Therapy FAQ'S
The goals of therapy will be decided by you and the therapist you choose. Sometimes, people seeking therapy aren’t entirely clear about what the problem is, but just want their life to be going differently. In these cases, a therapist can be helpful in clarifying what you want to work on and creating a plan with you about how therapy could help.
Tip: Be clear as you can with your prospective therapist about what you want from therapy, and find out how your therapist sees you getting there.
A professionally trained therapist is able to listen objectively and confidentially to your concerns. They are trained to listen in a very careful and specialized way and are often able to help you recognize patterns in your life that may have led to your current situation of concern and help you to change those patterns.
A therapist is often able to challenge you, in a respectful way, to see how distorted perceptions or feelings from the past are affecting current relationships and situations, thereby allowing you to grow and change so that those same distortions don’t continue to cause you problems. A therapist helps you make sure you have examined things from all the angles that are important to you.
It’s always good to have the understanding and support of family and friends, but they are not always able to provide objectivity. When you share your personal thoughts and feelings with friends and family, they may have strong feelings or expectations about how you should proceed that interfere with your freedom to do what you decide is best. There is an advantage to being able to look at all facets of your thoughts and feelings in private with a therapist who is not a part of your circle of friends and family, knowing that the conversation is going to remain completely confidential.
It’s not uncommon for people to enter therapy knowing something is wrong but can’t quite identify what the problem is or where to begin. Therapists are very skilled at asking the right questions to help you focus inward and find the problem. After a few sessions, you will probably have a much better idea of what direction you want to go in and what goals you want to set. Direction is an important step in getting the most out of your therapy.
Everyone is different, and everyone’s therapy is unique to them and their needs. People have to go at their own pace in therapy. Consequently, different people working on similar issues might still have very different treatment durations.
It’s a good idea to discuss your expectations and goals for therapy with your therapist in the first session to get a beginning idea of how long it is likely to take.
Of course, no matter what, you will always be able to decide how many appointments you want to schedule.
It’s important to feel comfortable talking with your therapist and that they are genuinely interested in you. Your therapist should be experienced and licensed. You need to be able to feel trust in your therapist. He/she must be able to listen well and respond to your concerns, and in turn, you will have confidence in him/her to help you.
To determine if you have mental health coverage, the first thing you should do is check with your insurance carrier. Check your coverage carefully, and find the answers to the following questions:
- What are my mental health benefits?
- What is the coverage amount per therapy session?
- How many therapy sessions does my plan cover?
- How much does my insurance pay for an out-of-network provider?
- Is approval required from my primary care physician?
Below is my fee schedule:
Initial session: $150
Early morning appointment (before 10 am): $130
Midday appointment (10 am-2 pm): $115
Afternoon appointment (3 pm-5 pm): $120
Evening appointment (after 5 pm): $130
I also offer discounts on prepaid package sessions:
5 sessions: $575
10 sessions: $1,100
20 sessions: $2,150
I understand that the cost of therapy can be burdensome for some. I do take a limited number of sliding scale clients. Please feel free to contact me so that we may discuss your individual situation.
I keep flexible office hours, including evenings. Please inquire about specific appointment times when calling or emailing to schedule.
Forensic FAQ’S
Generally, attorneys will contact me directly to initiate the process of starting a forensic evaluation. The attorney will have specific referral questions, or questions that either the court, or s/he would like answered to assist in the court proceedings. If you are the individual that needs a forensic evaluation and you have general questions about the process, feel free to contact our office.
A forensic evaluation can help address forensic questions such as “Is my client capable of proceeding to trial?” or “Would the insanity defense qualify in this case?” or “What is my client’s risk to public safety if released and treated in the community?” or “Does my client have PTSD and how has that impacted him/her?”
Further, if a person (defendant) has a history of emotional distress, mental health treatment, special education, or cognitive impairment, an evaluation can be used for looking at mitigating factors and showing how the said disability/impairment impacts the client’s (defendant’s) decision making or functional abilities and how it relates to the instant offense.
If you are uncertain if a forensic evaluation is needed (or would be helpful) in your client’s case, please contact me, and I will be happy to help make this determination.
Forensic evaluations are scheduled within the timeframes of the attorney’s deadline. If the client/defendant is in jail or prison, evaluations can take place there. Otherwise, the evaluations can take place in my office, or in the attorney’s office.
Forensic evaluations are not covered by insurance as they are not medically necessary. They are for the purpose of psycho-legal matters. I do work with Indigent Defense Services in North Carolina, and, if you/ your client qualifies for these services, payment can be handled this way.