Is therapy for me?
This is going to vary for everyone. This is going to sound so cliché but you won't know until you try. Sometimes people seek therapy because they are feeling lonely, feeling stuck, or wanting to change. Other times, they just need someone to talk to who is willing to listen without judgement. Sometimes, its right before one makes a big decision and has fears. The idea that something is "wrong with you" because you go to therapy is gradually decreasing. It is natural to feel weird talking to a complete stranger about your life and personal problems. There is a natural ebb and flow to the therapy process and you will always be in control of how much you want to share.
If therapy is talking, can I just speak to my pastor, friends or my spouse?
You can completely speak to your friends, spouse, and pastor. There is a difference between supportive counseling and being in a therapy. A therapist will use skills to reflect your thoughts, unpack negative messages, work on communication and seek information about feelings and behaviors. Therapy uses different approaches to understand a person's behaviors, defense mechanism, emotions and feelings. A therapist is objective and can reflect things that you haven't been able to name yet. Therapy is a collaborative effort.
What shall I expect in my first session?
In the Initial session, we will talk about reasons you may be seeking therapy. We will discuss previous history with therapy, previous diagnosis if given, assessment tools and goals for treatment. When useful, we can begin with a genogram and ecomap if there are relationship issues within the family system. It sounds so formal but really first sessions are getting to know you on a deeper level.
Free Phone Consultation
Therapy is like dating and you have to find a good match. I can offer a free 15 minute consultation, you can ask me questions and then determine if this is a good fit before scheduling your first appointment.
Do you take insurance? Can I get reimbursed?
At this time, Trek Within is out-of-network with all insurance companies. What this means is that the full fee is due at the beginning of each session. However; insurance companies will sometimes reimburse you for all or some of the cost of your session, given that you provide them the necessary paperwork.
There are certain situations that can qualify you for sliding fee scale. Please inquire more through email.
Does what we talk about remain confidential?
Confidentiality is one of the most important components between a client and psychotherapist. Successful therapy requires a high degree of trust with sensitive subject matter that is usually not discussed anywhere but the therapist's office. A copy of the confidentiality disclosure will be emailed or given to you. You can expect that what you discuss in session will not be shared with anyone. This is called "Informed Consent".
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.
Can you combine Holistic therapy with Psychotherapy?
The answer is Yes. It is all part of an integrative approach to healing your body, mind and spirit. Mindfulness, Guided Imagery, Reiki, Breath Therapy provide a tool that integrate grounding exercises with talk therapy. There is a quote by a leading specialist in trauma Bessel Van der Kolk that states traumatized people don't feel safe in their bodies. We trap emotions in our bodies (anxiety, resentment, depression, anger, etc.) and a dual approach is often necessary to heal.
The reality is most therapists practice a type of eclectic therapy that doesn't only stick to one model but rather uses an integrative approach to meet the client's needs.
The magic is out there. Go find it!
Tanya Simpraga