Question 1

What is therapy?

Accepted Answer

Therapy is a helpful tool where you're collaborating with a therapist in a safe space to work through personal, relational, or family problems. Therapy will help you to address belifs, behaviors, feelings, and relational concerns that have been problematic. Looking for a threapist to start your journey is a huge step towards learning more about your authentic self and working towards a healthier, more mindful life.
 
No matter what life is throwing your way, therapy can help you to navigate chanllenges and help you to to break undesirable habits, process and heal unresolved trauma,or reach whatever goal we may set. Therapy allows you to gain a better understanding of your concerns as well as increase mindfulness and your self-awareness. I am not here for advice but rather to walk alongside you discover your answers for your journey. Your willingness to be open with me as we work together will allow room for growth, understanding, and great self-compassion.

Question 2

Do I need therapy?

Accepted Answer

Therapy not only provides you an opportunity to identify new skills to manage stressors of daily life, but therapy also provides different perspectives to your experiences.Whether you want to increase your self-esteem or work thorugh unresolved childhood trauma, therapy is for everyone.

Question 3

What can therapy help me with?

Accepted Answer

This answer depends on the concerns you bring to theapy. Your uniqe treatment will focus on the areas of your life you'd like to work on. Whether we are focusing on yourself, your relationship, or your children, we will identify your concerns and create a plan to address your concerns.
 
Common concerns therapy can help with:
 
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Self-Esteem / Autonomy / Confidence
- Emotional Healing and Regulation 
- Anger Management
- Trauma / Grief
- Maladaptive Relational Patterns
- Developing, or Redeveloping Identity Concerns
- Boundary Concerns
- Communication
- Peer and Family Relational Concerns
- Concerns with Perfectionism
- Academic and Career Issues
- Life Transitions and Adjustments

Question 4

How long are the sessions and therapy overall? How often do I have to come?

Accepted Answer

60-minute sessions range between 50-55 minutes
45-minute sessions range between 35-40 minutes
 
Together, we will typically agree on specific goals for therapy, such as reduction of symptoms, behavioral changes, improved communication and/or interpersonal skills, and I will prepare a treatment plan with you to guide our therapy. Goals will likely evolve as the therapy progresses and should be renegotiated accordingly. The therapeutic approach used will vary, and feel free to discuss any questions or concerns with me.
 
How long you remain in therapy and the frequency of sessions is a matter best discussed while we work together to achieve your goals. Following our work, I hope we will mutually agree about when you have met your treatment goals, so we can schedule final sessions to review your progress and develop a plan to help protect you and your relationships from future distress.

Question 5

What does LPC and MFT mean?

Accepted Answer

Both are state licenses, LPC stands for Licesned Professional Counselor and MFT stands for Marriage and Family Therapist. After graduating with a Masters degree or higher and passing the state licensure exam(s), obtaining full licensure requires 3000 hours of post-licensure experience, a required length of time of supervision, and demonstration of competency in counseling.
 
While both LPCs and MFTs can work with a variety of concerns, LPCs tend to treat mental health issues or concerns stemming from a variety of issues while MFTs are more likely to focus more on systems (relational) aspects.

Question 6

Do you work with children?

Accepted Answer

No, I do not work with children or teenagers at this time.

Question 7

What is confidentiality and how confidential is therapy?

Accepted Answer

In general, the privacy of all communication between you and a therapist is protected by law, and a therapist can only release information about our work to others outside the relationship with your written permission. There are a few exceptions to this which include:
 
   1. If I believe that you are in danger of harming yourself or someone else.
 
   2. If you disclose information that leads me to suspect that a minor, elderly, or disabled person is being abused or neglected, I am required by law to notify authorities within 48 hours and I will comply with this requirement.
   3. If a court order or other legal proceeding or statute, or investigation by a municipal, state, or federal agency requires disclosure of your information, I will obey the court order or the law.
   4. If you file a lawsuit or a complaint against me for any reason related to your therapy, I am allowed to use confidential information to defend myself.
   5. If you waive the rights to privilege or give written authorization to disclose information, I will comply with your authorization.
 
   6. Information contained in communications via computers with limited security/control, such as e-mail and telephone conversations via cell phone is not secure and can compromise your privacy. I will not use these methods of communication for clinical information, but if you choose to do so privacy could be compromised.

Question 8

Should I be nervous about beginning therapy?

Accepted Answer

Sure, any new adventure can cause a few nerves, and the initial contact or session can be a bit frightening! Therapy can provide life-long benefits and the decision to change your life can be overwhelmimg. I will always encourage you to look around, don't settle, and find a therapist you think you'd fit with! Once you find your therapist, it's easy to fall into action.

Question 9

How soon can we start therapy?

Accepted Answer

At this time, I am currently accepting new clients. If you would like to schedule an appointment, you are able to call my office phone (254-290-8577)(tel:254-290-577) or schedule an initial appointment through the client portal link at the bottom of this page. You are also able to scheduled a 15-minute phone consultation through the client portal and this consultation would be a good opporptinuty to identify if we are a good fit to begin working through your concerns!

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