THERAPY AND COUNSELING FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Counselors can provide support, problem-solving skills, and enhanced coping strategies for issues such as depression, anxiety, relationship troubles, unresolved childhood issues, addictions, trauma, grief, stress management, and more.  Therapists can provide a fresh perspective on a difficult problem or point you in the direction of a solution.  

Everyone goes through challenging life situations.  Therapy is for people who realize they need counseling assistance and a helping hand.  They are taking responsibility to change a difficult situation by seeking counseling assistance.  Therapy provides long-lasting benefits and support by helping to overcome difficult challenges, giving tools to avoid triggers, and breaking repetitive damaging patterns to make healthier choices.

Some people are not handling stressful circumstances well or may be going through a major life transition (unemployment, divorce, new job, loss of family member).  Some need assistance managing low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, addictions, relationship problems, spiritual conflicts and creative blocks. Others may want to learn more about themselves or be more effective with personal goals. People seeking counseling are ready to make positive changes and take responsibility for their lives.  

You can expect to discuss current events happening in your life, personal history relevant to your issue, new insights gained and positive progress.  Therapy can be short-term for a specific issue or longer-term to deal with deep traumas, family dysfunctions, difficult patterns or personal development.  It is most common to schedule regular sessions with your therapist, usually weekly or every 2 weeks.   

The long-term solution to mental and emotional problems cannot be solved solely by medication.  Instead of just treating the symptom, therapy addresses the root cause of your distress and the behavior patterns that curb your progress.  You can best achieve growth and well-being with an integrative approach to wellness. In some cases depending on the severity, a combination of medication and therapy is the right course of action.

Confidentiality is one of the most important components in counseling. Therapy requires a high degree of trust as clients and counselors process highly sensitive and personal subject matters. Therapists will provide a written copy of their confidential disclosure agreement that ensures what is discussed 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. Given the confidentiality agreement, therapists can only release information with your written consent and permission.

State laws and professional ethics require therapists to maintain confidentiality except for the following situations: 

• Suspected abuse or neglect of children, adults, and elders to the authorities, including Child Protection Services (CPS) and law enforcement.
• If the therapist has reason to suspect the client is seriously in danger of self-harming or threatens to harm another person.

Often the majority of the cost of therapy is covered by your health insurance, though you will normally need to pay a co-payment. Please check your coverage or call your insurance company to find more information on your:   

• mental health insurance benefits
• annual deductibles, copayments, coverage amounts per therapy sessions
• sessions allowable per year covered by your health insurance

Reduced fee services for those without insurance are available on a limited basis

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