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 given can be damaging even though the intentions are good. We are professionally trained to help you grow, heal and change. Advice from a friend or family member tends to be highly biased and they may not have had the training to be able to suspend their own life experiences in the right way as they look at your situation. Additionally, friends typically want to support you no matter what, which can cloud their ability to be provide good advice. 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 92% of respondents.
- The longer people stayed in therapy, the better their results.
- People that were active in therapy did better than those that were passive. People that actively engaged by being open, asking questions, and following up did better.
- For many psychological conditions, people in therapy alone did as well as people who had medication plus therapy.
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, our 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 your therapist is a good fit. 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 or money limitations, 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 we will work with clients as long as necessary 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.
Honesty is the best policy. You may not feel like you can tell your therapist everything at first, but be prepared to be as open as possible so your therapist can begin to understand how to collaborate with you to create the changes you wish to see in your life.
Additionally, taking the time to fill out the intake paperwork beforehand can help you get a idea of the changes you are seeking. The intake packet can be obtained by calling our office and having it emailed to you. That will save valuable time so you can spend your time talking instead of filling out paperwork.
During the first session your therapist may ask many questions about you that may not feel relate to your problem, such as health history, trauma history, etc. These all help us 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, your therapist 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, you may need a mental health diagnosis, which will become part of your permanent health record. 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?
When it comes to your care, you will likely see no difference between the two. We follow a “Medical Mall” model in our center, which means some clinicians are employed directly by Adventure Psychological Services, LLC and others are independent clinicians that practice in our building under their own business structure. Rest assured, we take great care to only allow the best of the best to practice in our centers.
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 for the safety and wellbeing of all of our guests.