Frequently Asked Questions

What is Therapy like?

Because each person has different issues and goals for therapy, therapy will be different depending on the individual. In general, you can expect to discuss the current events happening in your life, your personal history relevant to your issue, and report progress (or any new insights gained) from the previous therapy session. Depending on your specific needs, therapy can be short-term, for a specific issue, or longer-term, to deal with more difficult patterns or your desire for more personal development. Either way, it is most common to schedule regular sessions with your therapist (usually weekly).

It is important to understand that you will get more results from therapy if you actively participate in the process. The ultimate purpose of therapy is to help you bring what you learn in session back into your life. Therefore, beyond the work you do in therapy sessions, your therapist may suggest some things you can do outside of therapy to support your process – such as reading a pertinent book, journaling on specific topics, noting particular behaviors or taking action on your goals. People seeking psychotherapy are ready to make positive changes in their lives, are open to new perspectives and take responsibility for their lives.

How often are the sessions and how long do they last?

Initial sessions typically last 60 minutes with follow-up sessions generally lasting 53 minutes face-to-face, 7 min. administrative. You and your therapist will come up with a schedule that will be based on your needs as well as your therapist’s availability.

How can Therapy Help me?

A number of benefits are available from participating in therapy. 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 creative blocks. Many people also find that counselors can be a tremendous asset to managing personal growth, interpersonal relationships, family concerns, marriage issues, and the hassles of daily life. Therapists can provide a fresh perspective on a difficult problem or point you in the direction of a solution. The benefits you obtain from therapy depend on how well you use the process and put into practice what you learn. Some of the benefits available from therapy include:

• Attaining a better understanding of yourself, your goals and values
• Developing skills for improving your relationships
• Finding resolution to the issues or concerns that led you to seek therapy
• 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
• Discovering new ways to solve problems in your family or marriage
• Improving your self-esteem and boosting self-confidence

What about medication vs. psychotherapy?

It is well established that the long-term solution to mental and emotional problems and the pain they cause cannot be solved solely by medication. Instead of just treating the symptom, therapy addresses the cause of our distress and the behavior patterns that curb our progress. You can best achieve sustainable growth and a greater sense of well-being with an integrative approach to wellness. Working with your medical doctor you can determine what’s best for you, and in some cases a combination of medication and therapy is the right course of action.

What if I need to cancel a therapy session?

We understand that occasionally you need to cancel your therapy session for a variety of reasons. However, we ask that you give us 24 hours notice. If you do not cancel within 24 hours, your credit card on file will be charged $50. We understand that true emergencies occasionally occur and that those take precedence, so we will not bill you under those circumstances. Also, if you know weeks or months in advance that you will be away on vacation, please let your therapist know as soon as possible.

Is your office closed on major holidays?

Our office is closed for the following holidays: New Year’s Day; Good Friday; Memorial Day; July 4th; Labor Day; Thanksgiving and the day after; Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and closes early on New Year’s Eve. We typically remain open on all other federal holidays.

Is your office open in bad weather?

Our office takes an abundance of caution in terms of closing. Therefore, if the weather is inclement we will attempt to contact all clients scheduled to advise if our office will delay in opening or be closed. If you don’t feel that it’s safe to come into the office on a day with inclement weather, please call or email us to let us know and you will not be charged. We never want you to compromise your safety.

Confidentiality is one of the most important components 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. Every therapist should provide a written copy of their confidential disclosure agreement, and you can expect that what you discuss in session will not be shared with anyone. This is called “Informed Consent”. Sometimes, however, you may want your therapist to share information or give an update to someone on your healthcare team (your Physician, Naturopath, Attorney), but by law your therapist cannot release this information without obtaining your written permission.

However, state law and professional ethics require therapists to maintain confidentiality except for the following situations:

* Suspected past or present abuse or neglect of children, adults, and elders with information being released to the authorities, including Child Protection and law enforcement, judge and/or magistrate 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 with information being released to the authorities, including Child Protection and law enforcement, judge and/or magistrate based on information provided by the client or collateral sources. 

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