FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT ARE SOME COMMON REASONS PEOPLE COME TO COUNSELING?
People come to counseling for many reasons ranging from depression and anxiety to PTSD to communication struggles. Often times what spurs people to make the step to come to therapy are things like
communication struggles with their partner that they just can't figure out.
Feeling so anxious all the time and not knowing why.
Stress
Major life transitions
Not being able to sleep because their thoughts won't stop.
Feeling bad about themselves or never feeling like enough.
Remembering the painful pieces of their past and wanting to move on from them.
These are just a few examples.
HOW DO I GET STARTED?
Call, email, or text me (Katie) for a free consultation call to ask any questions and determine if we will be a good fit.
When you decide you're ready to begin call or email me to set up your first session and review next steps
You will then receive an email with a link to create your client portal information on a platform called Simple Practice. This client portal is where you can send messages to me see documents sent from me, check appointments, see invoices, and where you will be joining the telehealth session if we have virtual sessions.
You will be sent documents to complete that will give me more information about your history and why you are here. It will also include the consent forms and the privacy information forms. Prior to your first session your consent forms must be signed. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask.
That's all until the first session!
WHAT DOES THE FIRST SESSION LOOK LIKE?
If in person- please wait in the waiting area near the stairs and elevator and I will come get you at your session time.
Online- please use the link sent to your email or text to log on to the Simple Practice Telehealth platform. It will send you to a virtual waiting room and I will let you in at our session time.
The first session is a little different from the rest due to having to get some more background and history before we dive into things too much. In the first session we will cover things such as why you are wanting therapy, your goals for therapy, mental health history, physical health concerns, medications, substance use history, family dynamics, sleeping habits, eating habits, spiritual life, etc.
These questions help me get a more rounded picture of you and your health. Mental and physical health is intertwined and having a full picture of your overall health helps me better determine a diagnosis and develop a more effective treatment plan. If you are not comfortable giving details about any certain topic then we skip that and come back to it at another time if/when you are ready. You don't have to share anything you aren't comfortable sharing.
Because of having to get through so much information in the first session it is a little more question & answer feeling than subsequent sessions. I don't prefer this because I like a more conversational session, but it's important to have the information.
ARE THERE AREAS OF THERAPY YOU DON'T WORK WITH?
I only work with adults. If you are seeking therapy for your child I can send you referrals, but I don't work with children or adolescents.
I do not provide or perform evaluations for custody, visitation, or other forensic matters. I also do not provide any form of mandated therapy.
I do not provide ESA letters.
WHAT DO SUBSEQUENT SESSIONS LOOK LIKE?
If in person- please wait in the waiting area near the stairs and elevator and I will come get you at your session time.
Online- please use the link sent to your email or text to log on to the Simple Practice Telehealth platform. It will send you to a virtual waiting room and I will let you in at our session time.
After your first session-when we've gone through the basics and history- we get to have a bit less of a formal format and is much more conversational. Session topics are flexible and can be whatever you need for that day. That can consist of working through a distressing event from the week, or reprocessing past traumas as laid out in your goals. Every few months we will check in about your progress and how you feel things are going in order to adjust as needed and ensure we are getting you the care you need.