Yes, as evidenced by a number of rigorous scientific studies as well as a substantial professional literature. Both research studies and client reports indicate beneficial changes as a result of counseling, often greater than changes obtained with pharmacological interventions. In virtually all cases, clients who utilize counseling or counseling combined with medication fair far better than those with no treatment or who use medication alone. It has also been demonstrated that clients who participate in counseling for a longer time generally tend to obtain greater and longer lasting results than those who participate in brief treatments. Clients who are active in working with their counselor tend to demonstrate greater improvement. Finally, the quality or fit of the counseling relationship has been shown to be one of the most critical factors in producing a positive outcome.
Most insurance companies are accepted, generally with a co-pay at my office. Please do call to verify if your insurance is accepted.
Many patients find that medication, often in conjunction with counseling, can be useful in addressing their mental health concerns. If you are interested in being evaluated for medication, it is necessary for you to first discuss this with me. I may then refer you to a psychiatrist or a primary care physician. They will then evaluate the appropriateness of mediactions in treating your symptoms and consult you about their recommendations.
That answer may depend on what your reason was for seeking counseling to begin with. If you are looking for support during a transition, our time together might be brief. If you are looking for longer term support, then we might spend more time together. My job is to get you out of counseling as soon as you feel ready to go.
Your first initial session will be $175 if you do not go through an insurance company. After the initial session, all consecutive sessions will be $160. However, if you cannot afford these fees, reduced fees may be applied. Please check with your insurance company for personal coverage rates as it varies from person to person and company to company.
In general, the law protects the confidentiality of all communications between a client and psychotherapist. 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. The therapist is required to notify the police.
- If a client intends to harm himself or herself. The therapist will make every effort to work with the individual to ensure their safety. However, if an individual does not cooperate, additional measures may need to be taken.
We’ll spend some time talking about your reason for coming in and discuss any goals you may have.
A number of different licensed professionals provide mental health counseling services. A psychologist has completed a Ph.D. (Doctorate of Philosophy), Psy.D. (Doctorate of Psychology), or Ed.D. (Doctorate of Education) and also provides assessment along with treating clients with psychotherapy. A psychiatrist is a M.D. (Doctor of Medicine) or a D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathy) who has completed specialized training and a clinical residency addressing mental health. Typically, psychiatrists focus on medication management although some provide psychotherapy or counseling. In addition, other masters level practitioners such as Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LSCW) and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT) may practice psychotherapy. According to accepted research, the outcome of counseling tends to depend less on the background of the practitioner and more on the quality of the relationship established between the counselor and client.
There is no officially recognized distinction between the two terms and they are often used interchangeably. Both terms generally refer to talk therapy as distinguished from pharmacological, surgical, or other medical treatment.