Frequently Asked Questions

I’ve never worked with a therapist before. Aren’t people who go to therapy weak?

On the contrary. People who ask for help know when they need it, and have the courage to reach out. Everyone needs help now and then. You already have a number of strengths that you’ve used to get through tough times before, but for whatever reason those aren’t working right now. Perhaps this problem feels overwhelming and is making it difficult to access your past strengths. In our work together, we'll help you identify what those strengths are and how to implement them again in what is happening now.

How does therapy work? What do I have to do?

Because each person has different issues and goals for therapy, the experience will be different depending on the individual. Our therapists tailor their therapeutic approach to your specific needs. 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.

Why talk to a therapist when I can talk with my best friend or family?

A mental health professional can help you approach your situation in a new way– teach you new skills, gain different perspectives, listen to you without judgment or expectations, and help you listen to yourself. Also, therapy is completely confidential, so you won’t have to worry about friends or family “knowing your business” or judging your concerns. Lastly, if your situation provokes a great deal of negative emotion, if you’ve been confiding in a friend or family member, there is the risk that once you are feeling better you could start avoiding that person so you aren’t reminded of this difficult time in your life.

How long will it take to feel better?

Depending on your needs, therapy can be short-term, for a specific issue, or longer-term, to deal with long-standing patterns or maintain personal development. Either way, it is common to schedule regular weekly sessions initially, and then space them out as you see progress.

Should I take medication or go into therapy?

While each person’s mental health journey is unique, it’s well established that the long-term solution to mental and emotional problems, and the pain they cause, cannot be solved by medication alone. Instead of just treating the symptom, therapy addresses the cause of our distress and the behavior patterns that curb our progress. You can best achieve sustainable growth with an integrative approach to wellness. Working with your medical doctor, you can determine what’s best for you, and in some cases a combination of both medication and therapy is the right course of action.

Do you accept my insurance?

We are an "out of network" provider for most insurance companies. This means that if you have a PPO plan, the cost of our services may be partially or fully reimbursable by your insurance provider depending on the therapist you see. We are happy to provide a superbill for you to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement.

I you have more questions about your insurance coverage, our highly-knowledgeable office staff are happy to assist you.

What if I can’t afford your rates, but would still like to start therapy?

It’s important to us that you receive the help you deserve. Please give our office a call to discuss your payment options, or let us help you identify other low-cost therapy options.

How do I pay for sessions?

Payment for therapy is due at the start of each session. Before meeting with your therapist, our office staff will accept your payment. Most clients choose to leave a credit card on file so that we run it each time you visit our office. We accept most debit and credit cards, cash, and personal checks.

My partner and I are having problems. Should we pursue individual or couples therapy?

If you are concerned about your relationship, and you would both like to work with a therapist, we recommend couples therapy. After this work, if one or both of you would like to continue in individual sessions, you may choose to see the same therapist or see different therapists for your individual counseling. It is not recommended to move from individual into couple’s work with the same therapist because of potential trust issues.

What can we expect in our first couples counseling session?

In the first session, our goal is to understand what brings you to couples counseling, to get an understanding of your family history, and to help you decide what goals you want to set for our counseling sessions. During the first session, if you have any questions or concerns about sessions, please bring them to our attention so that we can address them right away. Sometimes it may be beneficial for one or both partners to also seek individual counseling as a supplement to marriage counseling. If we feel that this may be the case, we will discuss individual counseling options with you as well.

How long does the counseling process last?

The process will vary depending upon the needs or your situation. Couples typically engage in regular counseling sessions for 3-6 months, but some come for just a few sessions while others feel that they continue to benefit from more than 6 months.

If you’re not seeing hopeful signs within three months, the process probably isn’t working, and you should consider other options. The decision on whether to continue or not at any point is entirely yours and your therapist will encourage you to stop whenever you feel ready.

Why family therapy instead of individual or couples therapy?

Therapy sessions designed for the individual or couple are certainly recommended and are often part of a family therapy treatment plan. However, family therapy is a specialized branch of psychotherapy.

According to Psychology Today, family therapy sessions address “the behaviors of all family members and the way these behaviors affect not only individual family members but also relationships between family members and the family unit as a whole.”

Why does the whole family have to come to counseling when only one or two members are having a problem?

Family therapy is based upon a "systems" perspective, whereby all the members of the family are seen as having a unique role and contribution in the stability of the total family system. Accordingly, any change in one family member's role can upset the stability of the entire family system. Even positive behavioral and attitude changes made by one family member can upset family stability if other members are not aware of them.

By having all members of the family participate in the family therapy process, family therapists increase the chances that everyone in the family will know when changes are occurring, and that they will be able to effectively adjust to the changes in positive ways that do not upset the stability of the family system.

What if topics arise that are not appropriate for the children to hear?

There are certainly some topics that may arise in family therapy sessions that are not appropriate for children, or may be better reserved for discussion among the adult members of the family. In such cases, family therapists will usually ask to meet with just the adults for all or part of a session.

Do children like therapy? What about teenagers?

The vast majority of the children we see are excited to be here and often don’t want to leave. Some children with separation difficulties may need a few sessions to acclimate to their new environment. We work for a gradual separation, if needed. It is very important to us that both parents and children feel safe and comfortable in this environment.

Teenagers may be more hesitant ore resistant to beginning therapy, showing up for sessions, or sharing with their therapist. This is normal, especially at first. Over time, many teenagers come to see the benefits of therapy and the tools and skills learned in sessions.

Should I be directly involved in my child’s therapy sessions?

How best to participate in a child’s therapy depends primarily on the child’s age, the nature of the problem, and whether research supports parental involvement in the type of treatment your child is receiving. In some situations, particularly with younger children, parental guidance may be critical to bring about and support behavioral change between therapy sessions. In other situations, particularly with older children or adolescents, privacy between the child and therapist may form an important foundation for establishing trust and promoting behavioral change. In every case, parents should be clear on the therapist’s goals for treating their child and should understand the milestones their child is expected to reach throughout his/her treatment. Feel free to ask the therapist at the outset about how he/she plans to work with the child.

Will my child’s symptoms change as they age?

Childhood and adolescence are periods of significant change in a child’s life – the symptoms of behavioral health and mental disorders may look very different in a younger child versus an adolescent, and the therapies used for children and adolescents can be different, too, based on the research supporting their use.

With any effective child therapy, there should be clear expectations on the length of treatment, goals, and milestones.