Common Questions

Everyone goes through challenging situations in life. While you may have successfully navigated through other difficulties you've faced, there's nothing wrong with seeking out extra support when you need it. In fact, therapy is for people who have enough self-awareness to realize they need a helping hand, and that is something to be admired.

You are taking responsibility by accepting where you're at 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 whatever challenges you face.

Some people who come to psychotherapy may be going through a major life transition (unemployment, divorce, new job, etc.), or are not handling stressful circumstances well. Some 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 provide some much-needed encouragement and skills to get them 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.

Because each person has different goals for therapy, each person's experience will be a little different. In general, you can expect to discuss the current events happening in your life, discuss 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, targeting a specific issue, or longer-term, to deal with more difficult patterns or your desire for personal development. Either way, it is most common to schedule regular sessions with your therapist (usually 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.

Mental and emotional problems, and the pain they cause, cannot be solved solely by medication. Instead of just treating the symptoms, therapy addresses the causes 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.

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 them:

• 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 a referral required from my primary care physician?
  

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. The therapist will 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 you may want your therapist to share information or give an update to someone on your healthcare team (your physician, attorney, etc.), but by law your therapist cannot release this information without obtaining your written permission.

State law and professional ethics require therapists to maintain confidentiality except for the following situations:

• If the therapist has reason to suspect past or present abuse or neglect of children, adults, and elders to the authorities, including Child Protection and law enforcement, based on information provided by the client or collateral sources.
• If the therapist has reason to suspect the client is seriously in danger of harming him/herself or has threatened to harm another person.
• If a court order is issued.

Have other questions? Contact us today for more information.

Due to liability concerns, pets and emotional support animals are not permitted on any of Thrive's premises. However, registered service dogs are welcome.

When it comes to EMDR, family, child play, or PTSD therapy, you may be left with a lot of questions or concerns. The team at Thrive Counseling & Consulting, PLLC, serving the Apex, Asheville, Cary, Charlotte, Concord, Durham, Fayetteville, Fort Liberty, Greensboro, Greenville, High Point, Wilmington, and Winston-Salem, NC areas, is ready to help answer all of those questions and provide you with the services you are looking for.

Our counselors focus on the content we talk about with our clients as well as our client as a person, their individualized process, and the quality of the therapeutic relationship.

If you’re interested in scheduling an appointment or you’d like more information, please give us a call today!