FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions about Therapy
Is counseling right for me?
Seeking out counseling is an individual choice. There are many reasons why people come for counseling. Sometimes it is to deal with long-standing issue or problems with anxiety or depression. Other times it is in response to unexpected changes in one’s life such as a divorce or work transition. Many seek advice as they pursue their own personal exploration and growth. Working with a counselor can provide insight, support, and new strategies for all types of life challenges. Therapy can help address many types of issues including depression, anxiety, conflict, grief, stress management, body-image issues, and general life transitions. Counseling is right for anyone who is interested in getting the most out of their life by taking responsibility, creating greater self-awareness, and working toward change in their lives.
Do I really need counseling? 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, you're empowering yourself by seeking out extra support when you need it. In fact, counseling is for people who have enough self-awareness to realize they need a helping hand to grow and that is something to be admired. You are taking responsibility and making a commitment to change the situation by seeking counseling.
How can counseling help me?
A number of benefits are available from participating in psychotherapy. We can provide support, problem-solving skills, and enhanced coping strategies for issues such as depression, anxiety, relationship troubles, unresolved childhood issues, grief, stress management, body image issues and creative blocks. Some of the benefits available from counseling include:
What is counseling like?
Every counseling session is unique and caters to each individual. We will discuss the primary issues and concerns in your life during counseling sessions. It is common to schedule a series of weekly sessions, however special arrangements can be made as well.
It is important to process your therapeutic sessions outside of your appointment time to maximize and integrate the insight into your life between sessions. You will find that as you actively participate in counseling, you will enjoy the most benefit from it. People seeking psychotherapy are willing to invest in personal growth, take responsibility for their actions, and develop greater self-awareness in their lives.
Is medication a substitute for counseling?
In some cases a combination of medication and counseling is the right course of action. Working with your medical doctor can determine what’s best for you. It is 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 the distress and the behavior patterns that curb our progress. You can best achieve sustainable growth and a greater sense of well-being with an integrative approach to wellness.
Do you accept insurance? How does insurance work?
We are considered an out-of-network provider. What this means is we will give you a statement so that you can be reimbursed for our services under your out-of-network coverage. Policies vary between different insurance policies where some policies cover 100% of out-of-network care. To determine if you have reimbursable mental health coverage, the first thing you should do is check with your insurance carrier. Check your coverage carefully and find the answers to the following questions:
Is counseling confidential?
In general, the law protects the confidentiality of all communications between a client and counselor. No information is disclosed without prior written permission from the client.
However, there are some exceptions required by law to this rule. Exceptions include:
Is counseling right for me?
Seeking out counseling is an individual choice. There are many reasons why people come for counseling. Sometimes it is to deal with long-standing issue or problems with anxiety or depression. Other times it is in response to unexpected changes in one’s life such as a divorce or work transition. Many seek advice as they pursue their own personal exploration and growth. Working with a counselor can provide insight, support, and new strategies for all types of life challenges. Therapy can help address many types of issues including depression, anxiety, conflict, grief, stress management, body-image issues, and general life transitions. Counseling is right for anyone who is interested in getting the most out of their life by taking responsibility, creating greater self-awareness, and working toward change in their lives.
Do I really need counseling? 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, you're empowering yourself by seeking out extra support when you need it. In fact, counseling is for people who have enough self-awareness to realize they need a helping hand to grow and that is something to be admired. You are taking responsibility and making a commitment to change the situation by seeking counseling.
How can counseling help me?
A number of benefits are available from participating in psychotherapy. We can provide support, problem-solving skills, and enhanced coping strategies for issues such as depression, anxiety, relationship troubles, unresolved childhood issues, grief, stress management, body image issues and creative blocks. Some of the benefits available from counseling include:
- Developing skills for improving your relationships
- Attaining a better understanding of yourself, your goals and values
- Finding resolution to the issues or concerns that led you to seek therapy
- Learning new ways to cope with stress and anxiety
- Managing anger, grief, depression, and other emotional pressures
- Improving communications and listening skills
- Changing old behavior patterns and developing new ones
- Discovering new ways to solve problems in your family or marriage
- Improving your self-esteem and boosting self-confidence
What is counseling like?
Every counseling session is unique and caters to each individual. We will discuss the primary issues and concerns in your life during counseling sessions. It is common to schedule a series of weekly sessions, however special arrangements can be made as well.
It is important to process your therapeutic sessions outside of your appointment time to maximize and integrate the insight into your life between sessions. You will find that as you actively participate in counseling, you will enjoy the most benefit from it. People seeking psychotherapy are willing to invest in personal growth, take responsibility for their actions, and develop greater self-awareness in their lives.
Is medication a substitute for counseling?
In some cases a combination of medication and counseling is the right course of action. Working with your medical doctor can determine what’s best for you. It is 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 the distress and the behavior patterns that curb our progress. You can best achieve sustainable growth and a greater sense of well-being with an integrative approach to wellness.
Do you accept insurance? How does insurance work?
We are considered an out-of-network provider. What this means is we will give you a statement so that you can be reimbursed for our services under your out-of-network coverage. Policies vary between different insurance policies where some policies cover 100% of out-of-network care. To determine if you have reimbursable mental health coverage, the first thing you should do is check with your insurance carrier. Check your coverage carefully and find the answers to the following questions:
- What are my mental health benefits?
- What is the coverage amount per counseling session?
- How many counseling 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?
Is counseling confidential?
In general, the law protects the confidentiality of all communications between a client and counselor. No information is disclosed without prior written permission from the client.
However, there are some exceptions required by law to this rule. Exceptions include:
- Suspected child abuse or dependant adult or elder abuse. The counselor is required to report this to the appropriate authorities immediately.
- If a client is threatening serious bodily harm to another person, the counselor is required to notify the police.
- If a client intends to harm himself or herself, the counselor will make every effort to work with the individual to ensure his or her safety. However, if an individual does not cooperate, additional measures may need to be taken.
