Common Questions

How can therapy help me?
 
There are a number of ways one can benefit from participating in therapy.  Therapists can provide support, assist with identifying and/or strengthening problem-solving skills, coping strategies to manage depression, anxiety, relationship troubles, unresolved childhood issues, grief, and stress management.  Many people also find that therapists can be a tremendous asset to managing personal growth, interpersonal relationships, family concerns, marriage issues, and the hassles of daily life within a cultural context. Therapists can provide a fresh perspective on a difficult problem and collaborate with you on shifting and reorienting.  The benefits you obtain from therapy depend on the therapeutic relationship and your use of the therapeutic process, that is, applying the tools beyond the therapy room.  Other potential benefits are:
  • Attaining a better understanding of yourself, your goals, and values
  • Developing skills for improving your relationship with self
  • Identifying root causes to your presenting issues
  • Learning new ways to cope with stress and anxiety
  • Managing anger, grief, depression, and other emotional pressures
  • Improving communications and listening skills
  • Changing unhealthy behavior patterns and developing new ones
  • Identifying/Understanding relational dynamics
  • Improving your self-esteem and boosting self-confidence

Do I really need therapy?  I can usually handle my problems.
 
Everyone goes through challenging situations in life, and while you may have successfully navigated difficult periods in your life there are times when you need a bit more support.  There is nothing wrong with seeking extra support when you need it. In fact, therapy is for people who have enough self-awareness to realize that they need a helping hand.  There is no shame in that! You are taking responsibility by accepting where you are in life and making a commitment to change, to shift, to grow, and to be self-determined.

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 previous therapy session.  Depending on your specific needs, therapy can be short-term to address a specific issue or long-term to deal with more challenging issues.  An assessment will be made to assess the frequency of sessions as well as expected outcomes.  It is important to remember that therapy is ultimately about change and change takes time.  It is important to respect your unique process. You should also know that most of your change will take place beyond the therapy room as you apply the knowledge that you gained during the therapy session.  As additional supports in between sessions, your therapist may recommend a book for you to read, journaling, writing letters, yoga, physical activity, or building a support system.
 
What about medication vs. psychotherapy?
 
Medication can be very helpful to many people who are struggling with emotional and mental health challenges.  However, these challenges cannot always be treated with medication alone.  For some people medication alone is not enough.  They need therapy to identify and address the underlying issues that are causing a disturbance in their daily level of functioning.  Your primary care physician can assist with prescribing medications or referring you to a psychiatrist who can prescribe psychotropic medications for you.
 
 
Do you take insurance, and how does that work?
 
Yes, we do participate with some of the major insurance companies.  You can call your insurance carrier and give them our name and find out what your benefits are.  We will also contact your insurance carrier to verify the following:
  • If we are participating in your plan.
  • What are your mental health benefits?
  • What your copay is per therapy session?
  • How many therapy sessions does your plan cover?
  • How much does the insurance pay for an out-of-network provider?
  • If you have a deductible.
Please note that if you have a deductible and you have not met that deductible your insurance carrier will not pay for services and you are responsible for the out-of-pocket costs.
 
Does what we talk about in therapy remain confidential?
 
Confidentiality is one of the most important components of the therapeutic relationship. Information will not be shared without your consent except under the following conditions: child abuse and neglect, elder abuse, a threat of suicide, a threat of homicide, an audit is conducted by your insurance carrier, or for consultation purposes within the practice or contractors hired for consultation.

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OFFICE HOURS

Monday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Thursday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Friday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed