Is therapy right for me?
Seeking 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, death or a work transition. Many look for a therapist as they pursue their own personal exploration and growth. 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, and general life transitions such as school and career changes. Therapy is right for anyone who is interested in getting the most out of life by taking responsibility, creating greater self-awareness and working towards positive change.
What can I expect in a therapy session?
Every therapy session is unique and caters to each individual and his or her specific goals. During therapy sessions we will talk about the primary issues and concerns in your life. It is common to schedule a series of weekly or bi-monthly sessions, where each session lasts 50 minutes. Sometimes individuals who are going through a particularly difficult challenge may schedule 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 will be times when you are asked to do things outside of the therapy sessions, such as reading a relevant book or keeping records to track certain behaviors. Between sessions it is important to process what has been discussed and integrate it into your life. For therapy to be most effective you will need to be an active participant, both during and between the sessions. The therapy sessions help you to set the course and goals, while giving your the needed tools to be sucessful. The work of change happens between the sessions as you take the information and put it into action.
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
- Improving difficult relationships
- Modifying unhealthy behavior and long-standing patterns
- Attaining insight into personal patterns and behavior
- Increasing confidence, peace and well-being
- Improving ways to manage anger, depression and moods
- Discovering new ways to solve problems
- Improving listening and communication skills
- Enhancing the overall quality of life
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 appropriate authorities immediately.
- If a client is threatening serious bodily harm to another person/s. The therapist may notify law enforcement authorities
- If a client intends to harm himself or herself. The therapist will make every effort to enlist the client’s cooperation in insuring safety. However, further measures may be taken without the client’s permission in order to ensure the client’s safety.
- A Court of law may supboena information and it must be released to the Court.
Do you accept insurance? How does insurance work?
No I do not accept insurance, but I am happy to provide you with a billing with the needed information so you can submit the bill to your insurance company for reimbursement. I am not on any insurance panels, so seeing me would be considered an “Out of Network” provider. I will be happy to provide needed updates or reports to your provider if required for your coverage, as long as you notify me of the need and you sign a HIPPA release for me to disclose your information. To determine if you have mental health coverage, the first thing you should do is check with your insurance carrier. Check your coverage carefully and find the answers to the following questions:
- Do I have mental health benefits?
- What is my deductible and has it been met?
- How many sessions per calendar year does my plan cover?
- 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?
- What types of therapy are covered (marriage, family, individual)?
For more information on rates, see the Rates and Insurance tab.