Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What can I expect
from therapy? Your first session will include
questions about your personal history and details of the
issue that brings you to counseling. During that
time,a plan will be developed of your goals and how
to achieve them.
How long
will my appointment be? The first session, you
should arrive 10-15 minutes prior to the appointment to
complete the paperwork necessary to engage in services.
Your actual therapy appointment lasts 45-50 minutes (but
not longer than 1 hour).
How often
will I come?That depends on your situation and
the intensity of your distress. Generally it is suggested
that clients come approximately every two weeks until the
clinician suggests longer periods between appointments.
Shouldn’t
I be coming every week or several times a week in the
beginning? Not necessarily – if so, it will be
suggested. In order to have time to work on the things
explored in session, two weeks usually works best. Weekly
or (rarely) twice a week therapy is suggested only for
severe situations that require close monitoring by a
clinical professional.
In the beginning, it is suggested that children (under
the age of 10) go no more than 3 weeks between appointments
as it is difficult for them to remember what is covered if a
month or more elapses between appointments.
Why do
I have to wait so long for an appointment? Most
clients schedule several appointments in a row to be sure
to get the time and day that works best for them. Because
of this, the schedule is often full for 2-3 weeks.
Can I get in sooner?
Possibly. I have a running cancellation list and you are
at liberty to check the web schedule for cancellations
frequently. My scheduling assistant is excellent at
getting people in as quickly as possible. Please note that
early morning and late afternoon appointments are a
popular time and fill up the fastest
What is your
cancellation policy? Please call as soon as
possible or go to the website and cancel your appointment
online. Other clients are often waiting for a sooner
appointment. If you fail to give 24 hours notice and I am
unable to fill the time with another client, a $25 no
show/late cancellation fee will be charged. After two
missed appointments in a row, the fees must be paid or no
further appointments can be made and any on the books will
be cancelled.
What kind of therapy
do you do? Usually cognitive-behavioral brief
short term solution focused treatment but other
interventions may be used as appropriate.
How long until I feel
better? And how long will I be coming to
therapy? It depends on how long the situation has been
going on, how severe the circumstances are that have
prompted them to seek counseling, and how aggressively you
follow the recommendations made in session. Generally,
however, most clients end therapy within 6 months of
beginning.
Can you or will you
prescribe medication? No, only a medical
doctor, nurse practioner or physician’s assistant can do
that. But if you need a referral to someone who can, I
will help with that.
Will
you contact anyone about my therapy? Not unless
you authorize it (i.e., your physician).
Will I
have to lie on a couch? Only if you’re
tired and then it is your request. Most people find a
chair to sit in or the couch to sit on throughout the
session. With children, we often end up on the floor.
Will you ask me about
my mother? Only if you bring her up and want to
discuss her.
If I am bringing my
child, will I be present for the whole session?
It depends on
the age of the child and the nature of the presenting
issue. Teens are usually seen alone for a majority of the
session; whereas, children under 10 will spend a good
portion of the session with their parents in the room.
My child says they
just play games and don’t really talk. Is that true?
With children, card games, board games, art projects,
therapeutic stories, and sand play are a part of
treatment. When using these tools, children are often
unaware of much of the discussion that occurs and as such,
don’t have much to report afterwards.
Will you tell me what
my child talks about? Not without their
permission. They are also entitled to the privacy therapy
offers. It is often knowing that things will remain
confidential that allows them to be more open about their
concerns. But I will share concerns for their safety or
well being if appropriate. For most children, parents’
involvement in the session makes this issue of disclosure
irrelevant.
If your question isn't answered here, please
contact me.