What happens during a 20 minute phone consultation?

During our brief phone call, we’ll get an idea of what you might be looking for and what I might be able to do to help. You’ll get a sense of how I am to talk to and whether or not you think we’d be a good fit. Some questions I m might ask you are:

• What brings you to therapy?

• What would you like to accomplish?

• Have you been in therapy before? If so, what was that like for you?

• What do you expect from a therapist?

Why would I want to talk to a therapist? Can’t I just talk to a friend?

Yes, you can talk to a friend. As a matter of fact, having social support can improve outcomes. Many people choose therapy as a safe and confidential place to discuss issues they might not want the people around them to know about. Therapists are trained in various methods of treatment and can offer unbiased and non-judgmental perspectives that you might not get from talking to a friend.

What happens in a therapy session? Do I have to lie on a couch?

Therapy isn’t always straight forward. Sessions can be structured or we could “go with the flow.” Sessions are typically 45 minutes to 50 minutes in length and involve education, discussions, and coping skills training (relaxation skills, meditation, biofeedback, body awareness, etc.). Typically, I do not give advice or tell you what to do. My job is to help you critically evaluate your circumstances and either explore new approaches or use the problem solving skills you already have.

And no, you don’t have to lie on a couch.

Will anyone know what we talk about in therapy?

Your confidentiality is at the top of my list of priorities. There are some exceptions to confidentiality and these will be discussed with you during our first session and throughout treatment as needed.

What’s the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist?

Psychologists have either a Ph.D. or a PsyD and provide psychotherapeutic services without prescribing medications. Psychiatrists have an M.D. and can prescribe medication. Psychologists and psychiatrists typically work together to meet the needs of our patients.