Alan Pennington, LMFT
 

 Frequently Asked Questions

 
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Are you seeing clients in-person or virtually?

As of July 2021 I am seeing clients both in-person and virtually.


Do you take insurance? What’s your fee?

I don’t take insurance. My full fee is $150, and I offer lower fees of $100 or $125 based on your situation.


How long does therapy take?

Some clients say, how long is this going to take. I say, it depends on how much work you want to do. If you want a small renovation, maybe just 6 to 8 weeks. If you want a full remodel, well, it's going to take longer. Every case is different but I will work with you to determine what goals are most realistic and give you a reasonable expectation of how much work is involved and how long it will take.


How do I setup an initial appointment?

You can text or call me at (615) 347-3352 to set up a consult call. You can also email me at alan@diveintoabetterlife.com


Why is your website called “Dive into a better life”?

Dive into a better life is a scuba diving metaphor. It means sometimes you just have to take that jump off the boat and into the big blue unknown to find out what's out there.

Life is also a lot like diving.

  • On a dive, if you and your buddy are in trouble, you have to make sure you are safe before you try to save your buddy. If you drowned, you won't be any help to anyone. The same is true in life. Take care of yourself and then you will be in a better place to help others.

  • In diving, safety is paramount. You must know the dangers, how to deal with them or better yet, how to avoid them and some places the currents will just drag you down. If you are caught in one of those currents, you may need someone to help pull you to safety. That's part of my job.

  • In diving, you need to know where you are going. There's a lot of planning and the more you prepare for the trip, the better experience it will be. The same is true in life.

  • If someone panics on a dive, it is important to stay calm and approach them from the back so that they don't drag you down with them. In life, if someone is panicking, don't confront them, just ease around and help them feel safe and then move forward. In any event, always know what you will do before the emergency happens.