Frequently Asked Questions About Counseling & Psychotherapy
Will therapy work for me?
Psychotherapy can assist anyone in finding help and understanding with the problems of everyday life. All of us at some point in our lives find we need help and are able to reach out for support. Some may consider reaching out a sign of weakness, or assign another negative meaning to it. Please know seeking help from a mental health professional is an important step and takes courage to ask for help.
Today there are many different theoretical and applied approaches to the process of psychotherapy. Some approaches are more effective than others for certain types of issues. Psychotherapists with many years of experience usually have been trained in several different approaches so that they are able to bring their training and experience together to focus on the problem presented by the patient/client. There are many different types of therapy, some deal with history and trauma, others focus on making behavioral changes and others focus on the physiological components and there are more and more styles appearing regularly.
Where do I start in finding someone to help me?
• One of the best ways to find a psychotherapist is to ask friends or family if they have a therapist they like. You can ask your physician or other health professionals if they have a referral for you.
• If you are going to use your medical insurance and want someone within your network, call your insurance company and ask for referrals.
• Your employer may have an employee assistance program, which will often pay for a several visits which can help you solve the problem or get you headed in the right direction.
• If you have read a book, listened to a podcast and liked what you learned you can see if that person has a website with referrals. There are various programs online, like Psychology Today, where you can search your area for a therapist. You need to be careful with online searches and be sure the person is licensed and use the questions below to research the professional’s background and experience.
I have been given several names, how do I know which person to see?
Interview the psychotherapist briefly on the phone when you first call and then continue the interview once you meet with them. You may want to ask:
Are you licensed?
How long have you been practicing?
Do you specialize in a particular type of therapy?
Have you worked with people with my types of issues?
How can I pay?
Will you accept my insurance?
Do they have space available at the time you need?
If it feels like this person might be helpful, schedule time to talk on the phone. Realize that it takes several sessions for the therapist to assess you, and for you to assess the therapist.
Trust your intuition. Therapists should be clear about boundaries: rules, the limitations of the relationship, what they are responsible for and what you are responsible for. I would hope that in your first session you would feel heard and that the therapist understands your issues.
Therapists should keep the focus on you, rather than their own issues. If you have an issue with a therapist before you leave try asking the therapist for help in resolving the issue; the therapist should be willing and wanting to understand, should be able to discuss it (including his or her own contribution to the problem) in such a way that leaves you feeling understood.
Therapists should never have ANY other kind of relationship with clients besides the therapeutic one, no business or social relationship. Therapists are not to be romantic with, date clients, nor engage in sexual activity with them.
Will my insurance pay for your services?
I am no longer a provider on any insurance plans, if you want to use an in-network provider I suggest you contact your insurance company or go to their website where you can find referrals of in-network providers. Most PPO and POS insurance plans offer out-of-network coverage for psychotherapy services and should pay a portion of my services. Please check with your insurance company to verify coverage for outpatient mental health services by out-of-network licensed Marriage & Family Therapists.
I will provide a statement of services at the end of each month, which can be submitted to your insurance company and reimbursement will be sent to you.
How do I pay and how can I make my insurance work for therapy?
How you will pay for treatment should be your first consideration, since it will help you to figure out where to look for a therapist.
As I mention above if you want to use your insurance benefits, contact your insurance company and ask for referrals for the particular issue you are wanting to address. I will try and give an overview, what follows is a key to the terms you should know when using your insurance.
In-Network: using the providers that have a contract with the insurance plan. You would pay whatever your co-pay is after you have met your deductible.
Out-of-Network: using providers that are not part of the plan.
When you call to verify your benefits ask for your coverage in-network as well as out-of-network. Ask for your out-patient mental health benefits.
Insurance companies offer various plans: PPO, POS, & HMO and others. PPO & POS are similar; Preferred Providers & Point of Service plans give you options to use the doctors in the plans network and pay reduced co-pay or to go outside of the network and use any professional of your choice at a higher pay. You may also have a deductible to meet that may be waived if you stayed within network.
HMO’s – Health Maintenance Organizations. These plans usually do not offer out-of-network benefits and the providers on their lists or panels have agreed to accept payment as defined by the organization and cannot bill you for anything beyond that agreed-upon payment. HMO’s usually have a primary care physician who manages your health care services and all referrals to specialists.
Fee for Service – You pay the psychotherapist directly for their services. Some therapists have a sliding fee scale or will negotiate their fee. Out of ethical standards, therapists are not allowed to barter for their services.
What if I can’t afford to pay for therapy?
Many community mental health centers offer ‘sliding-scale’ fees: prices based on your income or ability to pay. You should be able to find counseling centers, these are usually staffed with people earning hours towards their licensure and they are supervised by licensed clinicians. Counseling centers will offer educational programs and group therapies. Clinics might be part of government funded mental health programs, graduate degree programs in psychology, or training institutes may have a low cost fee program.
What are all the different initials after therapist’s names (M.D., Ph.D., L.C.S.W., M.F.T)?
Psychiatrists (M.D.) are medical doctors and are the only ones who can prescribe medication. After completing their residency training, most psychiatrists take a voluntary examination given by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology to become a “board certified” psychiatrist. To check on complaints and licensure.
Psychologists (Ph.D. or Psy.D) have a doctorate in psychology, have completed an internship and are licensed by the state to practice. Psychologists are trained and licensed to administer psychological testing while Master’s level degree holders are not. Visit Psychology Board to check on license status of psychologists.
Licensed Clinical Social Workers (L.C.S.W.) have generally completed a two-year Master’s degree in social work. These counselors have some amount of supervised clinical training and are licensed in their state. In California check www.bbs.ca.gov
Marriage, Family Therapists (MFT or LMFT) have completed a Master’s degree in psychology or counseling psychology. They have completed an internship and are licensed by the state to treat clients. To check license status: www.bbs.ca.gov
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor have completed a Master’s degree in counseling psychology. They have completed an internship and are licensed by the state to treat clients. To check license status: www.bbs.ca.gov
Psych-Assistants: Have earned their Ph.D or Psy.D, are registered with the licensing board and are under supervision of a licensed person earning their hours towards licensure. They should state clearly who is supervising them and that they are not independently licensed. Their registration can be checked with the same board as the licensed psychologist.
Associate is someone who has graduated with their college degree and is working on their required supervised hours towards licensure, as an LCSW, LMFT, or LPCC. They should state clearly who is supervising them and that they are not independently licensed. Their registration can be checked with the same licensing board as the licensed LCSW, LMFT or LPCC.