Frequently Asked Questions
Therapy involves a commitment of time, money, and energy. It can be seen as a long-term investment into your your quality of life. I hope the information below helps empower you as you continue on your journey to find the right therapist for you.
Do I really need therapy? I can usually handle my problems.
Contrary to common misconception, psychotherapy isn't just for those who are struggling with mental illness/disorder. We all go through challenging situations in life, many of which we have navigated through successfully. Many of my clients tell me that prior to entering therapy they make several attempts to resolve there their struggle but end up feeling defeated or helpless when the struggle continues. When psychological distress starts affecting your social, academic, work, and general life functioning, therapy may be recommended. If you are unsure if therapy will be beneficial for you, feel free to book a free consultation session with me on the link below.
Why see a therapist? Why not just talk to a friend or family member?
Having a strong support system is an essential part of overcoming challenges. Nevertheless, many of my clients tell me that over time, they start feeling like a burden or feel misunderstood by their family. A therapist in an individual specifically trained in therapeutic conversations, assessment, and interventions. Although it often may feel like a casual conversation, the therapist will ask questions to help you determine the underlying issues causing your distress and learn more adaptive ways of responding. Also, because a therapist does not have a personal relationship with you, they can remain unbiased and create a safe and non-judgmental environment for growth to take place.
What type of therapist should I choose?
There are various types or therapy and therapists all of who focus on supporting clients reach their goals. However, studies show that the biggest indicator of client success is the therapeutic relationship present between the therapist and client. In other words, there needs to be a ‘good fit’. If possible, have a phone or email conversation when you first make contact with a potential therapist. Ask if the therapist has experience in helping clients deal with your area of concern. Trust your instincts. Your friend may feel comfortable with their therapist, but that doesn’t mean that that’s the right fit for you.
Do you take insurance?
I am not a paneled provider for any insurance companies and do not bill directly to insurance companies. I can provide you a superbill, which you can submit to your insurance, if your insurance company accepts out-of-network reimbursements.
Please contact your insurance provider’s Member Services and ask the following questions to help determine your benefits:
Does my health insurance plan include out-of-network mental health benefits?
Do I have an out-of-network deductible? If so, what is it and have I met it yet?
Does my plan limit how many sessions per calendar year I can have? If so, what is the limit? What is the start date of the calendar year my out-of-network policy is based on?
What is my co-pay (dollar amount) or co-insurance (percentage amount)?
Is a referral needed from my primary care physician?
What is therapy like?
Our first few sessions will involve an evaluation of your needs. I will be able to offer you some first impressions of what our work will include and determine if I believe that I am not the right therapist for you. Follow up session will focus on the specific goals. I may suggest some things you can do outside of therapy including particular behaviors or taking action on your goals. Ultimately, the more active one’s participation is in session and outside of session, the more effective therapy is.
How many therapy sessions will be needed?
The length varies depending on your needs, goals, and resources. I’ve had clients who booked one session, we worked out their struggle(s), and they were all set and didn’t need a follow-up session. Sometimes, one courageous, honest conversation is really all one needs. More commonly, clients book sessions with me over a period of several weeks or several months. Then there are other clients who I’ve been working with for some time—they appreciate monthly sessions during which they review and sharpen their life skills as needed.
How often are therapy appointments scheduled?
Research suggests that individuals in psychotherapy that are seen more frequently recover more quickly than individuals being seen less frequently. Yet the specific answer for you will depend on your clinical needs. I review goals and treatment plan and collaboratively make changes to frequency of sessions as clinically needed.
How do one know therapy is working?
There are many signs to let you know that therapy is working for you. You may notice that you start to navigate through your thoughts more constructively or start seeing different outcomes. The change and progress might be visible to a friend or someone close to you. One of the most crucial piece of my work with my clients is they start feeling an increase in ‘self-efficacy’, which is the believe in their ability to create and sustain change.
What modality of therapy do I practice?
Every person’s life, experiences, and mind is complex and unique, hence, I do not believe that one treatment modality fits all. I use an individualized approach and tailor my interventions to your unique and specific needs. In order to create my treatment plan, I draw from a psychological framework called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to assess clinical needs and build a treatment plan.