Is therapy right for me?
Seeking out therapy is an individual choice. There are many reasons why people come to therapy. Sometimes it is to deal with long-standing psychological issues, or problems with anxiety or depression. Other times it is in response to unexpected changes in one's life such as a divorce. Working with a therapist can help provide insight, support, and new strategies for all types of life challenges. Therapy can help address many types of issues including depression, anxiety, conflict, grief, stress management, body-image issues, and general life transitions. Therapy is right for anyone who is interested in getting the most out of their life by taking responsibility, creating greater self-awareness, and working towards change in their lives.
What can I expect in a therapy session?
Every therapy session is unique and caters to each individual and their specific goals. During therapy sessions it is standard to talk about the primary issues and concerns in your life. It is common to schedule a series of weekly sessions, where each session lasts 45 to 50 minutes. Sometimes individuals who are going through a particularly difficult challenge may request more time per session or more than one session per week. Therapy can be short-term, focusing on a specific issue or longer-term, addressing more complex issues or ongoing personal growth. There are often times when you are given homework to do outside of the therapy sessions, such as keeping a journal or records to track certain behaviors. Between sessions it is important process what has been discussed and integrate it into your life. For therapy to be most effective you must be an active participant, both during and between the sessions.
What benefits can I expect from working with a therapist?
Therapy can provide insight and new perspectives into life's challenges and can help create solutions to difficult problems. Many people find that working with a therapist can enhance personal development, improve relationships and family dynamics, and can ease the challenges of daily life. Sometimes, just having someone there to listen is helpful. Overall, people in therapy tend to have lower levels of anxiety and stress, decreased conflict, and improved quality of life.
Some of the benefits available from therapy include:
- Developing new skills for handling stress and anxiety
- Modifying unhealthy behavior and long-standing patterns
- Attaining insight into personal patterns and behavior
- Increasing confidence, peace, vitality, and well-being
- Improving ways to manage anger, depression and moods
- Discovering new ways to solve problems
- Navigating life’s obstacles more effectively
- Improving listening and communication skills
- Enhancing the overall quality of life
Do you accept insurance? How does insurance work?
I do accept insurance and participate with many companies. I often help new clients to determine what their coverage is, obtain pre-authorization if it is needed and determining what your out of pocket expenses may be. If you wish to call your insurance company yourself the following questions might be helpful:
- Do I have mental health benefits?
- What is my deductible and has it been met?
- What is my copay?
- How many sessions per calendar year does my plan cover?
- Is this provider in or out of network?
- How much does my plan cover for an out-of-network provider?
- What is the coverage amount per therapy session?
- Is approval required from my primary care physician?
Is therapy confidential?
In general, the law protects the confidentiality of all communications between a client and a psychotherapist. Information is not disclosed without written permission. However, there are number of exceptions to this rule. Exceptions include:
- Suspected child abuse or dependant adult or elder abuse. The therapist is required by law to report this to the appropriate authorities immediately.
- If a client is threatening serious bodily harm to another person/s. The therapist must notify the police and inform the intended victim.
- If a client intends to harm himself or herself. The therapist will make every effort to enlist their cooperation in insuring their safety. If they do not cooperate, further measures may be taken without their permission in order to ensure their safety.
If your child is vomiting or has a fever on a day when we have an appointment, please call to cancel. Sick children usually do not get much benefit from a therapy session and need to be home resting. You will not be charged if it is less than 24 hours notice and your child is sick as long as you call to let me know before the appointment time. If they have a cold I will leave it up to your judgment as to whether or not they should come. Generally, if a child is well enough to go to school, he or she is well enough to keep their appointment with me.
What if the weather is bad?
A few times a year driving conditions can become hazardous due to snow, ice, flooding, etc. I will leave the decision up to you as to whether you feel comfortable transporting your child. You will not be charged if it is less than 24 hours notice and you do not feel comfortable driving as long as you call to let me know before the appointment time. Generally, if school is in session road conditions will be safe.