Clinical psychology attuned to your mind, body and relationships.
Common Questions
How can therapy help me?
A number of benefits are available from participating in psychotherapy informed by research. Psychologists can offer emotional attunement, improved problem-solving skills, and enhanced coping strategies for issues such as depression, anxiety, relationship troubles, unresolved childhood issues, grief, stress management, body image issues and creative blocks. Many people also find that psychologists can be a tremendous asset for managing personal growth, interpersonal relationships, family and marital issues, career concerns, and coping with everyday stress. The benefits of psychotherapy depend on how clients engage and how open they are to applying new information. Some of the benefits available from psychotherapy include:
Better understanding of yourself, your goals and values
Closer and more harmonious relationships
Better conflict management skills
Resolution to specific issues or concerns
Enhanced coping with stress and anxiety
Better emotion regulation
Better parenting
Freedom from symptoms or behaviors that cause you distress
Feeling stronger and more confident
How do I know if I need to consult a psychologist?
Everyone faces challenges. Even when you have successfully navigated other difficulties, you may want a fresh perspective. Some issues make us feel vulnerable, and we may not feel comfortable discussing them with loved ones before we understand them ourselves. We may fear burdening loved ones, or fear judgement. Having an educated but neutral place to discuss things can be very helpful. In fact, accepting where we are in our lives and considering change are strengths. Therapy can provide long-lasting benefits and support. Imagine having the tools to avoid triggers, re-direct damaging patterns, and overcome future challenges.
What is therapy like?
Because each person has different issues and goals for therapy, therapy will be different depending on the individual. In general, you can expect to discuss the current events happening in your life, personal history relevant to your issue, and progress (or any new insights gained) from the previous therapy session. Depending on your specific needs, therapy can be short-term, for a specific issue, or longer-term, to deal with more difficult patterns or your desire for more personal development. Either way, it is most common to schedule regular sessions with your therapist (usually weekly).
It is important to understand that you will get more results from therapy if you actively participate in the process. The ultimate purpose of therapy is to help you bring what you learn in session back into your life. Therefore, beyond the work you do in therapy sessions, your therapist may suggest some things you can do outside of therapy to support your process - such as reading a pertinent book, journaling on specific topics, noting particular behaviors or taking action on your goals. People seeking psychotherapy are ready to make positive changes in their lives, are open to new perspectives and take responsibility for their lives.
What about medication vs. psychotherapy?
It is well established that the long-term solution to mental and emotional problems and the pain they cause cannot be solved solely by medication. Instead of just treating the symptom, therapy addresses the cause of our distress and the behavior patterns that curb our progress. You can best achieve sustainable growth and a greater sense of well-being with an integrative approach to wellness. Working with your medical provider and therapist, you can determine what's best for you. In some cases, a combination of medication and therapy is the right course of action. Lifestyle changes, like improving eating and exercise habits, improving sleep, and reducing or eliminating harmful habits can also be part of improving your mental health.
Do you take insurance, and how does that work?
To determine if you have mental health coverage through your insurance carrier, the first thing you should do is call the member services number on your card, or check your insurer's website, if applicable. Review your coverage carefully and make sure you get answers to your questions. Some helpful questions to ask are:
- What are my mental health benefits?
- What is the coverage amount per therapy session?
- How many therapy sessions does my plan cover?
- How much does my insurance pay for an out-of-network provider?
- Is pre-approval required from my primary care physician?
- Do I have to meet a deductible before my insurance begins to cover my therapy?
- Do I have a co-insurance, or copayment for each session?
- Do I have a flexible spending or health spending account that can help with out of pocket expenses?
- How much information do you need about my mental health issue in order to pay for care?
- Does the amount of treatment covered depend upon my diagnosis?
Does what we talk about in therapy remain confidential?
Confidentiality is one of the most important components between a client and psychologist. Successful therapy requires a high degree of trust with highly sensitive subject matter that is usually not discussed anywhere but the therapist's office. Every therapist should provide a written copy of their confidential disclosure agreement, and you can expect that what you discuss 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 involved in your care (your medical provider, a therapist treating a family member, or a family member). By law, your therapist cannot release this information without obtaining your written permission.
However, state law and professional ethics require that psychologists break confidentiality in the following situations:
* Reporting suspected past or present abuse or neglect of children, adults, and elders to the authorities, including Child Protection and law enforcement, based on information provided by the client or collateral sources.
* If the therapist has reason to suspect the client is seriously in danger of harming him/herself or has threatened to harm another person.
*If the therapist has reason to believe that owning a licensed firearm would be dangerous to a client or others, the therapist is required in NY state to report that concern to the Director of Community Services, who may restrict that person's access to licensed firearms.
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