How can therapy help me?
Our therapists provide practical, workable assistance for
whatever life throws at you! A number of benefits are available from
participating in therapy. Our therapists can provide support, problem solving
skills, and enhanced coping strategies for a wide variety of issues.
Many people also find that therapists can be a tremendous asset to managing
personal growth, relationships, family concerns, marriage/couple issues, and
the hassles of daily life. Therapists can provide a fresh perspective on a
difficult problem and help you find a solution. The
benefits from therapy depend on how well you use the process and put into
practice what you discuss and 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 stressors, triggers 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 relationship
- Improving your self-esteem and boosting self-confidence
Do I really need therapy? I can usually handle my
problems...
Everyone goes through challenging situations in
life, and while you may have successfully navigated through other
difficulties you've faced, there's nothing wrong with seeking out extra
support when you need it. In fact, therapy is for people who have enough
self-awareness to realize they need a helping hand, and that is something to
be admired! You are taking responsibility by accepting where you're at
in life and making a commitment to change/improve the situation by seeking
therapy. Therapy provides long-lasting benefits and support, giving you the
tools you need to avoid triggers, re-direct damaging patterns, and overcome
whatever challenges you face.
Why do people go to therapy and how do I know if it is right for me?
People have many different motivations for coming to therapy. Some
may be going through a major life transition (unemployment, divorce, new
job, medical problem, etc.), or are not handling stressful circumstances
well. Some people need assistance managing a range of other issues
such as low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, addictions, or
relationship problems. Therapy can help provide some much needed
encouragement, support and help with skills to get them through these
periods. Others may be at a point where they are ready to learn more
about themselves or want to be more effective with their goals in life.
In short, people seeking therapy are ready to meet the challenges in
their lives and ready to make positive changes in their lives.
What is therapy like?
Because each person
has individual issues and goals, therapy will be tailored to meet the needs
of each individual. In general, you can expect to discuss the current
events happening in your life, discuss 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 shortterm, for a specific issue, or longer-term, to deal with more
difficult patterns or your desire for more personal development.
Either way, it is recommended to schedule regular sessions with your
therapist.
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 talk
about 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 the therapy room to support your process.
What about medication?
It is well
established that the long-term solution to mental and emotional problems
cannot be solved solely by medication. Instead of just treating the
symptom, therapy addresses the cause of your distress and the behavior
patterns that curb your progress. You can best achieve sustainable growth
and a greater sense of well-being with an integrative approach to
wellness. We will work with you and your prescribing physician to help
you determine what's best for you, and in some cases a combination of
medication and therapy is the right course of action.
Do you take insurance, and how does that work?
Our staff is here to help you! Please call our
office and we'll try to answer your questions about coverage or check with
your insurance company about your mental health coverage. Although we
can't guarantee what your insurance company will cover, we'll do our best to
help you find those answers before you come in. Just have your
insurance card handy when you call. We are contracted with many
insurance companies and Employee Assistance Programs (EAP's).
Will the things we talk about in therapy remain confidential?
Absolutely. Confidentiality is one of the most important components
between a client and therapist. Successful therapy requires a high degree of
trust with highly sensitive subject matter. 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
without your permission. 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. In that case, we
would ask you to sign release forms that give your therapist permission to
release the information you wish to have released. Our therapists and
staff adhere to strict ethical codes and confidentiality policies.
However,
state law and professional ethics require therapists to report the following
situations:
* Suspected past or present abuse or neglect of
children, adults, and elders to the authorities, including Child Protection
and law enforcement, based on information provided by the client or
collateral sources, or
* If the therapist has reason to
suspect the client is seriously in danger of harming him/herself or has
threated to harm another person.