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Is therapy right for me?
People seek out therapy for many reasons. Often times they want to deal with long-standing psychological issues or unexpected changes in their lives. They might also wish to pursue personal exploration and growth. Working with a therapist can help provide insight, support and new strategies for all types of life challenges. 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.
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 through other difficulties you've faced, there's nothing wrong with seeking out extra support when you need it. In fact, therapy is for people who have enough self-awareness to realize they need a helping hand, and that is something to be admired. You are taking responsibility by accepting where you're at in life and making a commitment to changing the situation by seeking therapy. Therapy can provide long-lasting benefits and support, giving you the tools you need to overcome current challenges and laying the groundwork for a healthy, happy future life.
How can therapy help me?
Therapy can provide you with emotional support, problem-solving skills and enhanced coping strategies for issues such as relationship troubles, unresolved childhood pain, grief, stress, depression, anxiety and other challenges. Therapists can provide a fresh perspective on a difficult problem or point you in the direction of a solution. The benefits you obtain from therapy depend on how well you use the process and put into practice what you learn. Some of the benefits available from therapy include:
- Attaining a better understanding of yourself, your goals and values
- Developing skills for improving your relationships
- Finding resolution to the specific issues or concerns that led you to seek therapy
- Learning new ways to cope with stress and anxiety
- Managing anger, grief, depression and other emotional pressures
- Improving communications and listening skills
- Changing old behavior patterns and developing new ones
- Improving your self-esteem and boosting self-confidence
What is therapy like?
Every therapy session is unique and caters to each person's specific goals. In general, therapists generally discuss the primary issues and concerns in your life during weekly therapy sessions. Therapy can be short-term, focusing on a specific issue, or longer-term, addressing more complex issues or ongoing personal growth. There may be times when your therapist may ask you to take certain actions between sessions, such as reading a relevant book or agreeing to make specific behavioral changes.
It is important for you to process what you and your therapist have discussed and to integrate it into your life. For therapy to be most effective, you must be an active participant, both during and between the sessions. Here are some things you can expect out of therapy:
- Compassion, respect and understanding
- Perspectives to illuminate persistent patterns and negative feelings
- Real strategies for enacting positive change
- Effective and proven techniques along with practical guidance
Is medication a substitute for therapy?
In some cases a combination of medication and therapy is the right course of action. Working with your medical doctor or a psychiatrist, you can determine what's best for you. Research indicates that medication alone cannot provide long-term solutions to mental and emotional problems and the pain they cause in your life. Instead of just treating the symptom, therapy addresses the cause of people's distress and the behavior patterns that curb their progress. You can best achieve sustainable growth and a greater sense of well-being with an integrative approach to wellness.
What is your fee?
I charge $125 and offer clients a longer-than-average session time. A standard session with most therapists is 45 to 50 minutes; however, I don't think that allows many clients enough time to explore their issues in sufficient depth. So I schedule my sessions a minimum of 75 minutes apart. I allot 90 minutes for the initial intake at no extra charge. Payment options include credit or debit card, check, cash and PayPal.
I don't serve on any insurance panels because I don't believe it's in people's best interest to use insurance benefits for mental health care, for reasons related to confidentiality and the impact of having a serious mental health diagnosis in your records. (See the video I prepared on this important topic on my Free Multimedia Resources page.) But many of the people I work with do choose to see me as an out-of-network provider. They pay me at the end of each session the same as private-pay clients do, and then at the end of each month I prepare monthly statements that insured clients can submit to their insurance companies for partial reimbursement of their therapy costs, if they wish.
Is therapy confidential?
In general, the law protects the confidentiality of all communication between a client and therapist. The therapist cannot disclose information without prior written permission from the client. However, there are some exceptions to this rule, required by law. Exceptions include:
- If the therapist suspects child abuse or dependent 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 or persons. The therapist is required to notify the police and the intended victim(s).
- If a client intends to harm himself or herself. The therapist will make every effort to work with the individual to ensure their safety. However, if the client does not cooperate, the therapist may need to take additional actions.
feel free to call or email me today!