“To make a significant impact in varying degrees on the spiritual, emotional and/or psychological health of everyone I come in contact with.”
1. What qualifications are required to do what you do?
The State of Texas requires that I complete a required course of class work for a Master's in Counseling. I have completed the proper amount of internship hours and passed a cumulative exam over the required material administered by the State. The successful meeting of these requirements enables me to be licensed by the State of Texas and use the title Licensed Professional Counselor.
2. What exactly is counseling or therapy?
Counseling or therapy is the interchange between two or more people that takes place to help the client achieve goals that he or she sets at the beginning of working together. It will involve a lot of talking, homework and the changing of behaviors.
3. How do I know if I really need therapy?
Significant others may tell you that you need help. Emotional and psychological discomfort will perhaps tell you also that it is time to look for help. Your ability to function may also have fallen off in recent months.
4. I notice that you are a Christian counselor. I have no desire to gain a relationship with God and don't believe that he really can be known, if he even exists. How can you work with me?
I am bound by the ethics of my profession to work with you within the bounds of your value system or refer you to someone who I believe can. I have traveled throughout the world and have a fairly thorough knowledge of the world's religions and the concepts of atheism and agnosticism. If you hold to other variations of any of these philosophies of life, I will encourage you to help me understand them and how they pertain to you, with the objective of understanding you and helping you meet your goals.
5. Are medications necessary?
Medications can be very helpful especially if they help you recover from depression, help you maintain stability, and apprehend reality.
6. What is the best therapy?
Just like not all clothes fit the same person so not all types of therapy fit everyone. We will make an assessment of what will fit you best.
7. What is psychotherapy?
Psychotherapy involves listening, talking, and understanding the relationship between the people involved. The important part of this is establishing a healing relationship with the therapist or the therapist and other members of a group.
8. Will it work for me?
Many people derive a great deal of benefit from psychotherapy, some even after comparatively few meetings. Like anything in life, psychotherapy may not be suitable for everyone. Each person has to make up his or her own mind about whether therapy is helpful for them. The initial consultations aim to help people think about this, in collaboration with a therapist. Clinical experience shows that if you are motivated and set yourself realistic goals, the outcomes will be better.
9. What is "psychodynamic" therapy?
Psychodynamic psychotherapy is based on listening and talking. It involves exploring past conflicts in relation to your current problems in order to make change possible.
10. Does it mean that I am 'ill' if I'm in psychotherapy?
Regardless of how you were referred, psychotherapy aims to treat people with long histories of serious emotional difficulties. These are linked to personal development, often over many years, and sometimes right from early childhood. The symptoms you may be referred with might have led to you having been diagnosed with mental illness. The aim in psychotherapy is to look more deeply into the emotions, conflicts and distress behind these diagnoses.
11. How long will it take?
The length of treatment will be determined by what you are offered following assessment. Goals can be established and time frames can then be established. A word of caution may be in order here: If therapy or psychotherapy is being effective, the process may produce some emotional discomfort, which you may want to avoid. Early termination of treatment is one way to avoid that discomfort, but it will mean that you do not meet your goals.
12. How often are the sessions?
Most therapy is once weekly, although it can be up to three times per week in certain circumstances. For the intensive work, it may require daily attendance.
13. How long does each session last?
Individual psychotherapy sessions normally last fifty minutes, but can go up to two hours or more.
14. What benefit should I feel afterwards?
Research has shown that psychotherapy is effective in reducing symptoms, improving relationships and self-esteem. However, as each person is an individual, it is difficult to generalize at the beginning as to which benefits a person may feel. The exploration and the journey are often as important as the goal.
15. Does it usually work?
A great deal of research has been done in the last few years to demonstrate that psychotherapy is effective. However, it only works as a catalyst with the person undergoing treatment. This means that in order to be effective, the "work" is not done to you - but by you and with you. My commitment to you is that I will work as hard as you do.
16. What can go wrong?
It may uncover underlying problems that are not amenable to psychotherapeutic treatment. This may then mean that decisions have to be made about discontinuing therapy and choosing other treatment that might then be necessary. During the course of therapy it may be tempting to use less helpful coping skills, such as alcohol and drugs, which have been familiar to you in the past.
17. How will I feel during therapy?
It is possible that you may feel worse before you feel better, and some people find their psychological distress is reflected in physical symptoms such as headaches or stomach pains. Therapy requires an uncovering of painful feelings and memories. This can be experienced as a relief but it may also stir up uncomfortable feelings.
18. How much will I have to do myself?
Therapy is an active process, like a journey of self-exploration. The therapist can offer guidance, but the ultimate responsibility for changing is with you.
19. How will it affect people close to me?
You will be changing and thus it will cause those around you to interact with you in a different way as well. If you have informed them that you are taking part in therapy sessions they can be supportive and helpful.
20. Can I stop if I feel it's not working?
It is always possible to leave therapy, though the pressure to remain may seem stressful at times. Some people have to have several "goes" at therapy before they succeed. Talk about any difficulties with your therapist before you decide to stay or leave. Ultimately, if you want to stop, it is up to you.
21. If it doesn't work, what else can I do?
Looking at why it may not be working with your therapist is often an important thing to discuss. However, psychotherapy is only one treatment option and it does not suit everybody. In collaboration with your therapist, general practitioner or Psychiatrist, psychotherapy services will normally make recommendations about referring you on to a more suitable form of treatment, if this is likely to be helpful.
22. Is individual therapy "better" than group therapy?
For many psychological difficulties, group work can be more effective. There are a variety of groups and talking with your therapist you will be able to ascertain which one may be best for you. These range from long-term "process" groups to peer-driven groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Celebrate Recovery.
23. What about holidays and cancelled sessions?
Continuity in therapy is important, and holidays need to be planned in advance with this in mind. Therapists will endeavor to give you plenty of notice of their holidays and other absences. Of course, we realize that sometimes circumstances may prevent your attending, and psychotherapists normally ask that you give us as much notice as possible of a cancellation. Occasionally, psychotherapists need to cancel sessions, and they will give as much notice as possible. Any feelings stirred up by breaks in your therapy are an important part of the process, and can be discussed with your therapist.
24. What do I do in an emergency or crisis?
As psychotherapy is not an emergency service, you will need to use your normal network of support. This could include family and friends in the first instance, but also other agencies - such as crisis hotlines - depending on what you need at the time. It may be important to bring the difficulties you experienced to the attention of your therapist at the next session. Obviously, your safety is our utmost concern. If you feel that you cannot stay safe and that harm to yourself or another person is imminent, please call 911 or go to your nearest hospital emergency room.
25. What kind of records are kept?
An initial intake assessment, which includes privacy considerations and the contracting for treatment are kept. Patient progress notes which also tabulates your attendance are kept per session. HIPPA requirements outlined in other places on this website provide for the securing of your privacy. I fully concur and comply in the spirit and the letter of those requirements.
26. What are other professionals involved in my care told about me?
Therapists sometimes receive supervision, and the necessary details about the therapy will be discussed in this. Supervision is a process which helps the therapist to think about what is going on, and maintains the safety of the therapeutic relationship. The general rule all psychotherapists operate under is "whom you see and what is said is confidential," and all supervisors, researchers, therapists and other staff are made fully aware of this.
27. Who do I complain to if I am not satisfied with the service I receive?
In the first instance, you should discuss this with me, your therapist. I would also recommend that you visit with the head of the clinic to see if someone else affiliated with the clinic may be able to help you. If you are not satisfied with the outcome of that, you may contact the State Board of Licensed Professional Counselors.