Got Questions About Therapy? Frequently Asked Questions

Starting therapy can feel stressful if you're not sure what to expect. Take a look at these answers to frequently asked questions, and get in touch with us if there's anything else we can help with. 

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The idea of starting therapy can feel so overwhelming and uncomfortable.

I believe just about everyone can benefit from therapy. Often clients come with a particular concern in mind, but quickly find themselves on a journey exploring many other aspects of their lives.

The great benefit of this process is not only working out your initial concern, but also gaining deeper insight about yourself, your life, and your relationships. The benefits of therapy are best achieved by clients who commit to attending therapy.

Typically, individual sessions are 50-55 minutes long. 

The first session will be dedicated to gaining a lot of information about you and what your therapy goals are. You know yourself and situation better than a therapist, so you will be asked to speak freely about your concerns and will be guided by thoughtful questions. This is a safe, confidential space for you to do this. Your therapist may lead you through activities or prompts in session to help further your exploration.

I view therapy as a collaborative process. I am walking with you, not prescribing your healing and growth. It is an honor to join you in your journey to emotional growth and healing. While I cannot guarantee results, the more open and committed you are to the process, the likely it is that progress will be seen.

Because each person seeks therapy for different issues and has unique goals for their therapeutic experience, the length of time a person goes to therapy will be different.

Depending on your specific needs, therapy can be short-term, for a specific issue, or longer-term, to deal with more difficult patterns of behavior. Either way, it is most common to schedule regular sessions with your therapist, with the initial goal of having weekly sessions at first.

It is important to understand that you will get more results from therapy if you actively participate in the process.

It is determined that the long-term solution to mental and emotional problems and the pain they bring cannot be resolved by medication alone.

Rather than simply treating the symptom, therapy attempts to address the root cause of our distress and the behavioral patterns that block progress. You can best achieve sustainable growth and a greater sense of well-being by working with your primary care doctor for medication management if needed. Sometimes the combination of medication and psychotherapy can be advantageous.

Confidentiality is one of the most important factors between a client and psychotherapist. Successful therapy requires a high degree of trust with highly sensitive subject matter that is usually not discussed anywhere but the therapist's office. Clients should be provided with a written copy of their confidential disclosure agreement. You must give written permission (informed consent) to share your information with others including your physician, family members, legal counsel, etc.

State law and professional ethics require therapists to maintain confidentiality except in the following situations:

Suspected past or present abuse or neglect of minor children or vulnerable adults to the authorities, including Child Protection and law enforcement, based on information provided by the client or collateral sources.

If the therapist has reason to suspect the client is seriously in danger of harming him/herself or has threatened to harm another person.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a type of therapy that digs into how our thoughts, feelings, and actions are all connected. The idea is to spot negative or distorted thoughts and replace them with more positive and realistic ones. CBT involves structured sessions where individuals learn specific techniques like cognitive restructuring, behavioral activation, exposure therapy, problem-solving skills, and relaxation techniques to manage their symptoms. It is a short-term, goal-oriented therapy that aims to equip individuals with practical skills to improve their daily functioning.

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    We had a very traumatic event in our family that brought me to her. She not only helped me deal with that, but she also helped me dive into my childhood trauma that I experienced and how it has affected me throughout my relationships my entire life.

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