Frequently Asked Questions
What is therapy?
Therapy, or counseling, is the process of interacting with a trained professional in order to identify and treat emotional and mental problems that may be keeping a person from living optimally. In other words, therapy teaches people how to decrease getting in their own way and helps them think, feel, and act in ways that will help them meet their own goals and live their best life.
Can my therapist tell other people about my session?
Absolutely not! The American Counseling Association Code of Ethics provides for "confidentiality". Counselors must "protect the private information of current and prospective clients. Counselors disclose information only with appropriate consent or with sound legal or ethical justification." Confidentiality can only be broken in the event that a client may hurt themselves or someone else, or if child or elderly abuse is suspected. With minors, some information can be shared with parents based on the minor’s consent and if it will help the parent and child increase their understanding of one another to meet the client's progress goals.
How do I choose a counselor?
Choosing a counselor is kind of like trying on bathing suits, one size does not fit all. You may want to ask around and get recommendations from friends or other trained professionals, such as your doctor. At The Practice, we have several therapists with different approaches and open minds. If you are unsure of which therapist to choose, just let us know a little bit about what you are looking for and we will recommend one of our therapists who can fit your needs.
How do I pay for counseling?
There are many ways to pay for counseling. Typically, people want to file it on their insurance and many times you are able to pay a deductible rather than the full fee of therapy. In that case, we ask that you give us your insurance information and we can figure out what your insurance benefits will cover. Sometimes people prefer to pay out of pocket rather than use their insurance, in that case, we will set up a payment system for you. If you are worried about being able to afford counseling, just talk to our trained office manager and we will try to help find a solution that will work for you.
What can I expect at my first therapy session?
The first session is what we call "an intake". Meaning that your therapist will be gathering information about your history (for example, a timeline of important or traumatic events throughout your life), medical information, reasons for seeking therapy, and goals for progress. It is also a time for you to connect with your new therapist and ask any questions that you may be feeling anxious or concerned about and make sure you are feeling comfortable and begin seeing a path to wellness.
Will I be prescribed medication?
At The Practice, we do not have medical prescribers employed in our clinic. We will be happy to refer you to a specialist or talk with you about those options if you are interested. However, medication is definitely not required for you to engage in the therapeutic counseling process.
