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What to expect
The Initial Contact:
People usually find out about our services through recommendation of friends and family, physician referrals, guidance counselor referrals, EAP (Employee Assistance Programs) or health insurance companies. We also advertise locally to help support merchants in our community.
We participate with most insurance companies and will be glad to call your insurance company on your behalf, do the administrative work for you in obtaining information about your benefits, co-pay, deductible, etc. We offer a variety of services that deal with emotional issues in various modalities (individuals, couples, family/group, children, adolescents, and seniors).
You may request an appointment for yourself individually, or as a couple, family, or for your child. An appointment can occasionally be made within 24 hours, but more often within a week or two. Phone sessions can be immediate and charges may be made to your credit card. If you feel that you or someone close to you might be suicidal, homicidal or is in need of emergent care, please call 911 immediately or go to your nearest hospital's emergency room.
Initial Meeting:
There are 4 brief forms that you will be asked to complete:
1) Insurance form - if you are using your health insurance benefits, this form needs only to be signed and dated by the insured person.
2) Confidentiality form - this form explains the limits of confidentiality (intent to self harm or harm others, abuse to minors and the elderly, etc. Other disclosures will be addressed) and only needs a signature.
3) A Registration form asks for basic information such as name, address, phone number, etc.
4) The Checklist of Concerns form is a list of problems or concerns that usually brings a person to a psychotherapist's office. You will be asked to check off the items that you would like to address.
* If your initial meeting will be on the telephone, a verbal disclosure of the confidentiality requirements will be read to you. Other basic information will be taken prior to the session, and no fee will be charged until the actual session begins.
The First Session
People seek counseling for many reasons:
- The need for a professional, unbiased opinion.
- A "reality check," i.e., "Is my thinking normal?" "Am I making the right choice?" "I feel so stressed and overwhelmed, I don't even know where to begin."
- A need to vent. In the safe, confidential, and caring environment of a therapist's office, your story can be heard and validated, without judgment, criticism, or fear of "not measuring up."
Sometimes the issue is a long-standing problem that has never been addressed or never been worked through such as adult children/parent struggles, unresolved family conflicts, complicated grief and bereavement for the death of a loved one or other types of losses.
- Resentments, anger, feelings of shame, guilt, helplessness, feeling overwhelmed, depressed or anxious, may motivate a person to see a psychotherapist. Whatever the deciding factor is that inspired you to pick up the phone and make that call, your action shows motivation to change. You can be assured of a respectful, confidential, and non-judgmental atmosphere when you speak to a psychotherapist; you will be tended to by a compassionate and caring professional. Your needs and desires will be explored; goals and options will be examined. You will come away with a renewed sense of purpose, determination, and a feeling of accomplishment.
When you are ready, we are here to help.