I’ve never talked to anyone. I’m used to handling things on my own. Aren’t people who go to therapy weak?
Not at all. People who ask for help know when they need it and have the ability to reach out. Everyone needs help now and then.You already have some strengths that you’ve used before, and for whatever reason, they aren’t working right now. Perhaps this problem feels overwhelming and is making it difficult to access your past strengths. In our work together, I’ll help you identify what those strengths are and how to implement them again in what is happening now.
What’s the difference between talking to you or my best friend or family?
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. As a therapist I am 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 provide good advice. A trained therapist is interested in helping you find your own answers and not telling you what to do.
Why shouldn’t I just take medication?
Medication alone cannot solve all issues. What medication does is treat the symptoms. Our work together is designed to explore the root of the issue, dig deep into your behavior and teach strategies that can help you accomplish your personal and/or relational goals.
Medication can be effective and is sometimes needed in conjunction with therapy.
How does it work? What do I have to do in sessions?
Because each person has different issues and goals for therapy, therapy will be different depending on the individual. I tailor my therapeutic approach to your specific needs. 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.
How long will it take?
Unfortunately, this is not possible to say in a general FAQs page. Everyone’s circumstances are unique to them and the length of time therapy can take to allow you to accomplish your goals depends on your desire for personal development, your commitment, and the factors that are driving you to seek therapy in the first place. Each individual and situation is unique and we will work with clients as long as necessary to facilitate change.
I want to get the most out of therapy. What can I do to help?
I am so glad you are dedicated to getting the most out of your sessions. Your active participation and dedication is crucial to your success. After all, we only see each other for a session a week. It’s the work you do outside of our sessions that will really help you see your personal growth and development.
My partner and I are having problems. Should we be in individual counseling or come together?
If you are concerned about your relationship, and you would both like to work with me, I would initially work with both of you together. After this work, if one of you would like to continue in individual sessions, I could work with only one of you. It is not helpful to move from individual into couple’s work with the same therapist because of potential trust issues.
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. I would be more than happy to discuss the pros and cons of using insurance/having a diagnosis and other options available.
