General FAQ
- Q: Who Needs Therapy?
- A: Most people make the decision to seek therapy because of stress, depression, anxiety, or grief. The benefits of therapy extend far beyond helping people deal with stress. Many people find therapy helpful because it gives them “someone to talk to.” A good therapist is like a good friend that gives great advice. Our clients are couples who want better relationships, families dealing with stress and divorce, adolescents and families with adolescents, men dealing with anger issues, and anyone who’s looking for a happier life.
- Q: I have never been to therapy. What should I expect?
- A: The main idea of therapy is to provide a supportive environment where you can talk about everything. It is a safe place to talk about what bothers you, what worries you, and what comes between you and happiness. We’ll use our expertise to help you learn new ways of thinking and communicating that will ultimately increase your satisfaction with your own life and your relationships with your partner, family, and friends.
- Q: How do I find the right therapist, and how do I know if he/she is right for me?
- A: Many of our clients are referred to us by their own friends and family members. A first-hand referral may be the best avenue to finding the right therapist for you, so you may want to ask around and see if anyone close to you has found someone they really like. The most important aspect of the therapist-client relationship is whether you feel that your therapist listens to and understands what you say. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and express your fears and reservations during your first session. Based on your therapist’s answers to your questions, decide whether you feel heard and validated. You are under no obligation to keep seeing a therapist you don’t particularly like, so if you don’t get it right on the first try, don’t be afraid to try someone else.
- Q: I don’t feel comfortable talking about my sex life. Will that be a problem?
- A: Often the issues that interfere with a healthy sex life seem unrelated. In many cases, sexual problems can be addressed by talking through other issues like the communication and friendship between you and your partner.
- Q: How do I convince my partner that we need therapy?
- A: Often in a troubled relationship, one partner is more open to therapy than the other. What about starting with some individual sessions and sharing what you discuss and learn with your partner? By not forcing your partner to go with you from the beginning, you may be able to expose him/her to some of the new skills you learn. Think of a relationship as a system. If you change any part of the system, the entire system shifts as a result.
- Q: I want therapy but I don’t want to commit to going every week. Is this something I can do occasionally, whenever I feel like I need it?
- A: Absolutely. While therapy is a useful maintenance tool for keeping up good communication and an atmosphere of support in a relationship, you might find that 4 sessions a year does the trick.
- Q: What if my partner and I get to therapy and we don’t know what to talk about?
- A: It’s your therapist’s job to help you identify the issues in your relationship. We’ll ask you questions designed to reveal areas where you and/or your partner could use support and validation. Even if you just have a vague feeling that “something isn’t right,” we can help you put that into more concrete terms and figure out how to make your life and relationship more satisfying.
- Q: My partner and I are generally happy but there are certain issues we can’t seem to talk about. Can therapy help with that?
- A: Even in a happy and successful relationship, studies have shown that differences are not necessarily a bad thing. Happy couples are still about 70% different. It’s not the differences themselves, but rather how we react to them that determines whether we can be happy together.
- Q: Should my partner and I bring our kids to therapy with us?
- A: We recommend that the parents come in together first, without the kids. This allows the therapist to get to know the parents a little bit, and to start identifying some of the issues that might be affecting the entire family’s happiness. That said, it is a great idea to expose the kids to your attempts to get along better. It will help to teach them conflict recognition techniques and how to be supportive partners when they enter relationships themselves.
- Q: I’ve been to therapy before and it didn’t help. What can I do to make it more effective?
- A: Finding a therapist you like and trust is important. If you’ve had therapy in the past and found it ineffective, it may be that you were seeing the wrong type of therapist. Just like medical doctors, therapists have different approaches and attitudes. You’ll usually be able to tell within the first session if your new therapist is right for you. If he/she isn’t striking a chord, don’t be shy about trying out some alternatives. Our office houses 5 different therapists, each with different styles and specialties. Feel free to make appointments with different therapists to see who you find easiest to talk to.
- Q: Can I bring someone? Does it affect the fees?
- A: Our hourly rate is the same whether it is for one person or ten people, or anywhere in between. We only ask that you let your therapist know if you plan to bring someone to one or more of your sessions.
- Q: What if I need medication?
- A: Our therapists are not licensed to prescribe medication, but if you are considering medication we can refer you to a psychiatrist or other medical professional. Some people find medication in conjunction with therapy to be helpful for treating symptoms of anxiety and depression.
- Q: Does insurance cover my therapy?
- A: Some health insurance plans include a “wellness” program that may provide coverage for psychotherapy. You’ll need to check the details of your coverage to find out if you have a provision for therapy. Also, PPO providers may provide coverage for “out of network” providers like us. We do not submit payment requests directly to insurance companies, but we can produce a statement for you to submit to your insurer to request reimbursement. If you have a “flex spending account,” that account may also be used for therapy and the cost is tax-deductible. We work on a “fee for service” basis, so we accept payment at the time of your session but we will assist you however possible in applying for reimbursement from your insurance company.
- Q: Is there an end point? How long will I need therapy and how do I know when I can stop?
- A: It’s impossible to say how long you will need or want therapy. It all depends on your goals and how quickly you feel you can reach them. Therapy is not just a place to talk about your problems; it is an avenue to teach you new ways of thinking that will increase your overall happiness and self-satisfaction.
- Q: What payment methods do you accept?
- A: We accept cash, personal checks, MasterCard, Visa, and Discover.
Didn’t find an answer to your questions?
Email us or call our office at (314) 983-0070 and leave a message for Bill or Linda.