Frequently Asked Questions
What is therapy like?
Because each person has different issues and goals for therapy, therapy will be different depending on the individual. In general, 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 precious therapy session. Depending on your specific needs, therapy can be short-term, for a specific issue, or longer-term to deal with more difficult patters or your desire for more personal development. Either way, it is most common to schedule regular session with your therapist (usually weekly).
It is important to understand that you will get more results from therapy if you actively participate in the process. The ultimate purpose of therapy is to help you bring what you learn in session back into your life. Therefore, beyond the word you do in therapy sessions, your therapist may suggest some things you can do outside of therapy to support your process – such as reading a pertinent book, journaling on specific topics, noting particular behaviors or taking action on your goals. People seeking psychotherapy are ready to make positive changes in their lives, are open to new perspectives and take responsibility for their lives.
Is family therapy really needed?
Family therapy is a form of psychotherapy that seeks to reduce distress and conflict by improving the systems of interactions between family members. The purpose is to help family members improve communication, solve family problems, understand and handle special family situations (i.e. death, serious physical or mental illness, or child/adolescent issues), and create a better functioning home environment. We utilize many different communication activities and strategies to help all of the different needs of each family member. Family therapy can be a difficult session to have, but it is a healthy alternative to having difficult conversations about topics that are hard to discuss without a mediator. My suggestion, especially dealing with children and adolescents, is to have a family session at least one time per month.
How can play therapy help my child?
Through play therapy, children learn to communicate with others, express feelings, modify behaviors, develop problem-solving skills, and learn a variety of ways to relate to others.
Play Therapy can help children:
- Become more responsible for behaviors and develop more successful strategies
- Develop new and creative solutions to problems
- Develop respect and acceptance of self and others
- Learn to experience and express emotions
- Cultivate empathy and respect for thoughts and feelings of others
- Learn new social skills and relational skills with family
How do I convince my teenager to attend counseling?
A common phrase we hear a lot is “I cannot get my teenager to agree to get out of the house and come to your office.” Though this may be challenging and a daily struggle, it is easier when you come from a caring approach versus a meaner “parenting-like” stance of forcing them. Even though it ultimately is your child’s decision to attend or not, the first step is having them at least come for the initial session. This is when they can get to know me, and see if it is a good fit or not. Sometimes teenagers need a little more convincing, and we have dealt with many who come into my office with a pout, and then leave with a smile wondering when the next session will happen.
What about medication vs. psychotherapy?
It is well established that 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 pattern 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 determining what is best for you, and in some cases a combination of medication and therapy is the right course of action.
Do you take insurance? How does that work?
We are currently an in-network provider with Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, MHC and Aetna. If you use another insurance company, you may still be able to use your insurance with us on an out-of-network basis.
To determine if you have mental health coverage through your insurance carrier, the first thing you should do is call them. Check your coverage carefully and make sure you understand their answers. Some helpful questions you can ask them:
- What are my mental health benefits?
- What is the coverage amount per therapy session?
- How many therapy sessions does my plan cover?
- How much does my insurance pay for an out-of-network provider?
- Is approval required from my primary care physician?
Does what we talk about in therapy remain confidential?
Confidentiality is one of the most important components between a client and psychotherapist. Successful therapy requires a high degree of trust with highly sensitive subject matter that is usually not discussed anywhere but the therapist’s office. Every therapist should provide a written copy of their confidential disclosure agreement, and you can expect that what you discuss in session will not be shared with anyone. This is called “Informed Consent”. Sometimes, however, you may want your therapist to share information or give an update to someone on your healthcare team (your Physician, Naturopath, Attorney), but by law your therapist cannot release this information without obtaining your written permission.
However, 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 him/herself or has threatened to harm another person.
I’m worried that talking about my problems or trauma, or having my child address their problems or trauma, will make things worse. Is this true?
The truth is that research shows addressing difficult issues in therapy, specifically stressful or traumatic events, not only improves symptoms, but also improves your quality of life including your mental, emotional, behavioral, social, and medical well-being. However, it’s important to understand that addressing these issues can be difficult and sometimes triggering. That’s why it’s important to seek the assistance of highly trained professional, so you or your loved one can be guided through the process in a safe and effective way.