How does it work? How do I begin?
All of our therapists offer a
FREE 20 minute consultation, so you can speak with a few prospective therapists on our team and find out more about their style and approach. This can help you find the best match for your unique personality, situation and circumstances. If you are the parent of a child / teen who needs therapeutic support, you can have a
FREE 20 minute consultation with a few therapists to determine who might be the best match for your child / teen. Older teens sometimes prefer to meet with a few different therapists until they find the one that feels like the best fit for them. We have found over the years that it can be helpful to empower older teens with choices around their therapeutic experiences. So giving older teens the opportunity to have the
FREE 20 minute consultation could be helpful.
What do we do in sessions?
Because each person has different issues and goals for therapy, therapy will be different depending on the individual. Our group draws from many evidence-based approaches to tailor the therapeutic approach to the specific needs of each individual and family constellation. Therapy also looks very different for children, teens and adults.
How much does it cost? Do you take insurance?
Please see our
rates page at:
www.mcaft.com/rates
How long will it take?
Unfortunately, this is not possible to say in a general FAQs page. Everyone’s circumstances are unique to them and the length of time therapy can take to allow you to accomplish your goals depends on your desire for personal development, your commitment, and the factors that are driving you to seek therapy in the first place.
I want to get the most out of therapy. What can I do to help?
That is so wonderful that you are dedicated to getting the most out of your sessions. Your active participation and dedication will guide you in achieving your therapeutic goals. Please talk to your therapist about this. Your therapist could suggest some work for you to do outside of the time spent in therapy. This might include taking notes about particular situations, journaling from different "parts" of you, artwork, reading, downloading an app and/or practicing certain meditations. Sometimes it’s the work you do outside of our sessions that will really help you get the most benefit from the personal growth and development that unfolds while in sessions.
My partner and I are having problems. Should we be in individual counseling or come together?
If you are concerned about your relationship, and you would both like to work with a couples counselor, one of our therapists would initially work with both of you together. After this work, if one of you would like to continue with individual sessions, please let the therapist know. That therapist might be willing to work with only one of you. It is up to the therapist to assess the situation and see if that might work.
It is generally not recommended, however, to move from individual into couple’s work with the same therapist because of potential trust issues. But it could be helpful to move from couples work into individual work if just one of you would like that. If both of you would like an individual therapist, then the couples therapist could decide to meet with each of you individually for a few weeks, and then reassess the couples work. Or the couples therapist might refer each of you to an individual therapist, which is more typical.
I’ve never talked to anyone. I’m used to handling things on my own. Aren’t people who go to therapy weak?
Not at all. People who ask for help know when they need it and have the ability to reach out. Everyone needs help now and then. You already have some strengths that you’ve used before, that for whatever reason isn’t working right now. Perhaps this problem feels overwhelming and is making it difficult to access your past strengths. In our work together, I’ll help you identify what those strengths are and how to implement them again in what is happening now.
What’s the difference between talking to you or my best friend or family?
The difference is between someone who can do something, and someone who has the training and experience to do that same thing professionally. A mental health professional can help you approach your situation in a new way– teach you new skills, gain different perspectives, listen to you without judgment or expectations, and help you listen to yourself. Furthermore, therapy is completely confidential. You won’t have to worry about others “knowing my business.” Lastly, if your situation provokes a great deal of negative emotion, if you’ve been confiding in a friend or family member, there is the risk that once you are feeling better you could start avoiding that person so you aren’t reminded of this difficult time in your life.
Why shouldn’t I just take medication?
Medication alone cannot solve all issues. Our work together is designed to explore the root of psychological, interpersonal and/or emotional issues, bring healing to wounds, unburden limiting beliefs and teach strategies that can help you accomplish your personal and/or relational goals.
Medication can be effective and is sometimes needed in conjunction with therapy. We do not offer medication at our practice, so we refer out for medication assessments.
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