Common Questions
How can therapy help me?
- Attain a better understanding of yourself, your goals and values
- Develop skills for improving your relationships
- Find resolutions to the issues or concerns that led you to seek therapy
- Learn new ways to cope with stress and anxiety
- Manage anger, grief, depression, and other emotional pressures
- Improve communication and listening skills
- Change old behavior patterns and develop new ones
- Discover new ways to solve problems in your family or marriage
- Improve your self-esteem and boost self-confidence
Why do people go to therapy, and how do I know if it is right for me?
People seek psychotherapy for a variety of reasons, each person driven by unique motivations. Some may find themselves amidst significant life transitions, such as unemployment, divorce, or a new job, while others struggle to cope with stressful circumstances. Many individuals require support in managing a spectrum of challenges, including low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, addictions, relationship conflicts, spiritual dilemmas, and creative blocks.
Therapy offers invaluable encouragement and equips individuals with skills to navigate these periods of hardship. For some, psychotherapy marks a pivotal moment of readiness to explore themselves deeply or enhance their effectiveness in achieving life goals.
In essence, those seeking psychotherapy are prepared to confront the challenges in their lives head-on, striving for personal growth and positive change.
What is therapy like?
Since each individual brings unique issues and goals to therapy, the experience varies greatly from person to person. Generally, you can anticipate discussing current events in your life, relevant aspects of your personal history, and any progress or insights gained since the previous session.
The duration and focus of therapy—whether short-term or long-term—depends on your specific needs and desire for personal development. Regardless, regular sessions with your therapist are typically recommended.
Active participation in the therapy process yields the best results. The primary aim of therapy is to help you integrate what you learn during sessions into your everyday life. Therefore, your therapist may suggest activities outside of therapy to support your progress—such as reading relevant books, journaling on specific topics, noting behaviors, or taking action towards your goals.
Those seeking psychotherapy are often prepared to make positive changes in their lives, open to new perspectives, and committed to taking responsibility for their well-being.
What about Medication vs. Psychotherapy?
While medication can be a vital component in addressing mental and emotional challenges, it is widely acknowledged that long-term solutions to these issues—along with the pain they entail—cannot be achieved through medication alone. Therapy offers a pathway to delve into the root causes of our distress and the behavioral patterns that hinder our growth.
By adopting an integrative approach to wellness, you can achieve sustainable personal development and a heightened sense of well-being. Collaborating with your medical doctor allows you to determine the best course of action tailored to your needs. In some instances, a combination of medication and therapy proves to be the most effective strategy.
Do you take insurance, and how does that work?
To determine if you have mental health coverage through your insurance carrier, the first thing you should do is call them. Check your coverage carefully and make sure you understand their answers. Some helpful questions you can ask them:
- What are my mental health benefits?
- What is the coverage amount per therapy session?
- How many therapy 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?
Does what we talk about in therapy remain confidential?
Confidentiality stands as one of the cornerstone principles in the client-therapist relationship. Effective therapy relies heavily on the establishment of trust, particularly when addressing sensitive subjects that are often not discussed outside of the therapist's office. Every therapist should provide you with a written confidential disclosure agreement, ensuring that what you share in sessions remains confidential. This concept is known as 'Informed Consent.'
However, there may be instances where you wish for your therapist to share information or provide an update to a member of your healthcare team. It is important to note that, by law, your therapist cannot disclose this information without obtaining your written permission.
State laws and professional ethics mandate therapists to uphold confidentiality, except in the following circumstances:
- Suspected past or present abuse or neglect of children, adults, or elders, which must be reported to the appropriate authorities, such as Child Protection and law enforcement, based on information disclosed by the client or collateral sources.
- If the therapist has reason to believe the client poses a serious risk of harming themselves or has threatened harm to another person.