What is therapy?
Therapy in this context refers to talk therapy in which a licensed professional (a therapist or social worker) talks with the client and uses their knowledge and training to help the client cope and adapt to the problems in their life. Therapy looks very different between clinicians as some are forward and directive while others might take a more relaxed approach. Each therapist has a unique style and training which can be confusing for a lot of people seeking therapy for the first time.
I suggest taking a look at my Therapy Explained! page to get an idea of just a handful of modalities therapists use.
How long is a therapy session?
Usually 45-50 minutes is a therapist’s hour. Group therapy can run longer depending on the group.
How often would I see a therapist?
Therapists tend to see clients weekly, biweekly, or monthly for outpatient therapy. Certain types of therapists (like Dialectical Behavioral Therapists) will see clients 2 times a week but this is usually reserved for client’s who need frequent sessions for crisis.
What happens if I’m not making progress in therapy?
The ideal is that you don’t need therapy forever and that you “graduate” and only go to therapy when you feel you need it. If you’re in therapy and you don’t feel you’re making progress, bring it up with your therapist. It’s their job to discuss these things with you. It might be that your therapist isn’t a good fit or it may be related to a personal blockage.
In my sessions, if either I or the client feels that they are stuck we talk openly about the stuck point and if they feel my style is right for them. If it is, then we can explore other reasons for feeling stuck. If I’m not the right fit I’ll do my best to work with them and find them a therapist that better suits their needs.
What does the first session look like?
All therapists do a Biopsychosocial for the initial session which is a list of questions about your life and your experiences. Depending on the therapist, these first sessions can be an hour or longer.
My initial session is an hour and a half.
What should I ask my therapist?
How do you set up counseling goals?
What is typical session like? How long are the sessions?
What kind of homework/reading do you give clients?
How do I prepare for my first session?
Have you been in therapy yourself?
How long have you been practicing?
How much do you charge?
Do you take insurance?
How will I know if things are changing?
Will my therapist talk to other people about me?
The short answer is: No, not without your permission.
The long answer is: Therapists are not allowed to talk about your sessions with anyone but other medical professionals or supervisors and usually will need a release of information signed by you. The release of information also applies to family and friends that you might choose to involve in your treatment for whatever reason. Even so, for family and friends most therapist will opt to keep the information very basic and surface level.
Since you do Telehealth, can you provide therapy to anyone anywhere?
Great question! I am licensed to practice therapy with anyone in Florida or South Carolina. Currently therapists can only practice therapy, even telehealth, for state they have licenses in. This might change in the near future but for now, you have to check with each therapist where they can practice.
Do therapists take insurance?
It’s up to the therapist specifically whether they do or don’t and you are allowed to ask them if they take your insurance. Many therapists choose not to due to confidentiality and personal reasons.
Some therapists can provide superbills to their clients.
What’s a superbill?
A superbill is essentially a receipt for services that has your diagnosis and date of service amongst other details. Many insurance companies accept superbills and will have documentation they can send to you to fill out. You would then send a copy of the superbill to them and they would reimburse you in some way based on their policy.
What is Thrizer?
Thrizer is a service that handles the out-of-network billing process automatically for you. They allow you to only pay your co-insurance for my sessions after you meet your deductible. This means you don’t have to pay my full rate upfront, submit a superbill, and wait for the reimbursements.
What experience do you have?
I have been providing therapy since 2018 in graduate school and as an intern and have been licensed as an LMHC (Licensed Mental Health Counselor) since 2020. I have worked with substance abuse and inpatient treatment facilities as well as with teens 14+ as well as adults.
For more information see my About Me page
What happens when I contact you?
People seeking services can reach me by call, text, or email. I will respond within 24 business hours Monday through Friday. If you decide to email and it seems I haven’t gotten back to you, please check your spam folder.
When you contact me I will answer any questions you have about my practice and inquire if you would like to set up a free 15 minute consultation. If you would like to do so, I’ll set up your account in my Telehealth system and send you paperwork that must be filled out prior to our session in order to keep the appointment time. I will also request a copy of your photo ID for verification purposes.
After the consultation if you would like to proceed with services and it seems we are a good fit for each other, we would schedule for the first session!