.
What if I miss an appointment?
I will be as flexible as possible when the need arises for a cancellation or a rescheduling of an appointment when given reasonable notice. However, the second time a client does not show up for an appointment, or cancels with less than 24 hours’ notice, a missed appointment fee will be charged. This fee must be paid before our next appointment. Clients with two or more missed appointments may be asked to transfer to another provider.
What if I want to stop treatment?
Therapy is your choice and you may stop treatment at any time. We may decide together that your treatment goals have been met and you are ready to end therapy, or you may come to this conclusion on your own. In this case, it works best if you come in for a final session, so we can discuss your progress and close our work together. If you don’t wish to have a final session, you can let me know by phone or letter. Sometimes clients scale back to meeting every 2-4 weeks before ending therapy, or terminate and then return for a “booster session” or for more extensive therapy. These options may always be discussed. Remember, this treatment is about you and your needs.