Therapy is a type of treatment that helps people with a variety of issues and/or difficulties. Therapy may sometimes seem mysterious, though it really should not be. Therapy involves you talking with a trained professional who can help you resolve problems or manage difficult emotions. People often seek therapy when they feel "stuck" in life, and/or when what they are currently doing is no longer helpful to them.
The goal of therapy is to improve your emotional health, your relationships with others, increase your sense of well-being and self-confidence, and become "unstuck." Through therapy, you learn how to recognize unhelpful patterns of thinking and how to change those thought processes to more helpful ones.
How Does Therapy Help?
Therapy can help you cope better with both long-term, chronic difficulties, as well as short-term, acute stressors. Through therapy, you can learn to develop coping strategies, techniques, and problem-solving skills. Cognitive-behavioral therapy helps you recognize unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors and replace them with more helpful ones, and is especially helpful in the treatment of depression and anxiety. Grief therapy can help you adjust to the loss of a loved one, and it can also help with other significant life changes and losses, such as the loss of a job, a divorce, a move, or the diagnosis of an illness such as cancer. Supportive therapy can provide you with support during times of crisis, as it is often helpful to have an objective person assist you in seeing issues from a different perspective. Therapy can help you make healthier life choices and have more meaningful relationships, and can improve your life by enhancing your satisfaction, self-awareness, and self-esteem.
How Do I Know Therapy Can Be Helpful to ME?
Some might think that if you see a therapist, it means you are "weak" or "crazy." This could not be further from the truth! In fact, the opposite is true. It is those people who recognize that they could use the help of a therapist that are often the most psychologically healthy people! You do not need a "clinical" diagnosis of depression or anxiety to seek therapy (though therapy is highly effective for these and other clinical diagnoses). If you feel that you are struggling with any aspect of your life - emotional, interpersonal, professional, etc. - therapy can be very helpful. The decision to begin therapy can be a difficult one; however, many who do seek therapy find lasting lifelong beneficial results.
What is Your Theoretical Orientation?
I consider my orientation to be eclectic which means that I draw from a number of different theoretical orientations depending on the presenting issue, as well as your therapeutic goals. That said, I have a heavy bent towards a cognitive-behavioral approach, yet also draw upon insight-oriented, interpersonal, and supportive approaches.
How Long Does a Therapy Session Last?
A therapy session typically lasts 45 minutes. The remaining 15 minutes of the hour are reserved for case notes and other administrative tasks.
What is the Frequency of Sessions?
Initially, you would be seen once a week. Sometimes if you are under extreme emotional distress, you may be seen 2-3 times per week. Weekly sessions are important at the beginning of therapy to assist me in getting to know you better so I can best evaluate how to help you. Weekly sessions also help you feel that there is more of a flow to the therapeutic process. As you start to feel better, sessions frequently drop to once every two weeks, once every three weeks, or once per month. After that, booster sessions are scheduled on an as-needed basis.
Is Therapy Confidential?
The confidentiality of all materials related to your treatment is protected by me. Neither assessment, nor treatment information, is disclosed to anyone without your written permission to release such information. The only time confidentiality is broken is when required by law.
The law requires me to release information: 1) to medical staff in case of a medical emergency, 2) to a third party (including but not limited to a potential victim or the police) in the event there is an actual threat of harm to you or others, 3) to appropriate state agencies if there is suspicion of abuse or neglect of a child, elderly person, or person with a disability, and 4) to a court if there is a verified court order demanding such a release of information.
Do You Accept Insurance?
I am considered an out-of-network provider. I can furnish you with a receipt of services that you have received. You may submit this to your insurance company for out-of-network reimbursement.
There are So Many Therapists Out There. Why You?
I have a strong background in clinical psychology, including nearly 30 years of education, training, and experience. I have worked with a wide variety of populations in a wide variety of settings, including inpatient psychiatric hospitals, outpatient mental health center, outpatient psychiatric clinic, juvenile court, and private practice. I have a commitment to professional ethics, including but not limited to, those of confidentiality. I am committed to helping you improve your life. I will be honest with you regarding my understanding of your difficulties. I will discuss a diagnosis with you, if one is indicated, and I will discuss plans for treatment. If feel that I am unable to help you, or that you would be better served by a referral to another professional, I will make such a referral with careful consideration.