FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How can therapy help me or my child?
Therapists can provide support, problem solving skills, and coping strategies to help you deal with things like anxiety, depression, relationship problems, and stress management. A therapist can give you a fresh, and often more objective perspective on yourself and your life.
What happens during a therapy session?
Do I really need therapy?
How do I explain therapy to my child or teen?
Doesn't therapy cost a fortune?
During a therapy session, you can talk to your therapist about your worries,and any problematic relationships. Your therapist will listen with respect and compassion, and may suggest different ways of looking at things. You and your therapist can come up with strategies to solve problems as well as techniquest to help you feel better.
Only you can decide if you "need" therapy. Everyone goes through challenging times in their lives, and even if you have usually solved your own problems, sometimes it can help to seek out extra support. Many times, a therapist can help you solve your problems more easily and quickly than if you struggle with them all alone .
When parents are considering taking their children or teenagers to see me, I usually suggest they say something like, " We are going to see a really nice woman who helps a lot of kids/teens to deal with some of the things that have been bothering you lately. She will probably ask you some questions about you, and to better understand what has been upsetting you. She plays games with kids, talks to them and helps them solve problems"
Is therapy confidential?
Yes. Definitely yes!!! The law protects anything a person discusses with a therapist in psychotherapy. No information is shared with another person or physician without written permission from the client. There are some exceptions to this rule but they involve any kind of danger to the client or another person, or suspected child abuse. This can be discussed in more detail during your first therapy session.
Often therapy is partially or almost fully paid for by your insurance. When you meet with your therapist for the first session, you will get to discuss his or her fees, and the therapist will provide you with questions to ask your insurance provider. Questions usually include:
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What are my mental health benefits?
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What is my coverage for each therapy session?
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How many therapy sessions does my plan cover?
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How much will my insurance pay for an out-of network therapy provider?
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Is a referral needed from my primary care physician?
Many therapists provide reduced fees for clients who do not have good insurance coverage. This is a good question to ask when you speak to a potential new therapist.
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No! Many people believe that only "crazy" people go to therapy. Actually, most people who go to therapy are totally sane, and very bright. They simply decide that they want some help from a trained professional to deal with life circumstances, relationship issues, family concerns and the typical life stressors that we all deal with.
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Isn't therapy just for "crazy" people?