Common Questions
Common Questions:
Q – Will my health insurance cover my sessions?
A – In order to use your insurance, it will be necessary for you to receive a mental health diagnosis, which goes on record to pay insurance claims. Your therapist has no control over what happens to insurance records. If you are concerned about privacy, you may want to pay out of pocket.
Q – How do I know you will keep my information private?
A – Therapists are bound both by a code of ethics and the law to keep all information confidential unless released from this by written consent of all the parties in counseling. The only exceptions to this are threats of suicide or harm to others, and reporting to your insurance company if applicable.
Q – If my child is in treatment, how much can I know about what’s going on?
If your child is under the age of 14, you are entitled to know everything that the therapist thinks you should know. However, children over 14 are considered adults under most mental health laws. They have the right of privacy and can initiate or end treatment, make medication decisions, as well as decide who will have their information.
Q – What is the difference between a psychotherapist, a psychiatrist and a psychologist?
A – Psychotherapists are clinically trained to help clients with relationship and mental health issues. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who specializes in the treatment of the mentally ill, usually with medication. A psychologist specializes in the testing and research of human behavior, and may do counseling.
Q – If I am getting family therapy, do I have to pay for each person?
A – No. One of the benefits of family therapy is that there is just one charge for the entire session. Another benefit is that treating a whole family is more clinically efficient.
Q – Can I receive individual and marriage counseling from the same therapist?
A – There is a loyalty conflict when a counselor tries to do this: When one person is excluded from the session, they often feel at a disadvantage.
Q – I am in the process of divorce. What is the difference between mediation and divorce counseling?
A – Divorce counseling is aimed at providing individual support throughout the painful process of divorce. Mediation is a negotiation process that provides a balanced and fair setting to work out a legal agreement on settlement and custody issues.
Q – What if my spouse or a member of my family has substance abuse problems?
A – Although our counselors are familiar with diagnosing addictions and can be helpful with guidance on these problems, they generally refer out to counselors specifically trained in the field of addictions.
Q – I am of the understanding that it takes two to get a marriage back on track. If I am willing and trying and my spouse is not, can I repair this relationship by myself?
A – The sad news is that you can’t repair a marriage all by yourself. It takes two to get married, two to stay married, and only one to get divorced. Sometimes marriages go terribly wrong. They can be saved only if both partners are committed to working and learning new things.
Q – What should I do if I have additional questions not answered here?
A – Please feel free to contact me if you have any additional questions or concerns.
