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COMELO COUNSELING

Suzanne Fischer Comelo

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (CA MFT 131314)

Providing a Welcoming, Non-Judgmental Space for Healing

Are you struggling with the impact of anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, relationship difficulties or major life changes? We all can use support to navigate life at times. I’d love to help you on your journey toward healing and self-discovery. I have experience working individually and in groups with people of varied ages (children ages 6 +), pre-teens/teens, adults, older adults/seniors and from diverse cultural backgrounds.  I have supported clients with a wide range of issues and my focus areas include: anxiety, trauma, depression, grief and loss, work stress and burnout, life transitions, and Highly Sensitive Persons (HSPs).  

Life can be overwhelming and sometimes exhausting. My goal is to help you understand yourself and your relationships more deeply and find more effective ways to cope with life and relationship changes, whether planned or unexpected.

(Offering Telehealth in California and In-Person in Castro Valley & Hayward, CA)

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About Me

As an HSP myself, I have navigated my life with gifts of deeper processing that also come with unique capacities and limits that need to be honored to maximize the strengths of my trait.  My own journey led to a career change, from a profession riddled with boundary-less overwork and burnout to my private practice counseling career, which enables me to use my strengths to support others, while honoring the human need to maintain overall health and well being in order to thrive.

PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIAL

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (131314), California

NPI: 1982126314

EDUCATION

MA in Counseling Psychology

Golden Gate University

ADDITIONAL TRAININGS, SEMINARS & EXPERIENCE 

Trauma Focused CBT (TF-CBT) (training)

Attachment-Focused Play Therapy (training)

Psychotherapy & Highly Sensitive Persons (HSPs)

Mindfulness (four 10-day silent Vipassana meditation retreats)

"Effectively Supporting Safe & Inclusive Spaces for LGPQ-TI Clients & Colleagues" (training)

"Crisis De-Escalation & Safety in the Field-Working with System-Involved Families"

"Transforming Stress & Trauma: Fostering Wellness & Resilience" (training)

Grief Recovery Method (group participant)

"Mindfulness & Grief" (San Francisco Zen Hospice Center)

"Awakening Our Hearts: Exploring White Privilege to Build Authentic Relationships Across Difference"

"Buddha's Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love & Wisdom" (Seminar)

"Connection Practice & Connection Experience" (Rita Marie Johnson)(Seminar)

Family Paths Parent Support Hotline (training & past volunteer)

AFFILIATIONS:

California Association of Marriage & Family Therapists, East Bay Chapter

Included on Dr. Elaine Aron's List of HSP-Knowledgeable Professionals

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Services Offered

I have experience providing clients in the East Bay with a wide range of psychological and counseling services to suit their needs. Whether you’re seeking help for yourself, your child, or an older relative and whether you are looking for individual, couple or family support - my therapy sessions are designed to increase awareness, strengthen your confidence, and support your healing process and improved relationships. Take a look at the services I offer, and reach out for a free phone consultation today.

Forest

Individual Therapy

A Healthier, Confident You

In our therapy sessions, we’ll work to solve current problems and improve positive thinking and behavior. I can help you explore coping skills you've developed to navigate life and help you decide which ones are of benefit, can be modified, or no longer serve you.  We can find valuable tools to give you more choice in how you cope with life’s obstacles. I specialize in clients who have or think they may have the normal genetic trait of sensory processing sensitivity (also called "Highly Sensitive Person or Child" by Dr. Elaine Aron, www.hsperson.com).  Get in touch to inquire about current availability.

Support Group

Group Therapy

HSP, Anxiety, Grief & Older Adult Groups Offered

Sharing a part of our healing journey with others who may have some common experiences can help us know we are not alone and offer another avenue for healing through connection and experiencing mutually supportive relationships.

For current Group Offerings, click on the Group Therapy under "More" at the top right of the website's wecome page. 

