FAQ

Therapy can offer many benefits, including but not limited to:

• Achieving a healthier understanding of yourself, your life goals and values
• Acquiring insight from unresolved childhood issues
• Boosting your self-esteem, self-worth and self-confidence
• Developing skills for improving your relationship with yourself and others
• Discovering new behaviors to resolve relationship issues
• Feeling acknowledged, heard and supported
• Gaining new ways to cope with stress, anxiety or other physical or emotional challenges
• Improving communication skills
• Learning new and effective problem-solving skills
• Managing depression, grief, anger and other challenges
• Replacing old and ineffective patterns of behavior with new ones
• Understanding yourself and living more authentically

Some of the signs that might indicate counseling could be helpful in your situation include the following:

1. Feeling sad and unmotivated. If you have had feelings of hopelessness, decreased energy, sadness, irritability, thoughts of suicide, feel overwhelmed and unable to cope, or are no longer finding pleasure in activities you used to enjoy, you may be dealing with depression and may benefit from talking to a professional.
2. Excessive worry. If you feel as though your anxiety is interfering with your ability to do normal activities and/or you are unable to sleep at night due to ongoing rumination about your difficulties, you may want to consider seeking help.
3. Trauma or abuse. If you have experienced any type of traumatic event or abusive relationship, coming to terms with your experience by talking to an empathic other can be extremely helpful. Trauma and abuse can leave long-term scars that, if left untreated, can negatively impact your life, relationships, and ability to experience joy or happiness.
4. Relationship problems. If your relationship has become unfulfilling and you feel you are no longer able to communicate effectively with your significant other, seeking out couples counseling can be a helpful step in getting your relationship back on track.
5. Difficult life transitions. We all face difficult life situations at times–the loss of a job, a move to a new city, a divorce, or the loss of a loved one. When difficulties such as these arise and you find it difficult to move on, talking with a counselor can be an effective way to process your feelings and work through any lingering grief.
6. Obsessive or compulsive behaviors. If you are spending too much time double checking to make sure you have turned off the stove, obsessively washing your hands, or are consumed by compulsive thoughts, receiving counseling could be extremely beneficial in getting your life in order.
7. Children excessively acting out. If your child or children have been misbehaving and you are at your wit’s end trying to figure out what to do, talking with a professional who has experience with children’s issues can be helpful. A counselor or therapist can frequently provide you with some additional parenting tools to make your life easier.

In addition to helping with the issues above and others, obtaining professional help may provide you with more insight and awareness. Although it can sometimes feel scary to take the first step to reach out, reducing your symptoms and learning to live in healthier ways can make doing so more than worthwhile.

Most insurance does cover mental health therapy. When you call the office, the receptionist will ask for your insurance information. The insurance specialist will verify your benefits and out of pocket expense. However, you can call your insurance beforehand to ask about benefits, deductibles and co-pays. If you have an insurance that is accepted, then the therapist will bill the insurance and you will be responsible for any co-pays or deductibles.

If you cannot attend your session, I ask that you call the office within 24 hours of your appointment. If you do not give 24 hours’ notice, you will be charged a $95 fee. Insurance does not pay for no show appointments.

Yes, your sessions are confidential. If you want any information released, the therapist will have you sign a release of information.

However, there are some exceptions required by law to this rule. Exceptions include:

• Suspected 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. The therapist is required to notify the police.
• 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 an individual does not cooperate, additional measures may need to be taken.