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Frequently Asked Questions
Starting therapy often comes with questions. Below you’ll find answers to some of the most common questions about our services, appointments, and what to expect when beginning therapy at Compassion Mental Health Counseling. If you don’t see your question here, please feel free to contact our team, and we will be happy to help.
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Frequently asked questions
General
The first session is generally called an intake or evaluation session. There is some paperwork we will need you to fill out prior to our meeting to gather information about you. This first session is about an hour and is a "getting to know you" session. We talk about why you are seeking therapy at this time and review your paperwork to better understand what brings you to therapy. We will ask you questions about symptoms, strengths, and personal history as they relate to the issues you are presenting. Your therapist will also share a little about how they work with clients. The therapeutic relationship is a mutually agreed-upon contract between a client and a therapist, so sometimes a decision is made at the first session — or after — not to proceed. It is important for us to assess whether our therapists' skills are an appropriate fit for you and what you are looking for. It is equally important that you feel comfortable and feel in charge of making the decision to proceed with therapy.
Appointments after the initial evaluation are approximately 45 minutes. These sessions are generally on a weekly basis; however, they can be scheduled bi-weekly to accommodate your work schedule, financial situation, and family. Weekly sessions are beneficial because they provide more time to address concerns and build consistency and momentum in the counseling process. In situations of crisis, we are always willing to meet more often to provide extra support. After a period of time, you may want to begin coming in less often once you reach your goals, reducing sessions to once a month.
The length of therapy depends on a variety of factors — including the nature, duration, intensity, and frequency of symptoms or problems. Success also depends on the work you do in and out of session. We will often assign "homework" you can work on during the week to enhance the progress you make. Think of it like piano lessons: if you don't practice during the week, it's harder to advance at the next lesson. We typically recommend that clients come once per week, at least until we get to know one another. Some clients will only need a few sessions; others may come for a year or more. Here are some guidelines that will help you make progress more quickly:
• Come for each scheduled session
• Be as open and honest as you can
• Be willing to be curious
• Be willing to receive support
• Do the out-of-session practices you agree to do
• Discuss any conflicts or concerns with your therapist
Everything you discuss with a licensed mental health counselor is kept confidential and private. There are laws and ethics requirements we must abide by in order to practice. Therapy wouldn't be very effective if clients didn't feel safe to share openly, and this trust is absolutely essential. You can trust that what you say to your therapist remains confidential, with certain specific exceptions — such as disclosing suicidal or homicidal plans, or child or elder abuse.
We are currently in-network providers with Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield, and out-of-network providers for many other insurance companies. We can contact your insurance company to determine whether you have out-of-network mental health benefits, and we can provide you with a receipt for each session to submit to your insurer or help you fill out the required reimbursement forms.
If we are not in-network with your insurance company and you do not have out-of-network benefits, the cost of our services is often comparable to the out-of-pocket expenses of an in-network provider. In special circumstances, we are willing to work on a sliding fee scale to accommodate financial hardship — don't be afraid to ask.
Consistent attendance is an important contributor to the success of your treatment. We understand that occasionally situations arise that require a cancellation. However, frequent cancellations or no-shows interrupt the treatment process and take away appointment opportunities for other clients. If you need to cancel, we require 24-hour notice so that the reserved time can be used for emergencies or other clients.
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