Frequently Asked Questions
What is counseling?
Counseling (also referred to as therapy or psychotherapy) helps people to address a wide range of issues. It is a common misconception that there must be something wrong with a person for them to go to counseling. Those who seek counseling are interested in improving the quality of their lives. And, in counseling, one works at their own pace to better understand themselves and learn how to respond to the issues in their lives. Counseling is a process in which a unique, confidential relationship is formed. During counseling, one can discuss and resolve problematic issues with a nonjudgmental, objective listener who is able to assist them in viewing challenges in ways that will reduce their negative impact. A counselor is trained to guide individuals through the process of gaining and incorporating insights so they are able to cope with life's challenges. Unlike talking with a friend, a counselor is able to focus entirely on the individual in order to help them express and evaluate their feelings, explore priorities and desired outcomes, determine what is getting in the way of achieving desired outcomes, and facilitate greater awareness so that individuals can gain a sense of empowerment in responding to life's difficulties. In counseling, one is able to gain self-awareness and understanding, incorporating their past and how it has shaped them, as well as recognize unconscious patterns so they are able to use these insights to improve their quality of life and overall functioning.
What should I expect at my first appointment?
Counseling generally begins as a process of exploration. Initially, we will review the paperwork you completed before our first appointment. We can discuss any questions you may have. I will ask you to share, in greater detail, about the things you wrote in the initial paperwork. I will want to know about all areas of your life because, although they may not seem relevant, they may be pertinent to your current circumstances in ways you had not recognized. It may feel like you are being asked a lot of questions. The purpose of this is to help me get to know you and understand the issues that you want to address. Counseling can uncover things your brain has worked hard to avoid or hide, which can be draining. Not every session is emotionally intense, but be prepared that counseling can take a lot out of you. Although counseling can be difficult work, at times, you will gain greater confidence as you become more comfortable with me and the process of counseling. My hope is that you will leave our first appointment feeling confident about yourself and in your decision to begin the process of counseling.
How long does counseling last?
Appointments last between 50 and 55 minutes. To begin, clients usually attend appointments at the same day and time each week because this is most conducive to progress. Transitioning to meeting less frequently usually occurs once you begin to achieve your counseling goals and are able to successfully cope with issues that brought you to counseling. Session frequency can be adjusted to best meet your needs and maintain positive change. .
Is counseling confidential?
Yes. I recognize that a safe and confidential environment is necessary in order for you to feel comfortable in counseling. In most cases, the confidentiality of all communication between client and counselor is protected by law. No information will be disclosed to individuals or agencies without your explicit consent. There are exceptions to this: when law requires that I report suspected abuse or harm and when clients are minors. In working with children and teens, legally speaking, a counselor may be able to share information from sessions with parents. However, I understand that privacy is helpful to the success of therapy. I protect minor clients' privacy by discussing with clients what information they do and do not want shared with parents. If there is a concern and parental involvement is in their best interest, I talk with clients about this and we collaborate to determine how to most comfortably communicate this information to parents.
What is Play Therapy?
Counseling with children is a little different from the traditional talk therapy teens and adults engage in. It can be difficult for children to sit down and talk about their struggles and fears like teens and adults. In play therapy, children are able to say, with toys and through their play, what they have difficulty expressing with words. They are able to extend themselves into area they have difficulty entering verbally. When children are able to communicate by playing out how they feel to someone who understands, they are able to release feelings, which makes them feel better. Additionally, this allows the child to find ways to cope with emotions and the different social challenges they may be experiencing. Unlike normal play, play therapy focuses on the child in order to help them solve the problems they may be encountering in daily life. Some children engage in unhelpful behaviors and ways of interacting. Others experience feelings they are not sure how to cope with. During play therapy, I help children find new ways of interacting and of dealing with feelings that are more appropriate and more effectively meet their needs. Children who are involved in consistent play therapy, with time, are able to be more responsible for their actions, able to solve problems in healthy and useful ways, able to express and understand emotions, and are able to use positive relational skills with others.
How do I learn my child's/teen's progress in counseling?
Parents should be involved in their child's therapy in order to make the process more successful, especially when children are young. Parents attend an initial intake appointment before their child's first play session. Here, you help me to understand what is going on within your family, and for your child specifically, that led you to seek counseling for them. Later, we meet periodically to discuss your child's progress in therapy and to address specific concerns you may have. We collaborate to determine how you can make changes to support your child's progress, to find solutions, and to adjust parenting styles in order to meet your child's unique needs and ensure effective communication between parent and child.
What do all of the letters at the end of counselors' names mean?
Counselors and other clinicians have different abbreviations after their names to indicate the types of training and certifications they have earned. Clinicians refer to themselves as counselors, therapists, or psychotherapists, all of which means that they work with individuals and families to resolve problems in their lives. Generally speaking, these titles are synonymous. My master's degree allowed me to become an LPC, which means Licensed Professional Counselor. An LPC has obtained a master's degree in counseling, which means they have 60+ graduate level college credit hours specific to human development and attachment, psychological theory, and counseling techniques. In addition to their education and internship, to become an LPC, one must have 3,000 hours of direct counseling experience under the guidance of a supervisor after obtaining their master's degree. LPCs are trained to work primarily with individuals, but also include family members as needed to meet client goals. Other clinicans have master's degrees in similar fields, such as LMFTs and LCSWs. LMFT clinicians, as the abbreviation indicates (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist) are trained to offer services to families and/or couples, more so than individuals. LCSWs, or Licensed Clinical Social Workers, are trained to work with people in the context of social systems, more so than the LPC, who is trained to work with clients in the context of their individual psychological experience within social systems. The specific coursework, length of internship, and postgraduate supervised counseling varies between masters' degrees. A PhD or PsyD indicates that someone has a doctorate of philosophy, usually in counseling or psychology. These clinicians have additional training in testing and evaluation and may work in counseling research, in addition to clinical work. A psychiatrist has attended medical school. Their focus is on the medical component of treatment, such as prescription medication, which master's level clinicians and psychologists are not qualified to do, having not attended medical school. Counselors can obtain additional certifications. The RPT abbreviation at the end of my name indicates that I am a Registered Play Therapist, in addition to being an LPC. A Registered Play Therapist obtains an additional 135+ hours of education in counseling theory and techniques, after obtaining their master's degree, that focuses on play-based methods of working with children in therapy. They also have 250+ hours of direct experience in play therapy under the guidance of a supervised play therapist. One name people sometimes encounter and associate with counseling, is "coach" or "life coach." There is no bachelor's or advanced degree, licensing, or accredited training requirement to call oneself a coach. While a life coach can help people with some straightforward goal-setting, they are not trained in or licensed to provide the depth of services that a counselor or psychologist can because they have not been trained in psychological theory and practice.
How do I pay for sessions?
If you have health insurance with Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Medicare, or United Healthcare, I am an in-network provider with these companies. Before we meet, using the information on your insurance card, I can determine what your coverage and out-of-pocket cost will be for appointments. Many insurance cards show a co-pay amount for office/specialist visits. Depending on your insurance, you may have an annual deductible that must be met before the co-pay amount applies. Some people prefer to not use their health insurance coverage for counseling services. My private pay fee for an individual sessions is listed in the section entitled Rates. Payments are processed after each session, using a credit card kept in your client portal file. You will receive a receipt via email after the payment is processed.