Holding Hands

Couples Therapy

Support for Your Relationship

I support couples in improving their communication and understanding of each other and the strengths and needs of their relationship. With the help of various therapeutic methods, you can develop new understandings, new attitudes, and new hopes for your relationship. Developing knowledge and skills to navigate complex relationship topics in respectful, loving ways can be of great benefit.  Schedule an appointment today to begin your journey toward stronger connection.

Family Time

Family Therapy

Strengthening Your Family Connection

Family Therapy can be an invaluable way to increase awareness and understanding of your particular family system and the subsystems and individual roles that sustain it.  It can help you learn to better communicate, connect and support one another and your family unit. Contact me today to learn more about how family therapy can help you and your loved ones thrive.

Old Globe

Children and Adolescents

Creative Art, Play, Sand & Narrative Therapy

Children and teens face multiple changes and challenges at these key developmental stages, which can result in increased anxiety (social and general), depressed feelings, decreased self esteem, and peer rejection that may negatively impact their lives at home and in school.  I use a variety of creative, play, narrative and mindfulness-based therapeutic techniques to connect with kids and teens, to meet them where they are at, and to help them reconnect with their sense of worth, build confidence, and learn new skills to better express their feelings and needs so they can more capably navigate change, relationships, school, and life.

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A Bit About Therapy

Personalized Attention for Your Needs

I use an integrated, humanistic approach, drawing on various psychotherapy methods to help foster more self-understanding among clients and encourage them to adopt new attitudes and feelings about their life situations. Therapy is a healing process and it requires participation and investment from both client and therapist. I have experience using brief and long term models and, ultimately, even small changes to unconscious patterns and old coping behaviors can improve one's ability to cope with and enjoy life. 

"We don't have to do it all alone. We were never meant to."​   - Brene Brown

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Helpful Information and Resources

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Dr. Elaine Aron's Website & Resources

Website: www.hsperson.com 

Self-Test (Adults & Children): HSP Self-Test

Self-Test for HSPs who are also High Sensation Seeking:  HSP-HSS Self-Test 
http://hsperson.com/test/high-sensation-seeking-test/

Highly Sensitive Person (HSP)  Books  

The Highly Sensitive Person: How To Thrive When The World Overwhelms You
by Elaine N. Aron, Ph.D.

The Highly Sensitive Person's Workbook
by Elaine N. Aron Ph.D.

Brain Training For The Highly Sensitive Person: Techniques To Reduce Anxiety and Overwhelming Emotions: An 8-Week Program

by Julie Bjelland LMF

The Highly Sensitive Person in Love: Understanding and Managing Relationships When the World Overwhelms You

by Elaine N. Aron Ph.D.

Making Work Work for the Highly Sensitive Person

by Barrie S. Jaeger and Elaine Aron 


The Undervalued Self: Restore Your Love/Power Balance, Transform the Inner Voice That Holds You Back, and Find Your True Self-Worth

by Elaine N. Aron, Ph.D.

High Sensation Seeking HSPs (HSS-HSPs) Books  

"Emotional Sensitivity and Intensity: How to manage intense emotions as a highly sensitive person" 

by Imi Lo

Highly Sensitive Children (HSC) Books & Parent Resources

The Highly Sensitive Child: Helping Our Children Thrive When The World Overwhelms Them

by Elaine N. Aron Ph.D.

Other Parent Resources (Dr. Elaine Aron)

Parenting the Highly Sensitive Child

(website and blog by Maureen, a parent of an HSC)

Understanding the Highly Sensitive Child 

by Jamie Williamson

Understanding the Highly Sensitive Child: Seeing an Overwhelming World through Their Eyes (My Highly Sensitive Child)

Book 1 of 2: My Highly Sensitive Child 

by James Williams

Supporting the Highly Sensitive Child: Making Sense of Meltdowns (My Highly Sensitive Child)

Book 2 of 2: My Highly Sensitive Child 

by James Williams

My Great Big Feelings: A Story for Sensitive Children

by C. M. Tolentino

Complex Trauma

Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents: How to Heal from Distant, Rejecting, or Self-Involved Parents, by Lindsay C. Gibson 


Self-Care for Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents: Honor Your Emotions, Nurture Your Self, and Live with Confidence, by Lindsay C. Gibson PsyD

Recovering from Emotionally Immature Parents: Practical Tools to Establish Boundaries and Reclaim Your Emotional Autonomy,
by Lindsay C. Gibson

Ducks Over the Lake

FEES AND COSTS

Session Length: 50 minutes

(Longer or shorter sessions charged pro rata at agreed upon session fee).

