Q.   What is counseling? 

A.   Counseling is a collaborative effort; I will work with you on identifying your treatment goals for the issues you want to work on and then help you by teaching you strategies to reach your goals. For some, their goals are increasing their confidence, dealing with multiple roles more effectively, coping with stress in healthy, effective ways-whatever your goals may be for you, we will come up with a road map to achieve them and then work together to help you get there. When you walk into my office, I want you to know that reaching your highest level of well-being is possible and achievable. 

 

Q. Why do people go to therapy and how do I know if it is right for me?

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A. People have many different motivations for coming to counseling.   Some may be going through a major life transition (unemployment, divorce, new job, etc.), or are not handling stressful circumstances well.  Some people need assistance managing a range of other issues such as low self-esteem, depression, anxiety or relationship problems.  Therapy can help provide some much needed encouragement and help with skills to get them through these periods.  Others may be at a point where they are ready to learn more about themselves or want to be more effective with their goals in life.   In short, people seeking therapy are ready to meet the challenges in their lives and ready to make changes in their lives for the better. 

 
Q.  Do you take insurance?

A.  Yes, I accept most commercial medical insurance (BCBS, Aetna, United Healthcare, etc.). Out-of-network coverage may be available depending on your insurance plan. I can provide you with a superbill for reimbursement through your insurance provider. Please consult with your insurance company to determine coverage availability prior to your first appointment. 

 

Q. What is therapy like?

 

A. Because each person has different reasons and goals for therapy, therapy will not look the same for each person.  However, you can expect to talk about the current happenings 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, for a specific issue, or longer-term, to deal with more difficult patterns or your desire for more personal development.  Either way, it is most common to schedule regular sessions with your therapist.

 

It is important to understand that you will get more results from therapy if you actively participate in the process.  The ultimate purpose of therapy is to help you bring what you learn in session back into your life.  Therefore, beyond the work you do in therapy sessions, your therapist may suggest some things you can do outside of therapy to support your process - such as reading a pertinent book, journaling on specific topics, noting particular behaviors or taking action on your goals. People seeking therapy are ready to make positive changes in their lives, are open to new perspectives and take responsibility for their lives.

 

Q. Is everything we talk about in therapy remain confidential?

 

A. Confidentiality is one of the most important components between a client and therapist. Successful therapy requires a high degree of trust with highly sensitive subject matter that is usually not discussed anywhere but the therapist's office.   Every therapist should provide a written copy of their confidential disclosure agreement, and you can expect that what you discuss in session will not be shared with anyone.  This is called “Informed Consent”.  Sometimes, however, you may want your therapist to share information or give an update to someone on your healthcare team (your Physician, Attorney, etc.), but by law your therapist cannot release this information without obtaining your written permission.

 

However, state law and professional ethics require therapists to maintain confidentiality except for the following situations:

 

* Suspected past or present abuse or neglect of children, adults, and elders to the authorities, including Child Protection and law enforcement, based on information provided by the client or collateral sources.

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* If the therapist has reason to suspect the client is seriously in danger of harming him/herself or cause to harm another person.

You may have other questions that aren't covered in this section. Feel free to email me.

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