common questions

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A number of benefits are available from participating in therapy. A therapist can provide support, problem-solving skills, and enhanced coping strategies for issues such as depression, anxiety, relationship troubles, unresolved childhood issues, grief, stress management, body image issues and creative blocks. Many people also find that therapy can be a tremendous asset to managing such issues as therapists can provide a fresh perspective on a difficult problem or point you in the direction of a solution. The benefits you obtain from therapy depend on how well you use the process and put into practice what you learn. Some benefits of therapy include:

• Attaining a better understanding of yourself and your goals
• Developing skills for improving your relationships
• Finding resolution to the issues or concerns that led you to seek therapy
• Learning new ways to cope with stress and anxiety
• Managing anger, grief, depression, and other emotional pressures
• Improving communications and listening skills
• Changing old behavior patterns and developing new ones
• Discovering new ways to solve problems in your family or marriage
• Improving your self-esteem and boosting self-confidence

Everyone goes through challenging situations in life, and while you may have successfully navigated through other difficulties you've faced, there's nothing wrong with seeking out extra support when you need it. Therapy is designed for people who have enough self-awareness to realize they need a helping hand, and that is something to be admired. You are taking responsibility by accepting where you are in life and making a commitment to change the situation by seeking therapy. Therapy provides long-lasting benefits and support, giving you the tools you need to avoid triggers, re-direct damaging patterns, and overcome whatever challenges you face. 

People have many different motivations for coming to therapy. Some may be going through a major life transition (unemployment, divorce, new job, etc.), or are not handling stressful circumstances well. Some people need assistance managing a range of other issues such as low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, relationship problems, work related stressors and creative blocks. Therapy can help provide some much needed encouragement and help with skills to get you through these periods. Others may be at a point where they are ready to learn more about themselves or want to be more effective with their goals in life. Those seeking therapy are ready to face the challenges and make changes in their lives.

Each person has different issues and goals for therapy, therefore, therapy will be different depending on the individual. You can expect to discuss the current events happening in your life, your personal history relevant to your issue, and report progress (or any new insights gained) from the previous therapy session. Therapy can be short-term, for a specific issue, or longer-term to deal with more difficult patterns or your desire for more personal development. Either way, it is most common to schedule regular weekly sessions with your therapist.

Please understand that you will get more results from therapy if you actively engage in the process. The ultimate purpose of therapy is to help you bring what you learn in session back into your daily life. Your therapist may suggest some things you can do (homework) outside of therapy to support your process. Homework may include reading a pertinent book, journaling on specific topics, making note of particular feelings or behaviors, or taking action on your goals. 

The short answer is no. A common misconception is that therapy equates to meeting with a therapist weekly to obtain advice about how to navigate life’s challenges. Television and media often portray it in this inaccurate manner. In fact, therapists are not meant to give advice because we are not your friend. A therapist is a safe, supportive professional that holds space for you to be empowered to make healthy decisions for yourself. Handing out advice impedes the client’s ability to think critically and analyze self which hinders decision making. This is harmful and does not promote personal growth as the client learns that they are incapable of making healthy decisions for themselves. 

Advice is rooted in one’s values, morals and experiences (sometimes trauma).  What if the advice received from your therapist yields an unfavorable outcome? This can certainly cause a rupture in the therapeutic relationship. Lastly, licensed mental health professionals are governed ethically by the state(s) where we are licensed as well as our professional organizations. In other words, there is liability associated with giving out advice. Please contact a friend or family member if you are seeking advice.  

In this space we believe that the client is the expert on themselves. You know yourself better than we do! We promote autonomy, self-exploration and belief in self. We partner with you to work through challenges, handle difficult emotions, learn more about yourself and uncover root causes of why you may feel sad, anxious, unhappy, stagnant etc. We also do the following: 

• Get to know you by conducting an initial assessment during the first session
• Partner with you to create a treatment plan based upon the assessment and your desired outcome
• Provide a safe, non-judgemental environment to process situations and emotions
• Help you to explore available options when needing to make decisions
• Offer support when faced with a challenging dynamic
• Partner with you to explore deeply rooted negative thinking / behaviors that impede growth
• Empower you to trust yourself
• Help you to weigh the potential outcome/impact of various decisions
• Ensure your safety and wellbeing
• Introduce skills and new tools for use outside of session

It is well established that the long-term solution to mental and emotional problems and the pain they cause cannot be solved solely by medication. Instead of just treating the symptom, therapy addresses the cause of our distress and the behavior patterns that curb our progress. You can best achieve sustainable growth and a greater sense of well-being with an integrative approach to wellness. Working with your medical doctor you can determine what's best for you; and for some individuals a combination of medication and therapy is the right course of action. In some cases, it may be necessary for your therapist to contact your medical doctor in order to facilitate dialogue about your treatment, medications or other factors which may impact your symptoms and/or diagnosis. Said medical professionals cannot be contacted without your written permission. A signed release of information is required.

The first step in determining your mental health coverage through your insurance carrier is to call them directly using the member services telephone number located on the backside of your insurance card. Ensure that you understand your insurance plan by asking the following questions: 

• Do I have a HMO or PPO insurance plan?
• What are my mental health benefits?
• What is the coverage amount per session?
• How many sessions does my plan cover?
• Do I have an annual deductible? If so, has it been met?
• Do I have a copay or coinsurance payment? If so, how much is it?
• Does my insurance cover out-of-network mental health providers?
• Is a referral required from my primary care physician (PCP)?

What is an HMO?

HMO vs PPO

Different Types of Health Plans: How They Compare

Guide to Insurance Deductibles

What is the Difference Between Coinsurance and Copay?

Confidentiality is one of the most important components between a client and therapist. Successful therapy requires a high degree of trust with highly sensitive subject matters that is usually not discussed anywhere but the therapist's office. Every therapist should provide a written copy of their confidential disclosure agreement. You can expect that what you discuss in session will not be shared with anyone. This is called “Informed Consent." Sometimes you may want your therapist to share information or give an update to someone on your healthcare team (your Medical Doctor or Attorney), but by law your therapist cannot release this information without obtaining your written permission.

State law and professional ethics require therapists to maintain confidentiality except for the following situations: 

• Suspected past or present abuse or neglect of children, adults, and elders to the authorities, including Child Protection and law enforcement, based on information provided by the client or collateral sources.
• If the therapist has reason to suspect the client is seriously in danger of harming himself/herself/themselves or has threatened to harm another person.

During your initial visit you can expect to discuss the presenting problem which ultimately led you to explore therapy. The therapeutic process, insurance limitations and confidentiality will be discussed in detail. Your initial visit is a time for you and your therapist to get to know one another and begin the process of building a rapport with one another. In getting to know you the therapist will ask that you provide very specific information including but not limited to your childhood, current/past relationships, social history and medical history. This can be an overwhelming process for some. Please be as honest as possible and be sure to share your feelings with your therapist.