Services Provided

A number of benefits are available from participating in psychotherapy. Therapists can provide support, problem-solving skills, and enhanced coping strategies for issues such as 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 difficult 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 put into practice what you learn. Some of the benefits available from therapy include:

• Attaining a better understanding of yourself, your goals, and your 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 communication 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

Every therapy session is unique and caters to each individual and their specific goals. It is standard for therapists to discuss the primary issues and concerns in your life during therapy sessions. It is common to schedule a series of weekly sessions, where each session lasts around fifty minutes. Therapy can be short-term, focusing on a specific issue, or long-term, addressing more complex issues or on-going personal growth. There may be times when you are asked to take certain actions outside of the therapy sessions, such as reading a relevant book or keeping records to track certain behaviors. It is important to process what has been discussed and integrate it into your life between sessions. For therapy to be most effective you must be an active participant, both during and between the sessions. People seeking psychotherapy are willing to take responsibility for their actions, work towards self-change, and create greater awareness in their lives. Here are some things you can expect out of therapy:

• Compassion, respect, and understanding
• Perspectives to illuminate persistent patterns and negative feelings
• Real strategies for enacting positive change
• Effective and proven techniques along with practical guidance

In general, the law protects the confidentiality of all communications between a client and psychotherapist. No information is disclosed without prior written permission from the client.

However, there are some exceptions required by law to this rule. Exceptions include:

• Suspected child abuse or dependent adult or elder abuse. The therapist is required to report this to the appropriate authorities immediately.
• If a client is threatening serious bodily harm to another person. The therapist is required to notify the police.
• If a client intends to harm himself or herself. The therapist will make every effort to work with the individual to ensure their safety. However, if an individual does not cooperate, additional measures may need to be taken.

In some cases a combination of medication and therapy is the right course of action. It is empirically well-established that the long-term solution to mental and emotional problems cannot be solved solely by medication. Instead of just treating the symptom, therapy addresses the cause 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 both your medical doctor and your therapist will allow you to determine what’s best for you.

A LCSW….Psychiatrist . . . Psychologist . . . Certified Psychology Resident . . . Social Worker . . . Marriage and Family Therapist . . . Licensed Professional Counselor. It’s easy to get confused about the different professionals found in the mental health community. Here’s a brief description of each of those listed above:

A Psychiatrist is one who has completed medical school and, just as Pediatricians focus on treating children and Cardiologists focus on the heart, specializes in the biological and psychological bases of mental health problems. At the conclusion of formal training, completion of a two-year long residency is required. Psychiatrists tend to spend most of their time prescribing psychotropic (i.e. mental health) medications.

A Psychologist has attended graduate school and received broad training in areas such as the assessment and treatment of psychological problems, research methods, and has completed a thesis and dissertation. A year-long internship is required as a part of training. While there are many types of psychologists (e.g., school, industrial, experimental, forensic), clinical psychologists are found working in clinics where they provide testing and counseling services.

A Certified Psychology Resident has completed the same formal educational and internship requirements as a clinical psychologist and is being supervised in his/her work until (s)he becomes licensed (usually a year-long process). Services provided by a Resident are billed under the name of the Psychologist who supervises him/her and are covered by most insurance plans (exceptions: Aetna and Blue Cross Blue Shield).

Clinical Social Workers (CSWs & LCSWs) complete a graduate program that emphasizes the assessment and treatment of mental health disorders. The training program includes practica/internships and usually a master’s thesis. CSWs receive training in diagnostics, developmental theories, counseling models, and family systems. CSWs are found in a variety of settings including psychiatric facilities, substance abuse treatment centers, foster care programs, hospitals and hospices, and outpatient mental health clinics. CSWs have their graduate degree, and are usually working under a fully licensed mental health therapist for supervision and further training. LCSWs have worked at least 3000 hours after graduate school under the supervision of another fully licensed mental health practitioner.

A Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT & LMFT) has attended graduate school, with a focus on understanding how marital and family systems work. Like their colleagues of other disciplines, marriage and family therapists evaluate and treat emotional and behavioral problems, with a particular emphasis on how the problems develop and can be solved in the context of family relationships. AMFTs have their graduate degree, and are usually working under a fully licensed mental health therapist for supervision and further training. LMFTs have worked at least 3000 hours after graduate school under the supervision of another fully licensed mental health practitioner.

Clinical Mental Health Counselors (ACMHC or CMHC, formerly Licensed Professional Counselors/LPC) are a relatively new breed of mental health professionals in the state of Utah, first granted status here in the mid-1990’s. The CMHC degree is a generic two-year degree in counseling, rehab counseling, school counseling, etc. ACMHCs have their graduate degree, and are usually working under a fully licensed mental health therapist for supervision and further training.CMHCs have worked at least 3000 hours after graduate school under the supervision of another fully licensed mental health practitioner.

The first session is an opportunity for us to meet face-to-face. At this time, your therapist will provide a comprehensive assessment, which will take into account your personal history, present-day concerns, and what you might be hoping for in the therapeutic process. If you have specific goals for therapy and/or beyond, you can talk about those, too. Together, you’ll address any concerns or questions you have regarding therapy, and identify a plan to move forward with. If you both agree to continue working together, therapy will begin during the following session. If, for any reason, you and/or your therapist don’t believe that working together is the best fit for you, we’ll provide you with specific referrals based on the comprehensive assessment provided..

Depending on your needs and goals, we can determine together how long would be most helpful and beneficial to you.

Therapy is most powerful when it’s conducted weekly. This is verified by countless studies and my professional experience as a therapist. Without a doubt, we’ve found that clients who commit to weekly sessions for the duration of treatment make the greatest transformations. Occasionally, it may be appropriate to meet more or less often, depending on your needs.

Not much! They’re pretty much just different words for the same thing. We use these words interchangeably to describe the process of working through what stands between you and your potential.

One word out there with a potentially different meaning is “coaching.” There is no licensing requirement to market oneself as a coach, or life coach, however many licensed professionals offer coaching services. Be mindful of the training and experience of any practitioner you may consider working with.