FAQs

What is the difference between counseling and therapy?  

“Counseling” and “therapy” are terms that are often used interchangeably. However, they differ somewhat. Counseling typically is supportive and focuses on maintaining overall mental health, wellness and coping with external phase of life issues such as grief, divorce, career change, and family conflicts. Therapy typically has a remediation and change focus where we look at emotional, cognitive, behavioral, and relationship patterns that are internal and ineffective and find ways to create positive change in your life and better outcomes. Typically, I use both approaches in helping you set and achieve your goals.

How often should I come to counseling and therapy?  

The pace and frequency of therapy depends on how much support you need in meeting your goals as well as logistically how often you can meet. I see patients weekly, every two weeks, monthly, and a few times of year based on what we think is the correct interval. Research outcomes suggest more intensive therapies such as CPT and EMDR often work best meeting weekly.

Generally, my rule of thumb with new patients is to meet more frequently and as you meet your therapy goals to meet less frequently. Some patients meet more regularly if they need more support due to an external circumstance increasing their interpersonal stress.  Others, meet a few times a year to continue having support maintaining the progress they have achieved. I typically do not see patients more than once a week due to my patient population and that the need for that level of care is usually best served by intensive outpatient or inpatient programs.

What are typical individual therapy sessions like when I see you?  

Our first session is an intake session where we discuss any questions you may have about my policies and procedures in my practice, your prior experience–if any–with therapy, your life and cultural background, relationship history, family relationship history, and current work and relationship satisfaction. We will also discuss any current mental health and medical symptoms of concern and need for appropriate referrals. The last part of our initial session would be identifying your goals for therapy and counseling.

From the patient perspective, most patients find meeting with me a balance of supportive listening and directed conversation. Our subsequent work in therapy is usually to increase insight into problems and find interventions that would be help you meet your goals. I find most patients do best when they have a balance of safety, support, validation and listening with a directive structure provided to meet goals.

What are typical couples therapy sessions like when we see you? 

Our first session in very similar to an individual intake session. Couples therapy differs widely from individual therapy in the interventions we use and the goals we set. In couples work we often work on better communication skills and better conflict resolution skills. Often current relationship conflict has a significant influence from our past relationships with others and family. Unresolved trauma often has a significant influence in current relationship conflict as well.

Couples counseling works best when we set goals for healthy conflict resolution, insight, shared goals, emotional support and regulation, giving and receiving help, and ways to find secure attachment, trust and safety. Many couples I work with are seeking help with an injury to the relationship such as affair recovery, long held anger and resentment, and emotional withdrawal. Couples counseling seems to work best when we balance safety, listening, and collaboration with a structure to create change such as interventions and homework.

Why do you provide tele-health sessions only?  

The majority of my patients prefer tele-health due to its convenience in that it limits having to take time off from work and commute to an office. I use Zoom for telehealth meetings as it seems to be the best HIPPA compliant telehealth platform. I do require patients be in a confidential location with sufficient internet access for us to meet. Zoom meetings work on smartphones, tablets, and most computers. I don’t continue telehealth appointments if patients are driving or in public places that aren’t confidential, or don’t have sufficient internet access to attend the session. When we schedule a meeting, I will send you a link to my Zoom waiting room for our appointment that you can bookmark and continue to use for future sessions. Couples can join Zoom meetings from two separate locations during our appointment if necessary.

USEFUL LINKS

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

Emotion Focused Couples Therapy (EFT)

Psychobiological Approach to Couples Therapy (PACT): https://www.thepactinstitute.com/what-is-pact