14 FAQs About Starting Therapy

Wondering if therapy is right for you? Keep reading to see 14 of the most frequently asked questions about starting therapy.

Image: Feeling nervous about starting therapy can be completely normal.

People come to therapy for all kinds of reasons. You might have anxiety about taking tests or presenting at work. You might be experiencing so much conflict in your relationship, that you’re ready to take action with couples therapy. You might be searching for relief from frequent panic attacks or intense anxiety or trauma. 

If you are thinking about starting therapy, whether it’s with Revive Counseling and Consulting LLC or another therapist or practice, you probably have some questions about what therapy actually looks like. What should you expect for your first appointment? How often do you have to meet? Can your therapist share your private information? Keep reading to have a better understanding of what to expect in therapy and be sure to check out our blog series “Starting Therapy” for more information. 

1. What is therapy?

Psychotherapy is a process where you and a licensed mental health professional use psychological tools to improve your mental health and overcome problems. You might work with a therapist to process trauma, create boundaries in relationships or with work, learn relaxation tools for anxiety, or learn new ways of communicating your needs. 

Your therapist’s goal is to create a safe and trusting environment to work with you to discover and understand your emotions, thoughts, and experiences.

At Revive Counseling and Consulting LLC, Yvanna Pogue specializes in working with couples and Victoria Rodriguez specializes in health anxiety and medical trauma. Click here to learn more. 

2. What do the therapists at Revive specialize in?

Yvanna Pogue specializes in working with couples and Victoria Rodriguez specializes in health anxiety and medical trauma. Click here to learn more. 

3. How can therapy help me?

Therapy can help you better understand yourself and others. In addition to treatment of specfic needs (such as anxiety, depression, or ADHD, etc.), therapy can help you with the following: 

• Teach you new stress response skills to lower anxiety 

• Teach communication skills to help you in your romantic relationships 

• Create boundaries with family and friends 

• Navigate life transitions such as moving to college, getting married, parenthood, or a new promotion

• Improve your self-esteem and relationship to your body 

• Process past trauma in a safe, and supportive space

4. How much do sessions cost?

See our current fees here. We do not accept insurance, but can provide you with a super bill that you can submit to your insurance for potential partial reimbursement. Learn more about super bills here. 

5. How do I schedule an appointment?

Call us at 985-441-7550 or email us at contact@revivepractice.com to schedule a free 15 minute consultation. During this call or video chat, you get to see what it would be like to work with this therapist and ask any questions you have about the counseling process. Your therapist will also ask you questions to make sure online therapy is the best option for you at this time. 

If you decide to schedule with a therapist, you will receive an email with a link to your intake paperwork which will review payment policies, telehealth policies, and consents for therapy. This paperwork can be completed all online through our HIPAA secure portal. You can even complete paperwork from your phone! We ask that you complete this paperwork at least 48 hours before your first appointment. 

From there, you will receive an email and text reminder about your first session 48 hours and 15 minutes before your session. These reminders will have your link to our secure video platform for when you’re ready to start your session.

6. What should I expect for the first appointment? 

This first meeting is all about getting to know you: Your background, your values, and your goals for therapy. Your therapist will review your expectations for therapy and might ask you some questions about your upbringing, your current issues, and your goals. There is no obligation to continue therapy, and you can stop at any time. 

7. How does teletherapy work?

Teletherapy is a way to meet with your therapist through a video platform similar to Zoom or Facetime. Teletherapy is a safe, convenient way to do therapy right from the comfort of your own home or on your lunch break. If you are meeting for couples therapy, you can even access the video platform from different devices meaning you do not have to be in the same room for sessions. If you have a chronic illness or you’re homebound or bedbound, teletherapy allows you to still access therapy even when you’re not feeling well enough to travel. 

We use a HIPAA compliant, secure video platform through our electronic health record system Simple Practice to protect your privacy during sessions. You can access this video platform from your phone, laptop, or tablet just by clicking the link in your reminder texts and emails. 

To make the most out of teletherapy, we suggest you find a safe, private place for your sessions such as your home, your office, or a parked car. It also helps to have headphones for sound quality and privacy, if needed, and a solid internet connection. 

