Generally speaking, someone should engage in therapy when there is emotional pain or stress that’s stopping you from being as happy as you can be or getting what you want out of life. Sometimes, this means a major life transition such as a divorce or move. Some people seek therapy to manage a range of issues such as self-esteem, depression, anxiety, addictions and relationship problems. Basically, people seek therapy when they are ready to meet the challenges in their lives and ready to make changes.
Finding the right fit for you is important when seeking a new counselor. It is always a good idea to shop around and find a therapist who you can feel comfortable and safe with. After the initial session, you will know if you can work with a counselor or not.
Each person has different issues and goals for therapy. Therapy will depend 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 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 (usually weekly).
It is important to understand you will get more out of 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 psychotherapy will progress faster and farther if they are ready to make positive changes in their lives, are open to new perspectives and take responsibility for their lives.
Every therapist is trained to be multicultural sensitive. Understanding the client is more important for the therapist.
No, a counselor cannot prescribe medication. If you need medication, you should contact your insurance provider. They can provide you with an appropriate referral to a psychiatrist or nurse practitioner.
It is well established that the long-term solution to mental and emotional problems cannot be solved solely by medication. Instead of just treating the symptom, therapy addresses the cause of the distress and the behavior patterns that curb our progress. An integrated approach with your medical provider and your therapist is generally the right course of action.
Prior to the initial appointment, you will complete some paperwork. We will then meet for 45 to 50 minutes to review the paperwork and have our initial session.
Generally 45 – 50 minutes.
Conferencing with other professionals treating you is always a good idea. In order to do so, we would need to complete a Release of Information for that professional.
The law protects the confidentiality of all communication between patient and therapist. No information is disclosed without prior written permission from the patient.
However there are some exceptions required by law to this rule. Exceptions include:
If you chose to utilize your insurance, diagnosis information will be shared with them. If you have questions about what information your employer has access to, contact your specific insurance provider to find out. The insurance company has to tell you the level of access your employer has. This is protected information under HIPAA (The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act).
