Is therapy right for me?

There are many reasons why people come to therapy. You may decide that it is time to take action to address long-standing issues that have limited your enjoyment of life, such as problems with anxiety or depression. Or you may be seeking therapy at this time to help you cope with changes or losses in your life, such as a divorce or work transition. You may need to discuss relationship problems with a therapist who is able to offer objectivity and strategies for improvement. Working with a therapist can help provide insight, greater self-awareness, and new strategies for all types of life challenges.

What can I expect in a therapy session?

Every therapy session is unique and caters to each individual and their specific goals. During therapy sessions it is standard to talk about the primary issues and concerns in your life. It is common to schedule a series of weekly sessions, where each session lasts 50 minutes. Sometimes individuals who are going through a particularly difficult challenge may request more time per session or more than one session per week. Therapy can be short-term, focusing on a specific issue or longer-term, addressing more complex issues or ongoing personal growth. There may be times when you are asked to take certain actions outside of the therapy sessions, such as reading a relevant book or keeping records to track certain behaviors. Between sessions it is important process what has been discussed and integrate it into your life. For therapy to be most effective you must be an active participant, both during and between the sessions.

What benefits can I expect from working with a therapist?

Therapy can provide insight and new perspectives into life's challenges and can help create solutions to difficult problems. Many people find that working with a therapist can enhance personal development, improve relationships and family dynamics, and can ease the challenges of daily life. Sometimes, just having someone there to listen is helpful. Overall, people in therapy tend to have lower levels of anxiety and stress, decreased conflict, and improved quality of life.

Some of the benefits available from therapy include:

Developing new skills for handling stress and anxiety
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 moods
Discovering new ways to solve problems
Navigating life’s obstacles more effectively
Improving listening and communication skills
Enhancing the overall quality of life

Do you accept insurance? How does insurance work?

Accepted In-network insurance:
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Sheild
Aetna
CT Husky / CTBHP

To determine if you have mental health coverage, the first thing you should do is check with your insurance carrier. Check your coverage carefully and find the answers to the following questions:

Do I have mental health benefits?
What is my co-payment and/or deductible amount?
How many sessions per calendar year does my plan cover?
How much does my plan cover for an out-of-network provider?
What is the coverage amount per therapy session?
Is approval required from my primary care physician?

Is therapy confidential?

In general, the law protects the confidentiality of all communications between a client and a psychotherapist. Information is not disclosed without written permission. However, there are number of exceptions to this rule. Exceptions include:

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