Psychotherapy Considerations

 

WHY CHOOSE PSYCHOTHERAPY:

 

When you have a feeling that

 

o       Your life could be more fulfilling,

o       You desire to feel better about yourself,

o       You wish to feel less stressed, or

o       You want to increase your potential and reach your goals,

 

Then psychotherapy may be useful. These are some of the many reasons that lead people to seek assistance with a therapist. Psychotherapy is a process of self-exploration and   discovery. With the assistance of a professional therapist, you can learn more about yourself, ways to reduce stress, attain your goals, and feel more fully about life’s situations that may be causing you discomfort. In short, you can learn to deal with internal and external events more effectively.

 

HOW TO CHOOSE A THERAPIST:

 

Professionals are trained and qualified in many different ways and it can be cumbersome to sort out who may be the most effective therapist for you. Here is some general information to assist you.

 

            Degrees:

Therapists will typically have earned either a Masters or Doctoral degree in one of the following fields – Education (MEd, EdD), Psychiatry (MD), Psychology (MA, MS, PhD, PsyD), or Social Work (MSW).

            Licenses:

Licenses are issued within each state and can vary according to the state. A general guideline is to look for the following types of licenses – Professional Counselors (LPC), Social Worker-Advanced Clinical Practitioner (LMSW-ACP), Psychiatrist (MD), Psychologist (PhD, PsyD), Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC), and Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT) among others.

            Other considerations:

                        There are also many specialty credentials a therapist may earn.

 

You may want to begin by exploring your personal networks for the names of therapist’s that friends, family, family physician, gynecologist or others may know. This is not always a guarantee that this will be the best therapist for you; however, it may give you a starting point. You will want to see if the therapist you are considering is experienced in the areas you want to explore.

 

One other key ingredient to finding the “best fit” therapist for you is to meet the therapist and see how you interact with one another. In short, to schedule an initial consultation. Although this may cost you a bit up front, by paying for a consultation, it will be a good way to determine your comfort and the therapists comfort level in working together.

 

HOW TO PAY FOR THERAPY:

 

We all know therapy can be expensive. So there is almost always the issue of paying for treatment. In today’s world you will often have several options:

           

Insurance: There are many different insurance plans. If you choose to utilize a third party payor (insurance) you will need to check with your insurance plan (a contact number is usually listed on the back of your insurance card) for the way to proceed.

 

Some plans will give you referrals to a list of “approved” providers. Others will not be so “managed” and allow you to pick your professional. Either way, one major consideration in using insurance is that “others” will have access to and your therapist will be required to divulge information about the reason you have sought therapy. At a minimum a diagnosis is required and sometimes companies require a full review with presenting problems and specific case information.

 

Depending on your comfort level, you may choose to utilize insurance or not. You will be required to sign a release of information for your therapist to disclose case details and diagnose you so insurance will consider payment.

 

Private Pay or Fee for Service:  The other main option for paying for services is to pay by cash, check or credit card (in some cases) directly to your therapist. This is the most confidential way to get treatment. For the most part, no one has access to your records without your written consent.

 

Special Circumstances to consider: There are a handful of situations where therapists are “required to act” that apply whether you have signed a release of information or not and whether insurance is utilized or not. These include: court-subpoenaed records, in the case of child or elder abuse or in the case of harm to yourself or others. In these cases, the therapist is required legally and ethically to protect the involved parties. In most cases, you and your therapist will be discussing these situations as a part of your treatment to decide how best to handle each individual case.

 

Once you have decided on a therapist to see, you will typically go for an initial consultation. You will need to plan to pay for this consultation whether you continue with the therapist or not. This consultation which may be up to three or more sessions give you and your therapist a chance to determine if this is a “best fit” environment for you to do the work you want to accomplish.

 

If so, you will then begin the treatment and be on your way to fulfilling your goals and aspirations. If not, you may need to ask for referrals to another professional and attend another consultation. It is important to find the “best fit” between you and your therapist to have the most optimum opportunity for the best possible outcome.

 

If you need or want assistance finding a therapist, you may visit our Find A Therapist pages or call 972-385-6400 for personal assistance.

 

The information provided on this website should not be construed as advice or instruction on specific mental health or medical conditions or for specific mental health referrals. It is intended as an informational tool only.  You should consult a healthcare professional regarding health issues and advice on treatment. To view our complete disclaimer CLICK HERE.

 

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