Asking For Help Is the First Step

There are several reasons why you might consider getting therapy or counseling with one of our counselors. If you’re experiencing physical or emotional problems that are hindering your life in any way, it’s a good idea to come to us for a mental health screening. Symptoms like anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, grief, substance abuse, hyperactivity, and others indicate that you have a condition to treat and would benefit from counseling with someone at our office.

To request an appointment, you can submit an appointment request form or call us at (945) 400-9093 and we will assist you in scheduling a convenient appointment time.

Phone: (945) 400-9093

 Your first therapy session is designed to help you feel comfortable and explore the concerns you are having difficulty with. One of our licensed professionals is there to help you develop goals and create a treatment plan for those concerns, and to begin to guide you toward a successful resolution. During the first session, our professionals answer any questions you may have about the process, collaboratively come up with the goals you would like to meet, and make the necessary recommendations for a more efficient and effective therapy process.

It’s usually a good idea to start with one session per week. After some time together, your therapist can talk with you about how to best meet your needs. Many times when you feel more stable and confident with coping and managing your maladjustments, you or the therapist can explore spacing out the sessions to once every two weeks, or even once a month, until you no longer need to come back.

While it might seem to some people like an unnecessary expense and obligation to visit with one of our mental health professionals, the reality is that our providers have the education, professional experience, and skills to process, diagnose, and treat individuals with conditions as varied as ADHD and sexual dependency. If you’re experiencing any symptoms that are interfering with your life, talking with a close friend or family member without professional training is usually not enough to resolve the concerns, particularly in cases where medication is needed. Additionally, sometimes an objective perspective is what is needed to work through individual, couple, or family concerns. Bringing in more friends and family members who are subjectively and emotionally involved often just complicates matters more.

It is customary for therapy sessions to be 45-50 minutes in length; sometimes they may go to the full hour. Once you begin attending sessions, you and your therapist can discuss how to best meet your needs. Occasionally you or your therapist may feel a longer session is warranted. Should the need for an extended session arise, we can help schedule these.

This is a matter that can be discussed on a case-by-case basis, or before upcoming appointments, by you and your therapist. If your sessions are meant to be family-based, your therapist may recommend having the entire family present. If your sessions are meant to focus on individual concerns, or aspects of your relationships that may not pertain to your children, your therapist may recommend that your children attend for only part of the session, or that you do not bring them with you to a particular appointment.

This is a matter of personal comfort for both you and your child. If your child is not of legal age, it is important that they be accompanied by a parent or guardian for their first appointment, in order to correctly process intake paperwork. Many parents will attend at least a portion of the first appointment with their child to establish a rapport with their therapist. From this point, it is up to your child, yourself, and their therapist to determine what level of parental involvement will be beneficial as their sessions continue.

We work with insured clients as out-of-network providers. As such, we don’t accept payment from insurance companies directly; however, if you have out-of-network coverage for behavioral healthcare, you can be reimbursed for a portion of your out-of-pocket investment in therapy.

To learn more about your benefits, take a few minutes and call the number on the back of your insurance card. Here are some questions to ask:

• Does my plan offer out-of-network benefits for routine behavioral healthcare?
• Do I need a referral from my primary care doctor?
• What is my deductible and have I met it?
• What amount do you cover for out-of-network providers?
• What credentials must my therapist have for me to receive reimbursement?

If you choose to apply your out-of-network benefits toward your financial investment in therapy with us, just let us know. We’ll gladly provide you with an invoice at the end of each month to submit to your insurance carrier.

Navigating the realm of insurance can be confusing; please feel free to contact us if you’d like further clarification by contacting us here.

The general cost of therapy is included  HERE.

While we will do our very best to support you as needed, our office is not equipped to provide emergency services, and we also understand that situations and emergency or crisis circumstances may arise during times when we are not available to assist you. In such cases, we ask you to remember that your safety and the safety of those around you are of utmost importance.

In a crisis situation, call 911 first. You may also reach out to local emergency personnel to ensure your immediate safety.

The psychological screening assessment will provide you with an overall picture of your mental and emotional health. The screening will cover the following areas: Depression Assessment, Anxiety Assessment, Bi-Polar Assessment, PTSD Assessment (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), ADHD Assessment (Attention Deficient Hyperactivity Disorder), and SAD Assessment (Seasonal Affective Disorder). The psychological screening for children is administered in two parts, one part the parent completes the questionnaire regarding the child, and the second part, the child answers questions pertaining to them. The children’s psychological screening also assesses ODD (Oppositional Defiance Disorder) and OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder).

The idea of therapy for your child may seem complicated and worrisome, but it may in fact create more anxiety for you than for your child, even if you encounter some resistance from them. Remember that the reason for introducing your child to counseling is to give them a safe space to work through their problems. At a time when they are calm and able to listen, you may sit down with your child and talk about the things you have noticed that worry you for him or her, offering compassion for the difficulties they are facing. Then you may begin to explain your child’s counselor as a person whose job it is to help them understand their feelings by playing and talking about them. Make sure your child knows that you believe that the counselor is safe to talk to, and genuinely cares about helping them.

Counseling is a uniquely individualistic experience and will be different for each person who seeks treatment. Your sessions with your therapist will be devoted to your personal well-being and growth, though this can be achieved through a variety of means and contexts depending on your individual needs. While your therapist has extensive training and experience in helping you to achieve your goals, much of whether counseling will work for you will be dependent upon the therapeutic relationship you develop with your counselor, and your own willingness to work on the goals set forth by you and your counselor during your sessions. One of your best tools for success in counseling will be maintaining open communication with your therapist, and discussing needs, concerns, and questions as they arise.