How do I know when it is time to see a therapist?
If you are reading this, chances are good that something is going on with you or a loved one that may require a therapist. Ask yourself these questions: Are you having difficulty loving others or being loved in the way you desire? Have your dreams or goals taken a back seat to things in life or feelings? Do you question your self-worth? Are you struggling with issues related to church or spirituality? Are you just dissatisfied with your life and eager for change? There are many more questions to ask, but these are common concerns people bring to therapy. Essentially if you are struggling in any area of life, from relationships to academics to work, we may be able to help.
Why do I need a therapist? Can’t a friend or family member just give me some good advice?
Yes, friends and family members can be a source of good advice, however, sometimes the advice can be limited to their own experiences and opinions even though the intentions are good. I am professionally trained to help you grow, heal and change. A trained therapist is interested in helping you find your own answers and not telling you what to do.
What are the benefits of therapy?
The benefits of therapy have been demonstrated in numerous studies and here is what some studies suggest:
- Psychotherapy produced positive effects in most respondents.
- The longer people stayed in therapy, the better their results.
- For many psychological conditions, people in therapy while utilizing medication did best.
How does therapy work?
Therapy is an opportunity to help organize your thoughts, feelings, and emotions in order to more effectively navigate your life. To put it simply, my goal is to assist you in gaining useful skills to successfully manage the challenges in your life. Therapy will look different for each individual depending on the therapist, presenting problems, goals, etc..
How will I know which therapist is right for me?
A face-to-face session is necessary to really find out if I am a good fit for you. There are many good therapists out there, but the most crucial piece to successful therapy is the relationship you build with your therapist. Keep the following questions in mind during your first meeting:
- How easy is it to talk to them?
- Do they seem like somebody I could trust?
- Are they really listening to me?
- Do they seem to have good knowledge of therapy?
- Do they seem confident and competent?
- Do I feel comfortable with them?
- Could I ever show this person the deepest, worst or best parts of myself?
- Do they seem to have the capacity to handle me
- Mostly, “Do I like them?”
How long does therapy last?
The answer to this question depends on many factors, such as the problem, the environment, personality style, insurance and money, access to transportation, etc. Keep these things in mind when thinking about how long therapy might last:
- Therapy is an investment in yourself, your future, and in those who rely on you. Therapy usually lasts until the goals that were created are reached and you feel as if you are ready to be “on your own”. Discussing your expectations is important so that there is a clear understanding of the outlook of treatment. Cutting therapy short before it has really done its job may not give you the full effect you were looking for.
- Therapy will take work and nobody will be able to do your therapeutic work except for you. Some clients come to therapy expecting to get a few “tools” to help them deal with an issue that is much more complex than they would like to admit. Some expect treatment to take one or two sessions to get better and feel that if their therapist has not yet solved their problems for them, then the therapy/therapist is flawed or ineffective. Keep in mind that sometimes effective therapy can take months or even years depending on a number of factors. Everybody is different and you should discuss your expectations with your therapist to ensure that you are on the same page.
- The frequency of sessions will also impact the length of therapy. Some individuals come weekly, biweekly, or even monthly. The frequency in which you come may correlate to the “results’ you see.
Each individual and situation is unique, and I will work with clients as long as necessary or possible to facilitate change.
How do I prepare for my first session?
It will be helpful to have a general idea about the goals and expectations you have for therapy. This allows for the therapist to have an idea of the direction you would like to go and how to assist. Therapy is intended to be a collaborative process, which requires continued active participation.
During the first session I may ask many questions about you that may not feel relate to your problem, such as health history, trauma history, etc. These all help me rule out other possible factors in determining how to best work with you. If after the first session you feel that you would like to continue therapy, I will either set the next appointment or lead you to the front desk to set an appointment with the receptionist.
Will I be diagnosed with a disorder?
Please note that if you will be using insurance to cover your therapy services, it may be required to assign you a mental health diagnosis, which will become part of your permanent health record in our office. Currently, insurance companies treat therapy like a medical service, which means they typically only cover your therapy if you have a diagnosable disorder. However, you may not feel like you have a disorder or you may not want to be stigmatized by having a documented diagnosis. Often times most people seeking treatment may suffer from a disorder of some sort and a diagnosis may help determine what treatment options are best for the situation. We would be more than happy to discuss the pros and cons of using insurance/having a diagnosis and other options available.
What is the difference between an employed clinician and an independent clinician?
The clinicians in our building follow a “Medical Mall” model in our center, which means all clinicians are independent clinicians that practice in our building under their own business names and structure. If you need records, your treating therapist will have those.
Doggos
Only service animals are welcome to accompany our guests that are deemed medically necessary and offer emotional support or perform a specific service to the guest. Please note that untrained animals and animals that pose any threat to anyone will be invited to remain outside or in the car for the safety and wellbeing of all of our guests.