The decision to seek psychological services is a crucial one. Apart from making the decision to seek therapy, choosing the best therapist for you, and researching what the service provides is important. Below is some information that may help you make a decision.
How can therapy help me?
Research suggests
that a number of benefits are available from participating in therapy.
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 psychologists can be a
tremendous asset to managing personal growth, interpersonal relationships,
family concerns, marriage issues, and the stressors 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 communication and listening skills
- Changing old behavior patterns and developing new ones
- Discovering new ways to solve problems in your personal and professional life
- Improving your self-esteem and boosting self-confidence
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, sometimes people need additional and unbiased
support. In fact, therapy works well for people who have enough
self-awareness to realize they need a helping hand. This is to be respected
as you are taking responsibility by accepting where you are 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 and manage
challenges you face.
Why do people go to therapy and how do I know if it is right for me?
People have many different motivations for coming to psychotherapy.
Some may be going through a major life transition (unemployment, divorce,
new job, etc.), or are not handling stressful circumstances well. Some
people need assistance managing a range of other issues such as low
self-esteem, depression, anxiety, addictions, relationship problems,
spiritual conflicts and creative blocks. Therapy can help provide some
much needed encouragement and help with skills to get through these periods.
Others may be at a point where they are ready to learn more about
themselves or want to be more effective with their goals in life. In
short, people seeking psychotherapy are ready to meet the challenges in
their lives and ready to make changes in their lives.
What is therapy like?
Because each person
has different issues and goals for therapy, therapy will be different
depending on the individual. In general, you can expect to discuss the
current events happening in your life, your personal history relevant to
your issue, and report progress (or any new insights gained) from the
previous therapy session. Depending on your specific needs, therapy
can be short-term, for a specific issue, or longer-term, to deal with more
difficult patterns or your desire for more personal development. Either way,
it is most common to schedule regular sessions with your therapist (usually
weekly or bi-weekly).
It is important to understand that
you will get more results from therapy if you actively participate in the
process. The ultimate purpose of therapy is to help you bring what you
learn in session back into your life. Therefore, beyond the work you
do in therapy sessions, your therapist may suggest some things you can do
outside of therapy to support your process - such as reading a pertinent
book, journaling on specific topics, noting particular behaviors or taking
action on your goals. People seeking psychotherapy are ready to make
positive changes in their lives, are open to new perspectives and take
responsibility for their lives.
What are some of the risks related to therapy?
Although psychological therapy is meant to be
beneficial. it can also have some risks. As an example, therapy can
bring forth uncomfortable emotions such as increased sadness, anger, or
grief. Generally, such emotions resolve as you reach closer to your goals,
but it is your responsibility to let your therapist know of such feelings
when they occur. This way, your therapist can slow down the pace of therapy,
examine your emotions in further detail, or change the direction of
therapy.
What about medication vs. psychotherapy?
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, psychological
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. Working
with your medical doctor you can determine what's best for you, and in some
cases, a combination of medication and therapy is the right course of
action. Even in cases where medication is a requirement, psychological
therapy can assist you with managing your daily activities, accepting the
need for medication, and minimizing the impact of such on the quality of
your life.
Do you take insurance, and how does that work?
To determine if you have mental health coverage through
your insurance carrier, the first thing you should do is call them.
Check your coverage carefully and make sure you understand their
answers. Some helpful questions you can ask include:
- What are my mental health benefits?
- What is the coverage amount per therapy session?
- How many therapy sessions does my plan cover?
- How much does my insurance pay for an out-of-network provider?
- Is approval required from my primary care physician?
At Odyssey Psychological Assessment and Counselling Services,
payments are accepted through cash, cheque, or credit cards. Upon
payment a receipt will be provided to you. Based on the terms of your
policy, you may submit such receipts to your insurance carrier for
reimbursement. Payments are due at the end of each session.
What is the length of sessions?
Sessions last between 45 to 50 minutes. Longer sessions are available based on need and are billed in 15 minute increments.
How many sessions will I need?
The number of
sessions required is based on the complexity of issues and your need.
Your therapist will discuss the approximate number of sessions
required at your first session.
Do you have any evening or weekend appointments?
Evening and weekend appointments are available upon request.
Do you provide telephonic or Skype sessions?
Telephonic and skype appointments are available based on appropriateness and need.
What happens if I cannot attend a scheduled appointment?
Appointments must be cancelled with at least 48 hours notice. Appointments
not cancelled within that timeframe will be billed the full session rate.
Some exceptions may apply based on emergencies. These situations
are assessed on a case by case basis.
Does what we talk about in therapy remain confidential?
Confidentiality is one of the most important components
between a client and psychotherapist. Successful therapy requires a high
degree of trust with highly sensitive subject matter that is usually not
discussed anywhere but the therapist's office. Every therapist should
provide a written copy of their confidential disclosure agreement, and you
can expect that what you discuss in session will not be shared with anyone.
This is called “Informed Consent”. Sometimes, however, you may
want your therapist to share information or give an update to someone on
your healthcare team (your Physician, Naturopath, Attorney), but by law your
therapist cannot release this information without obtaining your written
permission.
There are some exceptions to confidentiality
and these can occur in the folowing circumstances:
* If a client is at an imminent threat of harming him/herself or
others.
* If there is disclosure of past or present abuse
or neglect of children, adults, and elders. This disclosure may
occur to Child Protection and law enforcement based on information
provided.
* If your files are subpoenaed by the Court or
any other official body with the appropriate authority.