Why do people seek therapy?

People seek out therapy for many reasons. Some face challenges responding to transitions or major events in their lives, while others are primarily interested in personal growth and self-exploration. When your ability to cope is compromised by anxiety, guilt, self-doubt, or despair, therapy can help. Therapy can help provide support, problem-solving skills, insight, and enhanced coping for issues such as depression, anxiety, relationship difficulties, unresolved childhood issues, grief/loss, stress management, concerns about aging, low self-confidence, and creative blocks. People who tend to respond best to psychotherapy are open to greater self-awareness, willing to take responsibility for their actions, and able to work towards self-change.

 

What can I expect in a therapy session?

During sessions you are expected to talk about the primary concerns and issues in your life. A typical session lasts 50 minutes, but some people request longer sessions; as such, some of the psychologists in our practice also offer 80-minute sessions. Typically, sessions are scheduled on a weekly basis. Some people who are in crisis or significant distress may want or need more than one session per week, at least until the crisis passes. Other clients who are functioning generally well in their lives but need a little additional support, may decide in consultation with their psychologist to meet less frequently than 1 time per week.  Regardless of the frequency of sessions, during the time between sessions it is beneficial to think about and process what was discussed. At times, you may be asked to take certain actions outside of the therapy sessions, such as reading a relevant book, keeping track of certain behaviors or relationship patterns, and practicing or rehearsing new behaviors or ways of relating to others. For therapy to "work" and for you to receive maximum benefit from this process, you must be an active participant, both inside and outside of the therapy sessions.

 

What benefits can I expect from working with a psychologist?

A number of benefits are available from participating in psychotherapy. Often it is helpful just to know that someone understands. Therapy can provide a fresh perspective on a difficult problem or point you in the direction of a solution. Many people find therapy to be a tremendous asset in facilitating personal growth, enhancing interpersonal relationships, and managing family concerns or simply the hassles of daily life. Some of the benefits available from therapy include:

• Attaining a better understanding of yourself, your personal goals, and values
• Instilling hope and offering a fresh perspective
• Developing skills for improving your relationships
• Finding better ways to cope with stress and anxiety
• Managing anger, depression, and other strong emotions
• Improving communications skills - learning how to listen to others, and have others listen to you
• Getting "unstuck" from unhealthy patterns - breaking old behaviors and developing new ones
• Understanding the causes of behavior, thoughts, and emotions
• Boosting self-confidence and improving self-esteem  

 

What if I don't know what my goals are for therapy?

If you aren't yet sure what your goals are for therapy, you will first want to collaborate with your psychologist to figure that out. It may take several sessions before you settle on a specific direction for therapy. During the course of therapy your goals may change. However, establishing a direction for therapy will help you get the most out of the experience.

 

Do you accept insurance? How does insurance work?

The psychologists at Soundview Health Associates do accept insurance; check with the individual provider if you are considering using insurance benefits. Even if your psychologist is not a preferred provider with your specific insurance plan, you may be able to use your insurance benefits if your plan allows you to see “out-of-network” providers.  Given the confusing array of insurance arrangements, the first thing you should do is check with your insurance carrier and find the answers to the following questions:

• Do I have mental health benefits?
• What is my deductible and has it been met?
• How many sessions per calendar year does my plan cover?
• How much do you pay for an out-of-network provider?
• Is there a limitation on how much you will pay per session?
• Is primary care physician approval required?

 

Is therapy confidential?

In general, the law protects the confidentiality of all communications between a client and a psychotherapist. Information is not disclosed without written permission. However, there are few important exceptions to this rule. Exceptions include:

• Suspected child abuse or dependent adult or elder abuse. A therapist is required by law to report this to the appropriate authorities immediately.
• If a client is threatening serious bodily harm to another person/s. The therapist must notify the police and inform the intended victim.
• If a client intends to harm himself or herself. The therapist will make every effort to enlist their cooperation in insuring their safety. If they do not cooperate, further measures may be taken without their permission in order to ensure their safety.

 

In our practice, these situations rarely occur.  Should any of these situations occur, however, your psychologist would make every effort to fully discuss it before taking any action.

 

Are there certain services you do not provide?

 

At the present time, none of the affiliated psychologists at Soundview Health Associates performs disability evaluations or child custody evaluations.  Also, child or family therapy is only available for children experiencing acute or chronic medical illness.