8. How often do you meet for therapy? 

At Revive Counseling and Consulting, we typically see the best results when sessions are scheduled one time a week for a clinical hour (50 minutes). As your symptoms start to improve and you begin to feel better, you and your therapist might discuss potentially going to every other week or once a month if you would like to continue to schedule “check ins”. 

9. How long do I have to keep doing therapy?

This answer varies depending on the problems you’re trying to solve in therapy, the intensity of your symptoms, and how often you want to do therapy. The research indicates you might see best results after 8-15 sessions. Again, this varies with each individual. Ultimately, YOU get to decide how long you want to keep doing therapy with many people choosing to continue therapy for months or years. 

10. Will my therapist tell others about what we talk about?

You have a legal and ethical right to privacy, or “confidentiality”, in therapy. This means your therapist is legally and ethically obligated to not share information about your sessions, including dates of sessions, what you discussed, your personal identifying information, and even whether or not you are even attending therapy at all. 

There are three exceptions to confidentiality where a therapist is legally and ethically required to disclose details of your case with others: 

1) You sign a Release of Information giving that therapist permission to discuss your case with others (typically a family member or another provider)

2) You express intent to harm yourself or someone else

3) There is reasonable suspicion of abuse/neglect against a minor child, elderly person (60 or older), or dependent child

4) A court order is received directing the disclosure of information.

If you have questions about how your therapist protects your privacy, contact us to learn more. 

11. How can I make the most of therapy? 

It can be perfectly normal to feel nervous or skeptical when you decide to start therapy. It can feel uncomfortable or scary for you to discuss certain topics or to even talk about feelings at all. We encourage you to be honest with your therapist about these feelings. Your therapist’s job is to reflect, validate, and explore your feelings with you, not to judge you. Being your authentic self can help you and your therapist understand your needs. You do not need to worry about over-sharing or being “polite”; you are allowed to ask questions and disagree with your therapist. 

Some people find it helpful to keep a journal in between sessions to process topics that come up during therapy. You might be surprised by the progress you make! You might also like to keep a list of subjects or questions that you would like to discuss in your upcoming sessions to help organize your thoughts. 

12. How do I support my teen in therapy?

As a caretaker, you play a vital role in your teen’s mental wellbeing. Your teen’s therapist will want to speak with you and your teen for the initial consultation to ensure teletherapy is a good fit. From there, your therapist will review your teen’s rights to privacy and discuss expectations for meetings where one or multiple caretakers might be asked to meet occasionally if the teen requests or if it would benefit treatment. 

While we encourage parents and caretakers to respect their teen’s privacy during sessions, we also want parents to feel welcome to “check in” on their teen’s mental health: teens (and adults) thrive best when they are supported in multiple areas of their lives. If you have questions for your teen’s therapist, feel free to reach out to that therapist and schedule a meeting with the understanding that the therapist’s job is to build trust with your teen and is unable to divulge most information without the teen’s consent. 

13. How do I get the most out of couples therapy?

Couples therapy can help you find clarity on the kind of life you want to build together. Your therapist can help you and your partner explore these goals and practice skills to move closer towards this life. Your therapist will be able to help you the most if both partners come with an open mind about the process of therapy and the goals for the relationship. While it can be tempting to focus on whatever argument is the most recent, it can be even more helpful to focus on the underlying meaning of the argument; What was the larger context? What does it mean for each of you individually? For the relationship? 

14. Can my therapist prescribe medication?

Although your therapist at Revive Counseling and Consulting might be familiar with psychiatric medications, they cannot prescribe any medications. However, it is not unusual for your therapist to request your permission to coordinate care with your prescribing professional (such as a medical doctor, nurse practitioner, prescribing psychologist, etc). This ensures your mental health care professionals are communicating about treatment goals to give you the best care possible. 

Want to know more about how online therapy works with Revive Counseling and Consulting LLC?

Call us today at 985-441-7550 or email us at contact@revivepractice.com for your free 15 minute consultation to discuss what therapy might look like for you and to answer any questions you might have.