Do I really need therapy? I can usually handle my problems.
Why do people go to therapy and how do I know if it is right for me?
What about medication vs. psychotherapy?
Do you take insurance, and how does that work?
How can Therapy Help me?
A number of benefits are available from going to therapy. Many people also find that I/Psychologists can be a tremendous asset to improving personal growth, interpersonal relationships, family concerns, relationship issues, and the hassles or stressors of daily life. Furthermore, I can provide an unbiased, professional perspective on a difficult problem or point you in the direction of a solution. The benefits you obtain from therapy depend on how 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, why you engage in regular patterns or habits, your goals and values
- Creating a better quality of life
- Developing skills for improving your relationships
- Finding resolution to the issues or concerns that led you to seek therapy
- Learning new ways to cope with stress and anxiety
- Coping with or managing difficult emotions or mental health symptoms
- Improving communication with people in your life
- Changing old behavior patterns and developing new ones
- Discovering new ways to solve problems in your family or relationships
- 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 through other difficulties you've faced, it's a strength to seek out therapy. You are taking responsibility by accepting where you're at in life and making a commitment to change the situation by seeking therapy. Therapy provides long-lasting benefits and support, giving you the tools you need to identify triggers, change patterns of behavior, and work through whatever challenges you face.
Why do people go to therapy and how do I know if it is right for me?
People have many different motivations for going to psychotherapy. Some may be going through a major life transition (unemployment, divorce, new job, etc.), or are having difficulty coping with stressful circumstances. Some people need assistance managing a range of other issues. 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 psychotherapy are ready to make changes within themselves and their lives.
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 (months), for a specific issue, or longer-term (years), to deal with more difficult patterns or your desire for more personal development. Either way, it is most common to schedule regular appointments (typically weekly or biweekly).
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, I may suggest some things you can do outside of therapy to support your process.
What about medication vs. psychotherapy?
It is well established that the long-term solution to mental and emotional problems and the pain they cause cannot be solved solely by medication. Medication (if indicated by your MD) and therapy, together, achieve the optimal result. Some individuals benefit from taking psychotropic medications and, in other situations, medication is not needed (this is determined by your Medical Doctor). Please note, I do not prescribe medication.
Do you take insurance, and how does that work?
Yes. Due to the wide variety of plans and services covered, please contact your insurance company directly to verify your "outpatient mental health" benefits.
If you have any PPO plan you can choose to work with me and may be able to seek partial reimbursement, from your insurance company, by submitting your payment receipts (this varies by plan - contact your insurance company directly). Some insurance companies will reimburse you directly for as much as 50-80% of your out of pocket cost; contact your insurance company directly to find out what your benefits include.
You can also use your Health Savings Account (HSA), Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or pay directly for services.
To determine if you have mental health coverage through your insurance carrier, the first thing you should do is call them. Check your coverage carefully and make sure you understand their answers. Some helpful questions you can ask them:
- What are my mental health benefits?
- What is the coverage amount per therapy session?
- How many therapy sessions does my plan cover?
- How much does my insurance pay for an out-of-network provider?
- Is approval required from my primary care physician?
How does confidentiality work?
Confidentiality is one of the most important components between a client and psychotherapist. 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, Naturopath, Attorney), 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.
* Viewing of child pornography.
* If the therapist has reason to suspect the client is seriously in danger of harming him/herself or has threated to harm another person.