Common Questions

Welcome toTransitions Counseling, LLC 

 Is therapy right for me?

The choice to seek out therapy is an individual choice. Life happens and there are times when coping with the life challenges can be overwhelming. Seeking therapy is a source of help in dealing with the challenges. Seeking therapy is NOT a sign of weakness, inadequacy, or meaning that a person has a "mental illness".  Many people seek therapy when life transitions happen, such as a divorce, or a loss of a love one. The gift of therapy provides inviduals opportunities to gain new perspectives, clear emotional stuckness, and improve over well-being.

Why do people go to therapy and how do I know if it is right for me?

People seek therapy when they feel "stuck". The stuckness may be related to life transitions or due to past events. People seek therapy when dealing with these challenges become difficult and they want something different for themselves. I view therapy as a personal gift.

 
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, your personal history relevant to your issue, and report 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).
 
Therapy is collaborative. When working with me, we will discuss your goals in depth. We will work together to determine what will be the course we will take in our sessions. Here are some things you can expect form me:

         Respect, understanding and compassion
         Offering cutting edge therapies such as Rapid Resolution Therapy®
         or Hypnotherapy
         Interactive, direct, feedback

What is hypnotherapy? Will I quack like a duck?

Hypnotherapy is a technique that promotes change through the use of language and sensory experience. If you have ever been to a movie and have become engrossed in the movie, beginning to experience an emotional response, you have experienced a "trance". In hypnotherapy we create an experience for you. We speak to your expereince, such as thinking of a beautiful place in nature where you have been that was both exciting yet peaceful. In doing so, you begin to create your experience, responding to what has meaning and value. This is what occurs in hynpnosis.

Myths about Hypnsois

Many have fears that they may lose control. There may be a fear, that a suggestion might be impanted such as "when you hear a bell you will quck like a duck"  There may also be a fear that they will not do it right, or they may expereince a suppressed memory. Individuals are always in control of their experience. You only respond to what makes sense to you and has meaning and value.

 
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 doctor you can determine what's best for you, and in some cases a combination of medication and therapy is the right course of action. 
 
 
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 them.  Check your coverage carefully and make sure you understand their answers.  Some helpful questions you can ask them:
 

  • 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 approval required from my primary care physician? 

 
Does what we talk about in therapy remain confidential?
 
Confidentiality is one of the most important components between a client and psychotherapist. 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 on your healthcare team (your Physician, Naturopath, Attorney), but by law your therapist cannot release this information without obtaining your written permission.
 
However, state law and professional ethics require therapists to maintain confidentiality except for the following situations:
 
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 threated to harm another person.

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