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Frequently Asked Questions
1)
What is the Initial Consultation?
During the first meeting a therapist will ask several questions across
all of life domains. This is called a Bio-psycho-social assessment. The
purpose of this is to gather snapshot picture of your life to help the
therapist understand who you are and what has been happening in your
life. Also, this will be a time for you to evaluate if the therapist is
a good match for you. If its decided that you need services outside the
scope of what CFMHA provides, the therapist will assist you in finding
additional or alternative services.
Here are a few questions to help you determine whether or not a
therapist is right “fit” for you…
- Do I feel that I am able to
connect to this person?
- Do I feel understood?
- Do I feel safe?
- Does the therapist
talk to me in a language that I can understand?
- Is the therapist licensed?
- Does the therapist
show an interest in understanding my concerns?
2)
Is therapy right for me?
Seeking out therapy is an individual choice. There are many reasons why
people come to therapy. Sometimes it is to deal with long-standing
psychological issues, or problems with anxiety or depression. Other
times it is in response to unexpected changes in one's life such as a
divorce or work transition. Many seek the advice of a therapist as they
pursue their own personal exploration and growth. Working with a
therapist can help provide insight, support, and new strategies for all
types of life challenges. Therapy can help address many types of issues
including depression, anxiety, conflict, grief, stress management,
body-image issues, and general life transitions. Therapy is right for
anyone who is interested in getting the most out of their life by
taking responsibility, creating greater self-awareness, and working
towards change in their lives.
3)
Do I really need therapy? I can usually handle my problems.
Everyone goes through challenging situations in life, and while you may
have successfully navigated through other difficulties you've faced,
there's nothing wrong with seeking out extra support when you need it.
In fact, therapy is for people who have enough self-awareness to
realize they need a helping hand, and that is something to be admired.
You are taking responsibility by accepting where you're at in life and
making a commitment to change the situation by seeking therapy. Therapy
provides long-lasting benefits and support, giving you the tools you
need to avoid triggers, re-direct damaging patterns, and overcome
whatever challenges you face.
4)
How can therapy help me?
A number of benefits are available from participating in psychotherapy.
Therapists can provide support, problem-solving skills, and enhanced
coping strategies for issues such as depression, anxiety, relationship
troubles, unresolved childhood issues, grief, stress management, body
image issues and creative blocks. Many people also find that counselors
can be a tremendous asset to managing personal growth, interpersonal
relationships, family concerns, marriage issues, and the hassles of
daily life. Therapists can provide a fresh perspective on a difficult
problem or point you in the direction of a solution. The benefits you
obtain from therapy depend on how well you use the process and put into
practice what you learn. Some of the benefits available from therapy
include:
Attaining a better understanding of yourself, your goals and values
- Developing skills for
improving your relationships
- Finding resolution to the
issues or concerns that led you to seek therapy
- Learning new ways to cope
with stress and anxiety
- Managing anger, grief,
depression, and other emotional pressures
- Improving communications and
listening skills
- Changing old behavior
patterns and developing new ones
- Discovering new ways to solve
problems in your family or marriage
- Improving your self-esteem
and boosting self-confidence
5)
What can I expect in a therapy session?
Every therapy session is unique and caters to each individual and their
specific goals. During sessions it is standard to discuss the primary
issues and concerns in your life. It is common to schedule a series of
weekly sessions, where each session lasts around 45 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
to 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.
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
6)
Is medication a substitute for therapy?
In some cases a combination of medication and therapy is the right
course of action. CFMHA will collaborate with you and your medical
doctor
to ensure the best possible outcomes. It is well established that the
long-term solution to mental and emotional problems and the pain they
cause cannot be solved solely by medication. Instead of just treating
the symptom, therapy addresses the cause of our distress and the
behavior patterns that curb our progress. You can best achieve
sustainable growth and a greater sense of well-being with an
integrative approach to wellness.
7)
Is therapy confidential?
In general, the law protects the confidentiality of all communications
between a client and therapist. No information is disclosed without
prior written permission from the client.
However, there are some exceptions required by law to this rule.
Exceptions include:
- Suspected child abuse or
dependant adult or elder abuse. The therapist is required to report
this to the appropriate authorities immediately.
- If a client is threatening
serious bodily harm to another person/s. The therapist is required to
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 the
client’s cooperation to ensure their safety. However, if an individual
does not cooperate, further measures may be taken with the client’s
permission in order to ensure their safety.
- Or a Duty to Warn as mandated
by the State of Florida.
- Court Ordered Subpoena.
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Individual Therapy
