Is therapy right for me?

Seeking out therapy is an important choice and a courageous one. Finding the right therapist, who is competent, experienced and trustworthy, is also crucial. There are many reasons why people come to work with me in therapy: to better manage persistent pain syndormes or chronic illnesses, to reduce their reliance on medications, to reassert control over their lives, to finanlly address long-standing psychological issues they have battled with which have produced problems with anxiety, depression, relationship problems and/or low self esteem. At times, pateints see me to adress recent traumas or situational stresses, unexpected changes such as  divorce or work transition, grieving or  the stresses of caregiving. Participating in psychotherapy can enhace coping, reduce emotional distress, broaden one's horizons through personal exploration and growth. Working with a Psychologist can help provide you gain insight, provide you direction, guidance and support in using new strategies addressing your life challenges. Therapy is right for for you if you are ready to get the most out of your life by knowing it is time to ask for professional assistance to address problems you may not be able to resolve own your own. Psychotherapy is for you if you are willing to take learn how to care for yourself more fully and take responsibility for transforming yourself into having a happier, more satisfying and fulfilling life.

What can I expect in a therapy session?

Therapy sessions are usually scheduled for 50 minute time slots, each meeting addressing the areas of concern agreed upon after completion of your initial evaluation process. Therapy sessions will typically review ongoing concerns in your life, will provide you  opportunites for ventilation and problem solving, but also will be used for training you in use of a variety of emotional, behavioral, social and sensory coping strategies. It is common to schedule a series of weekly sessions, though if you prefer, we can agree to lengthen sessions or schedule them more frequently (especially if you are going through a difficult period. Therapy can be short-term, focusing on a specific issue, or longer-term, addressing more complex issues or ongoing personal growth. In between sessions, you may be asked to practice certain techiques and coping strategies you've learned, read materials related to your personal issues, or keep track of certain behaviors you are trying to increase or decrease. Between sessions followthrough is particularly important as a prelude to your future independence from the therapy process, being able to monitor, refine and implement strategies as part of your ongoing self reliant coping efforts.

What benefits can I expect from working with a therapist?

Therapy can provide you insight and new perspectives into your life's challenges. It can help you to create solutions to difficult problems and train you in new ways of approaching and solving complex challenges. Many people find that working with a psychologist can enhance personal development, improve relationships and family dynamics, can ease the challenges of daily life and promote a sense of control and positive expectancy for the future.

Some of the benefits available from therapy include:

• Developing new skills for handling stress, anxiety and pain
• Modifying unhealthy behavior and long-standing patterns
• Attaining insight into personal patterns and behavior
• Increasing confidence, peace, vitality, and well-being
• Improving ways to manage anger, depression and mood instability
• Discovering new ways to solve problems
• Navigating life’s obstacles more effectively
• Improving listening and communication skills
• Enhancing the overall quality of life

Is therapy confidential?

In general, the law protects the confidentiality of all communications between a patient and psychologist. Your information is not disclosed without your written permission. However, there are number of important exceptions to this rule when federal and/or state law overrides the sanctity of yout confidentiality rights. Those exceptions include:

• Suspected child abuse or dependant adult or elder abuse. A Psychologist is required by law to report this to the appropriate authorities immediately.
• If a patient is threatening serious bodily harm to another person/s. The Psychologist must notify police and inform the intended victim(s) as soon as possible.
• If a patient intends to harm himself or herself. The Psychologist will make every effort to enlist a patient's  cooperation in insuring their safety. If the patient does not cooperate, further measures may be taken, without the patient's permission. in order to ensure their safety.