Session Fee: $160 per 50-minute session.  

Financial Need: Limited reduced-fee time slots are offered based on availabilty and established financial need. 

Other Items: Costs for phone calls (exceeding 5 min); document writing, form completion, document production, Summary of Treatment, and consultations with others and other clincial use of provider's time will be charged pro rata at the agreed upon hourly session fee. Copies of client records, if requested, will be charged in accordance with current law's reimbursement rate allowance. NOTE: Provider does NOT offer court testimony, opinions or other services in legal proceedings, and if compelled to participate, Client or their representative making the request, will be charged a rate of $225 per hour for provider's time. 

Payment: check, cash, credit cards, HSA and FSA, Square, STRIPE and AutoPay via SimplePractice are accepted.

INSURANCE (In-Network):

Suzanne Comelo, MFT 131314 is credentialed as an In-Network Provider with AETNA, CIGNA; and OPTUM (UHC, Oscar, Oxford, UMR, etc.) through Alma. You can confirm your in-network benefits with your health insurance plan or through Alma's website under the Find A Provider tab. 

See Alma's website at https://helloalma.com/

INSURANCE (Out-Of-Network):

For clients who are not covered by an insurance plan with which Mrs. Comelo is in-network, clients can pay out of pocket, and they will be provided with a Superbill/Invoice upon request to try to seek reimbursement of any portion of the fees under any Out of Network benefits their plans may offer. Clients should verify coverage beforehand. Please confirm with your specific health plan regarding any coverage for a specific service (ex: individual, couples, family or group services); any client portion; and the reimbursement rate for OON benefits. Unfortunately, Comelo Counseling does not work with KAISER.

NOTICE OF RIGHT TO GOOD FAITH ESTIMATE OF COST

(For Uninsured or Private/Self-Pay Clients)


The No Surprises Act (H.R. 133, effective January 1, 2022 ("Act") set new requirements for health care providers, facilities, health plans, and insurers seeking to prevent consumers (clients) from receiving unanticipated medical bills. This Notice is intended to comply with the Act's requirement to inform uninsured and private pay clients that they have a right to a “Good Faith Estimate” to help them estimate expected charges they may be billed. 

As uninsured or private (self-pay) clients, you have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your mental health care will cost. You have the right to receive (by asking provider or by my providing your with) a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of Non-Emergency Healthcare Services, including psychotherapy and related services and costs. You can ask me for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule a service.  If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill. For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises.

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CONTACT ME

(Wait List for New Clients)

I love helping people reconnect with their own wisdom and develop the tools they need to better cope with life’s challenges and more authentically engage in life. 

Email me at scomelo@sfccounseling.com or use the BOOK HERE button below to schedule a free 15-minute phone consult to see if we would be a good fit. 

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SUZANNE FISCHER COMELO 

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (131314)

NPI: 1982126314

EIN:  88-3109687

COMELO COUNSELING

Castro Valley Office (Thurs & Fri)

The Breilh Building 
2811 Castro Valley Blvd

Suite 208 
Castro Valley, CA 94546
(Parking lot in back; 2nd floor; no elevator)

Hayward Office (Mondays)

The Linekin Building

22248 Main St
Hayward CA 94541

(Parking lot in front; 1st floor; accessible)

(510) 497-1516

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Free Phone Consultation

Schedule a free 15-min phone consultation.

Click on the link below to view my calendar of openings for a 15-minute phone consultation to see if this might be a good fit.

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