FAQ
It is important to feel comfortable with your therapist to get the most out of your therapy experience. We are happy to talk with you before you set up an appointment to answer any questions you have.
Therapy is an investment in your well-being that will pay dividends throughout your life through better mood, more intimate relationships, and higher performance.
We offer free 15 minute consultations. Our team has multiple levels of clinicians. $60 intern rate, $100 associate rate and $130 master.
Choosing a therapist can be a daunting task. Here are a few points to remember.
It is important to choose a therapist who is a good match for you. This is a very personal decision. Even the most professionally respected therapist in the world will not be a good match for everyone. Remember that different people work together in different ways. You should feel comfortable with the style of your therapist. Sometimes it takes a few “tries” to find a good match.
It is OK to shop around until you find the right therapist for you. Feel free to interview a prospective therapist, asking questions about their style of therapy and training, fee structure, cancellation policy, insurance reimbursement, how long they have been in practice, and if they are familiar working with the kinds of issues you want to work on in therapy.
According to the American Psychological Association:
- The length of treatment for psychological problems will necessarily vary from one individual to another. Essentially, the treatment (type and duration) should always be matched appropriately to the nature and severity of the person’s presenting difficulties. Acute difficulties usually require fewer treatment sessions than do chronic conditions. Moreover, the length of treatment also varies with the type of treatment provided; cognitive-behavioral treatments, which focus on a specific problem, are generally briefer than are psychotherapies with a broader focus.
- It is important to consider the following when determining the length of treatment:
- Therapy successfully ends when the patient has accomplished the goals mutually agreed upon with the therapist.
- Discussion of treatment length should be part of your conversation with the therapist.
- Treatment length is often tentative and revisited throughout the course of treatment.
“Research has generally found a positive relationship between treatment length and clinical outcomes such that more individuals will show significant change or recovery with increasing treatment length. It is therefore important that you have a sufficient amount of treatment and reasonable expectations for treatment length before deciding treatment is not working.”
Therapists 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 Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Counselors can be a tremendous asset to managing mental illness, interpersonal relationships, family concerns, and the stresses of daily life. They can provide a fresh perspective on a difficult problem or help you find a solution. The benefits you obtain from therapy depend on how well you use the process and put into practice what you learn. In other words, you get back what you put into it.
Some of the benefits available from therapy include:
- Attaining a better understanding of yourself, your goals and values
- Developing skills for improving your relationships or solving problems
- 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
- Improving your self-esteem and boosting self-confidence
- Managing serious mental illness
Therapy is a two-way process that works especially well when you and your therapist communicate openly. Research shows that the outcome of therapy is improved when the therapist and the client collaborate about what the major problems are and how therapy can help. 90% of the success in counseling can be predicted by a good rapport between a therapist and the client.
You and your therapist both have responsibilities in establishing and maintaining this good working relationship. Doing your part is being clear with your therapist about any concerns as they arise. Therapy works best when you attend sessions regularly and give some forethought as to what you want to discuss during each session. Also, incorporating your therapist’s feedback into the time between sessions increases the effectiveness of your sessions.
Therapy isn’t easy. But if you’re willing to work in close partnership with your therapist you will accomplish your goals and find relief from emotional distress and.