FAQ

Is therapy right for me?

People use therapy for many different reasons. Sometimes it is for help with psychological or mood problems such as anxiety or depression. Sometimes it is for help in making a change, such as living a healthier lifestyle or becoming more effective at communicating in relationships. Sometimes an unexpected change throws us into a difficult situation, such as divorce or a work transition. Many people seek out therapy as a space for personal growth and value the support and honest feedback of a therapist. Therapy is right for anyone interested in cultivating a life with more insight, flexibility and resilience.

Do I really need therapy?  I can usually handle my problems.

People who decide to seek out therapy are taking responsibility for their lives by accepting their situation, demonstrating self-awareness, and showing the courage to act. Everyone encounters challenges in life, and sometimes a person’s skills and knowledge can meet that challenge. Sometimes a helping hand is needed. There is no weakness in accepting reality and making a commitment to get new skills, tools, and insights to navigate current and future obstacles.

How does therapy help and how long does it take?

Each therapy session is unique to each individual. In addition, each therapist has their own orientation, training, and style. Therapy can be short-term to address specific concerns, or open-ended to explore more complex issues, long-standing concerns, or continuing personal growth.

• A better understanding of yourself, your strengths and weaknesses, your patterns in relationships, and you unique needs
• Identifying your goals and strategies to meet them
• Finding resolution to long-standing concerns, issues, worries, or things you feel stuck with
• Learning practical ways to cope with stress, anger, depression, or grief
• Gaining insight into old patterns and creating new ones

Therapists offer:

• Compassion, respect and understanding
• A fresh perspective on a long-standing issue
• New ways to solve problems
• Honest and direct feedback
• Education on psychological and emotional processes
• A space to process your personal history, to find support for current day-to-day stress, and to plan for future goals

Is the first session free?

Yes. It is important to feel that you have a good “fit” with your therapist and feel comfortable with him or her. There is evidence that this is the most important factor influencing positive change in therapy. For this reason your initial consultation with me is always free. If it’s not a good fit, I will refer you to another therapist that will fit your needs.

What is the first session like?

The free initial consultation is an opportunity for you to meet me, see my office, and talk about your goals for therapy. You should ask questions about how I will work with you to meet these goals, and anything else you are curious about. My goal is to make you feel comfortable, relaxed, safe and positive. Most people think for a long time about making that initial appointment, and often feel nervous or anxious meeting a therapist for the first time. This is normal. All you have to do to is show up and be yourself.

What about medication?

It has been well established that the long-term solution to emotional and mental distress is not medication alone. This is because medication only treats symptoms (for example, insomnia or raised heart rate in the case of anxiety issues). Therapy, on the other hand, addresses directly the causes of distress and the patterns that keep us stuck. There is evidence that psychotherapy is just as effective as medication and has longer-lasting effects. Sometimes, however, the best course of action is therapy combined with medication. Working with your medical doctor or a psychiatrist can determine what’s best for you.

Do you accept insurance? How does insurance work?

I purposely do not participate in insurance networks. I’ll explain why. I am committed to providing the best care possible and to maintaining your confidentiality. There is evidence suggesting that insurance company involvement in mental health treatment can negatively impact that quality of treatment you receive. Insurance companies require therapists to use certain information you disclose in order to bill for sessions. This information could potentially influence your ability to obtain insurance coverage in the future. If you wish to use your Health Savings Account (HSA) or out-of-network benefits I am happy to provide you with a billing statement that you may submit for reimbursement at your discretion.

Is therapy confidential?

In general, the law protects the confidentiality of all communications between a client and psychotherapist. No information is disclosed without prior written permission from the client.
However, there are some exceptions required by law to this rule. Exceptions include:

• Suspected child abuse or dependant adult or elder abuse. The therapist is required to report this to the appropriate authorities immediately.
• If a client is threatening serious bodily harm to another person. The therapist is required to notify the police and the person in danger.
• If a client intends to harm himself or herself. The therapist will make every effort to work with the individual to ensure their safety and in rare cases this requires contact to family members or other service providers.