Frequently asked questions
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The goal of therapy is to reduce emotional pain and improve a persons experience in the world and in relationships. Therapy is different than talking with friends or family because you will have a safe and confidential space where you can share without judgement. Having a professional assist you could be the most effective and efficient path to the life you deserve. Please contact me if you have questions or would like to arrange a free 20-minute phone consultation.
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The first step is finding the right therapist. I offer a free phone or video consultation so you can decide if I would be a good fit, and we can explore how I might be able to help you. During the first few sessions we will talk the struggles that bring you to therapy and define your goals. We will then work together to help you achieve those goals. Sometimes things can seem worse before they get better as you try new ways of approaching problems. Being open to new ideas and trying new things will likely improve the outcome.
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How long therapy will take is influenced by many factors including: your schedule; therapists availability; ongoing life challenges; specific nature and acuity of your specific challenges; and engagement in the therapy process between sessions. The research suggests that most therapy clients feel clinically significant improvement in 12 - 15 sessions and I would expect the same for us. Some clients feel better enough that they graduate within that time. Others find that they enjoy the process of therapy and want to continue. My goal is to help you meet your goals as soon as possible.
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It is within your right to decline a diagnosis. Diagnoses will only be provided for the purposes of submitting reimbursement claims to your healthcare insurance provider at your request. Any diagnoses will be discussed between client and therapist for the purpose of treatment planning and referrals to appropriate providers.
When submitting information to an insurance company, the insurance company - not you - decides how many sessions are appropriate for your treatment and the length of those sessions. Private information shared with your insurance company may be stored in the Medical Information Bureau where it can be accessed in the future by other parties such as life insurance companies.
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Online therapy, also known as distance counseling or Telehealth, is the practice of providing therapy services via email, telephone, video or other electronic means. Most often, sessions are conducted over phone or video. Distance counseling is appropriate for addressing most issues and can make counseling more accessible to those who have trouble making in-office appointments.
Distance counseling is not appropriate for everyone. Those who are in severe crisis, or who are actively contemplating suicide would not be best helped by distance counseling and should seek a therapist locally. If these concerns every arise during the course of our work, we will have an emergency plan in place to connect you with local resources.
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What you say in therapy, your records, and even your attendance are confidential. Confidentiality is a key element of what makes therapy work. You have the right to a safe and confidential therapy experience.
However, there are some exceptions:
When you give written permission to release information,
When your records are subpoenaed for legal reasons,
When reporting is required or allowed by law (example: child abuse or neglect, extreme danger to self, elder abuse, danger to others, or viewing or possession of child pornography)
