Therapy FAQs

1. What is therapy?

• Therapy is built on a special relationship between a therapist and client. It is different from other relationships because the therapist is educated and trained in techniques that will help the client reduce suffering. Therapy is also unique to other relationships because what it discussed in the therapy session is confidential (see question #9). The therapist helps clients to understand and address their issues that is brought them into therapy.

2. Can therapy help me? Can you tell me how to handle my situation?

• Therapy can be helpful for many people with different types of issues, no matter how mild or severe it is. It is important to know that it is not a therapist’s job to give you advice or make decisions for you but instead to help you come to your own conclusions. The hope is that you learn how to make your own decisions that is best for you even after therapy is over. Therapy might not solve all of your problems and it will not make your life perfect, but it should help improve the quality of your life!

3. Isn’t therapy only for people with serious mental health issues?

• No. Therapy can be for anyone! It is often a misconception that people have that you must be really sick to be in therapy. In fact, going to therapy before your problem becomes more severe can lessen the time you spend in treatment and improve your chances for successful therapy. Many people begin therapy to explore their identity, grieve a loss, or to have an unbiased person to talk to.

4. How long will it take for me to feel better?

• Some people feel better immediately because simply talking itself causes relief to the uncomfortable feelings. Other people who are first beginning therapy may feel worse before they feel better. This is often because people are talking about things they don’t usually talk about and this can feel uncomfortable and awkward at times. It is important for you to be open with your therapist about how you are feeling so they can help you work through these feelings, especially if you are uncomfortable. Depending on the problem and how deep into therapy you and your therapist decide to go, you can benefit from short-term therapy, lasting 6-8 sessions or longer therapy which can be anywhere from 6 months to years.

5. Isn’t therapy expensive?

• Therapy can be expensive but there are options that might make it more affordable for your budget. LA Teen Counseling provides out of network coverage through any health insurance that provides out of network reimbursement. This means that you will pay for therapy at time of service and the therapist will give you a super-bill for your insurance company to reimburse you for what they cover. If unable to meet your specific needs, you can go through your health insurance to go through one of their providers. There are also many low-cost counseling centers that can be provided upon request.

6. What should I expect to do in therapy?

• The more you actively participate in therapy, inside and outside of your sessions, the better and your outcome will be. In most cases, you will be expected to attend weekly sessions for the duration of your treatment to receive the best results. In the first session, you will sign papers about your therapist’s policies, talk about your history that led you to therapy and collaborate with your therapist on your goals. From there, your therapist and you will focus on your agreed upon goals and explore how to reach them together.

7. What type of therapy is the most helpful?

• There are many different types of therapy that can be helpful for different people with different problems. A popular shorter term therapy that can be helpful in treating depression and anxiety is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) which works on changing thoughts to be more accurate, complete and balanced to see emotional and behavioral changes. Psychodynamic therapy is more intensive and focuses on uncovering unconscious patterns to promote insight and awareness.

8. What is a Marriage and Family Therapist? How does a MFT work with adolescents?

• A Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT or LMFT) has a Master’s Degree in Psychology, has completed at least 3,000 hours of experience and passed 2 licensing exams. Marriage and Family Therapists are trained to treat people from a relational standpoint and can work with different people and problems from this perspective. MFT’s are also trained in psychology and mental health disorders. MFT’s can work with adolescents by looking at the family system.

9. Is everything discussed confidential? Will you tell me what happens in my child’s session?

• Confidentiality is one of the most important aspects of therapy because it creates the trusting relationship between therapist and client. It is important for the client to be open and honest with the therapist about their thoughts and feelings so that the therapist can help the client work through it.
• There are a few legal exceptions to confidentiality that your therapist will go over in more detail with you at your first appointment:
  • Child or Elder Abuse
  • Danger to Self
  • Danger to Others
• Regarding parents who want to know what is happening in their child’s sessions, it is up to the therapist how much will be shared. The younger the child, the more information you can expect to receive from the therapist. The parents can expect to get general feedback such as “your child is making progress” and be alerted to any safety concerns such as “your child is thinking about killing himself.” Remember that if you want your child to progress in therapy, the child needs to have trust in the therapist that they can be open without fear that what they say is going to get back to their parent.

10. Do you only work with teens?

• No, although teens are my specialty, I also enjoy working with adults on various life issues. I have experience working with adults on depression, anxiety, life transitions, grief and loss, parenting, and past trauma. 

11. How can I book my appointment?
Click Here to Schedule Your Appointment