Frequently Asked Questions

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How can I know if therapy is right for me?

There are many reasons you might seek psychotherapy, and the decision to do so is yours alone. Maybe you’ve been depressed, or anxiety is negatively affecting your life. It could be an eating disorder, grief, conflict, or stress. Perhaps you’ve been thrown into unexpected changes, like a career shift or a divorce. Or, you could be suffering under the weight of long-term psychological issues.

Even if you’re not sure why you’re feeling ‘off, or if you’d simply like to get more out of life through personal evaluation and expansion, talking to a therapist can provide the insight you need to move forward.

When you work with a therapist, you can expect to adopt new strategies for coping, learn how to be accountable for your own healing, enhance self-awareness, and prepare yourself for emergence into a renewed, more peaceful existence.

What can I expect from therapy sessions?

No two therapy sessions look exactly the same. You can expect that your therapist will want to discuss the things you feel are adversely affecting your life. She will ask questions, but she will also do a lot of listening.

In the beginning, you will likely see your therapist once a week, for about one hour at a time. The ongoing duration of your psychotherapy sessions will depend upon whether you have an issue that can be resolved rather quickly, or if your concerns are more complex or require continual growth and development.

When you take full responsibility for your healing, you can expect to acquire:

 

  • Actionable tools for creating positive change in all types of circumstances, going  forward
  • Self-compassion and a greater understanding of yourself
  • Identification of negative patterns
  • Acknowledgment of feelings and what they mean
  • Guidance to navigate all of life’s challenges
Do therapists accept health insurance?

Many insurance plans include mental health coverage. To find out if yours does, contact your carrier and ask:

  • Where can I find a listing of my mental health benefits?
  • How much of each therapy session will be covered?
  • Is there a limit to how many therapy sessions I can attend?
  • Where can I find a list of in-network providers?
  • If I do see an out-of-network therapist, what’s the cost difference?
  • Do I need a referral from my PCP?

At Chrysalis Clinical Social Work, we work with Cigna, AETNA, Anthem Blue Cross of California, Blue Shield of California, & Optum, We will also provide a superbill for out of network benefits.

Is medication a better option than therapy?

In general, medication treats symptoms, while therapy treats the root causes of emotional and mental difficulties. Your doctor may prescribe a combination of both therapy and medicine, to achieve best results. However, medication alone is never as effective as a comprehensive approach that cares for the whole person.

What if I’m too independent to need therapy?

There’s no doubt that you have navigated some pretty challenging circumstances in the past…and may have done very well for yourself. However, seeking help does not mean you’re no longer independent.

What seeking therapy does mean is that you have an acute awareness for knowing when support is needed. When you see your situation for what it is, accept it and take responsibility by asking for help…that’s the definition of independence.

My goal is to equip my clients with actionable tools and strategies so that, through all the winds and storms that life is bound to throw, they can still fly on their own; avoiding destructive patterns, handling triggers with grace, and ultimately finding themselves stronger people in a better place.

How can I know if therapy will help me?

There are a number of reasons you might wish to establish a relationship with a therapist—whether it’s long-term or short-term. Under the care of a licensed therapist, you will discover new perspectives on life-long problems. You will feel supported as you heal and grow. And you will secure coping skills that will accompany you far into the future.

No matter what brings you into our practice—depression, anxiety, childhood trauma, stress, body image problems, an eating disorder, relationship unrest, blocked creativity—you will take away strategies to deal with that problem and many others.

Your level of success, of course, will be directly related to how well you use the tactics and processes you learn. When you take full advantage of your new coping skills, you can expect to…

 

  • Resolve the issues that brought you to the therapist
  • Enjoy increased self-confidence and self-esteem
  • See a clearer picture of your values and goals
  • Improve and develop interpersonal and professional relationships
  • Better manage anxiety, stress, anger and grief
  • Recognize and mitigate depression before it becomes serious
  • Become a better listener
  • Experience better communication on all levels
  • Replace destructive behaviors with ones that promote healing and growth
  • Develop problem-solving skills
Will my therapist share what I’ve told her with others?

Everything you share with your therapist is protected by law. The only way that information can be shared with outside parties is if you agree to that in writing, with your signature. But, as with any confidentiality situation, there are some circumstances under which therapists are mandated reporters. They include:

 

  • Child abuse
  • Elder abuse
  • Credible threats against someone else’s life or well-being
  • Indications of self-harm, when the patient is not cooperating or making advancements

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