Common Questions

Is therapy right for me?
Do I really need therapy? I can usually handle my problems.
How can therapy help me?
What is therapy like?
Is medication a substitute for therapy?
Do you accept insurance? How does insurance work?
Is therapy confidential?


Is therapy right for me?

Seeking out therapy is an individual choice. There are many reasons why people come to therapy. Sometimes it is to deal with longstanding psychological issues, or problems with anxiety or depression. Other times it is in response to unexpected changes in one's life such as a divorce or work transition. Yet others seek therapy, or counseling, to help them with personal exploration and growth. Working with a therapist can help provide insight, support, and new strategies for all types of life challenges. Therapy can help address many types of issues including depression, anxiety, conflict, grief, stress, guilt and shame, self-esteem, and general life transitions. Therapy can be helpful for anyone who is interested in getting more out of life by considering input about their lives, increasing self-awareness and self-understanding, and working towards positive change.

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Do I really need therapy? I can usually handle my problems.

Everyone goes through challenging situations in life, and while you may have successfully navigated through other difficulties you've faced, there's nothing wrong with seeking out extra support when you need it. In fact, therapy is for people who have enough self-awareness to realize that they could use some help; though this may feel like a "weakness," it can actually be a strength. Therapy can provide support, comfort and relief, and also long-lasting benefits, giving you tools to help you with current challenges as well as when you face difficulties in the future.

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How can therapy help me?


Participating in psychotherapy typically provides any of a number of benefits. Therapists can provide support, understanding, and validation; offer different and helpful perspectives; teach you problem-solving skills; and enhanced coping strategies for a wide range of problems, situations, and difficult experiences and emotions. Many people find that therapists can be very helpful in managing personal growth, interpersonal relationships, family concerns, marriage issues, and the many stresses and hassles of daily life. The benefits you obtain from therapy will depend on your needs and goals. Some therapy benefits include:

  • Developing a better understanding of yourself, your emotions, thoughts, goals, and values
  • Improving relationship and communication skills
  • Resolving specific issues or concerns that led you to seek therapy
  • Getting better at identifying emotions and learning new ways to deal with them
  • Managing anger, grief, depression, and other emotional pressures
  • Changing old behavior patterns and developing new ones
  • Discovering new ways to solve problems in your family or marriage
  • Improving your self-esteem and self-confidence
  • Learning relaxation techniques

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What is therapy like?

Every course of therapy is different, based on the unique characteristics, circumstances, needs, and goals of each client. It is not unusual to feel nervous about starting, especially if you haven't been in therapy before. My goal is to help you feel safe and as comfortable as possible in therapy, largely by listening supportively, respectfully, and non-judgmentally. I will invite you to tell me about what is bothering you, and ask questions where helpful.

Sessions are typically about 45 or 60 minutes. Together we decide how long a session to have, as well as how often to meet.  Typically people come once a week or every other week at the start, though sometimes more or less often as circumstances and needs warrant. It is difficult to predict how long therapy will last: Sometimes clients' perceptions of their needs change as therapy proceeds.  Of course how long you continue in therapy is up to you, and we can discuss this together when this question comes up. I never pressure clients about therapy: It is up to you to come in to begin with, and you get to decide how long to continue in therapy.

Typically it is helpful for you to take an active role in therapy: to join with me in assessing and understanding you and your situation, and figuring out ways to make things better. It can also be helpful to try to apply ideas from therapy in your life between sessions, though sometimes it is difficult to think about painful topics outside of sessions, and that's okay.

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What about medication, and Is medication a substitute for therapy?

Psychotherapy is often sufficient by itself to help people feel better regarding the problems that bring them to therapy. Therapy addresses the emotional, interpersonal, psychological, and behavioral causes of your distress. In some cases medication may also be helpful, often in addition to psychotherapy. We can discuss whether medication might be helpful for you, and you can also discuss this with your medical doctor. Of course, no one can or will require you to take medication; and when it is helpful, often it is most helpful in addition to, rather than instead of, psychotherapy.  If you decide to consider medication, it would be up to your primary care doctor - or a psychiatrist, an MD who specializes in mental health treatment via medication - to prescribe it.

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Do you accept insurance? 

I am offering psychotherapy to clients primarily on a private pay, out-of-pocket basis.  IF you have an insurance policy that allows you to go "out of network," you might be able to use that insurance for services with me.  If you want to pursue this option, I encourage you to first call your insurance company and determine if you have an "out-of-network" option.  If so, it will be helpful to find out what the "out-of-network" benefits are: e.g., whether there is an out-of-network deductible, copays or coinsurance, etc.  Feel free to contact me to discuss this.

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Is therapy confidential?

The law as well as professional ethics protect the confidentiality of all communications between a client and psychotherapist. No information may be disclosed without prior written permission from the client, with several exceptions. These include:

  • If the therapist believes that the client is at imminent risk to seriously physically harm or kill him/herself or someone else;
  • Suspected abuse of a child or dependant adult or elder.
Confidentiality and limits to confidentiality are detailed in treatment documents you will be asked to read and sign before your first visit. ^back-to-top^
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