How can therapy help me?

Several benefits are available from participating in therapy. Therapists can provide support, problem-solving skills, and enhanced coping strategies for depression, anxiety, relationship troubles, unresolved childhood issues, grief, stress management, body image issues, and creative blocks. Many people also find that counselors can be a tremendous asset to managing personal growth, interpersonal relationships, family concerns, marriage issues, and the hassles of daily life. Therapists can provide a fresh perspective on a complex problem or point you in the direction of a solution. The benefits you obtain from therapy depend on how well you use the process and practice what you learn. Some of the benefits available from therapy include:

• Attaining a better understanding of yourself, your goals, and values
• Developing skills for improving your relationships
• Finding resolution to the issues or concerns that led you to seek therapy
• Learning new ways to cope with stress and anxiety
• Managing anger, grief, depression, and other emotional pressures
• Improving communications and listening skills
• Changing old behavior patterns and developing new ones
• Discovering new ways to solve problems in your family or marriage
• Improving your self-esteem and boosting self-confidence

Do I need therapy? I can usually handle my problems. 

Everyone goes through challenging situations in life, and 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. Therapy is for people who have enough self-awareness to realize they need a helping hand, which is something to be admired. You are taking responsibility by accepting where you’re at in life and committing 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.

 Why do people go to therapy, and how do I know if it is right for me?

People have many different motivations for coming to psychotherapy. Some may be going through a major life transition (unemployment, divorce, new job, etc.) or are not handling stressful circumstances well. Some people 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 help provide much-needed motivation and help with 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 prepared to make changes.

What is therapy like?

Because each person has different issues and goals for therapy, therapy will be different depending on the individual. In general, you can expect to discuss the current events in your life, 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, for a particular issue, or longer-term, to deal with more difficult patterns or your desire for more 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 treatment is to help you bring what you learn in session back into your life. People seeking psychotherapy are ready to make positive changes in their lives, are open to new perspectives, and take responsibility for their lives.

What are the payment options?

Full payment is requested at the beginning of each session to fully utilize the allocated session time to focus on your therapy. We accept the following forms of payments: cash, all major credit cards, HSA, and Health Care FSA. 

We kindly request at least 24 hours notification in advance for any appointments that you need to reschedule or cancel without being charged our no-show or late cancellation fee.

Do you take insurance, and how does that work?

Services may be covered in full or in part by your health insurance or employee benefit plan. We accept the following insurances: Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS), QualChoice, Ambetter, and some Employee Assisted Programs (EAP).

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?
• If not one of the insurances listed above, ask: What is my coverage for an out-of-network provider
• What is the coverage amount per therapy session?
• How many therapy sessions per year does my plan cover?
• What is my deductible, and has it been met?
• Is approval required from my primary care physician?

Does what we talk about in therapy remain confidential?

Confidentiality is one of the most important components between a client and a psychotherapist. Successful therapy requires high trust with confidential information shared during your session. Every therapist should 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, however, you may want your therapist to share information or give an update to someone on your healthcare team (your Physician, Naturopath, Attorney), but by law, your therapist cannot release this information without obtaining your written permission.

However, state law and professional ethics require therapists to maintain confidentiality except for the following situations:

• Suspected child abuse or dependent adult or elder abuse, for which I am required by law to report this to the appropriate authorities immediately.
• If a client is threatening serious bodily harm to another person/s, I must notify the police and inform the intended victim.
• If a client intends to harm themselves, I will make every effort to enlist their cooperation in ensuring their safety. If they do not cooperate, I will take further measures without their permission provided to me by law to ensure their safety.

I am now offering online counseling for those that qualify. To schedule an appointment, please fill out the 

contact form, email me at info@martincounselingservices.com or I can be contacted at (501)-246-7121.