What should I expect in therapy?
During your first appointment your therapist will complete an overall life assessment. He or she will ask you what led you to seek counseling in the first place. Some standard areas that would be explored are:
- your symptoms
- medical history
- interpersonal history (your relationships growing up. your current relationships)
- substance abuse or history of this
This first appointment is usually the time where your therapist will go over general office policies (late policies, cancellations, etc.), what to expect from counseling, limits to confidentiality, and how your protected health information will be used.
This is also your opportunity as the client to determine if this therapist’s treatment approach and personality fits your own needs. For more on what I mean by this, you can read my article on “Steps to Finding a Great Therapist.”
I’m not sure I need therapy. I’ve never been abused or been to war. How can therapy help me?
There are a lot of myths out there about what therapy is for. Yes, mental illness is a common reason for why people come in for treatment. But there are also average day to day stressors that many clients come into treatment for such as pre-marital counseling, leaving home for college for the first time, or even changing jobs. Changes in life, whether they are good or bad can leave you feeling confused or overwhelmed, which is completely normal. Talking to a skilled professional can help you sort through those feelings. For more on common myths dispelled, read this article on “6 Reasons Why People Avoid Me and Why I Think Therapists are Cool.”
How long does it take before I feel better?
Outcome is determined by how much you participate in your own treatment and your readiness for change. Much of the work in your therapy process is done outside of sessions. Therapy often involves discussing unpleasant aspects of life, which may lead to feelings of sadness, guilt, anger, frustration, loneliness or helplessness. Patients can sometimes experience symptoms worsening during this process as difficult things are being addressed. This is a natural part of the therapeutic process, as these are topics that have probably never been addressed. Therapy can also show significant benefits such as improved relationships, solutions to specific problems, or significant reductions in feelings of distress. However, there are no guarantees of the outcome expected by a patient.
How often should I go to therapy?
Once a week is typically the frequency of treatment, at least for the first several weeks. This is also dependent on the severity of the challenges presented; your therapist may recommend you come more than once a week or every other week. However, every other week is probably the minimum necessary to see any significant changes in the initial stages of treatment. On average, clients usually begin seeing improvement in approximately 3-4 months. Again, this is dependent on your level of participation, readiness for change, frequency of attendance, and severity of challenges.
How much do you charge?
Each of our therapists are independently contracted, therefore fees may vary slightly. Please contact the therapist you are interested in working with to discuss fees and insurance benefits. Sessions run between 50-60 minutes.